An Early Lesson in Gazing

“So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived” (Num. 21:9, NKJV).

This story was an early lesson for the people of God, in redemptive gazing. The Lord instructed the snake-bitten Israelites to look upon the bronze serpent Moses had made. It was in the looking, in the gazing, that they received their healing. The bronze snake was a foreshadowing of Jesus hanging on the cross, becoming our sin for us, to set us free from it.

For this reason, today, Holy Spirit continually reminds us to fix our eyes on our risen Savior. As we look up at Him, His eyes meet ours. Our gaze anchors us into connection with Him. As we continue to look unto Him, we then receive from Him everything we need.

It’s in the gazing that an essential transaction takes place. He enlightens the eyes of our hearts in those moments to recognize Him as He really is. We perceive that He is utterly loving, utterly desirous of doing us good. In turn, this revelation ignites ever-increasing faith.

Making a relentless lifestyle pattern out of gazing on Him has a marvelous cumulative effect. We come to develop a concrete security inside of ourselves that He wants to, and is going to, continually move on our behalf.

The AMPC version of this verse gives us even more insight into the pattern our gazing needs to take: “…If a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze [attentively, expectantly, with a steady and absorbing gaze], he lived” (bold emphasis mine).

This, then, is how we are to look unto Jesus:

• Attentively. We are not talking about a fleeting glimpse in His direction. This is not a quick glance over our shoulder as we rush out the door. He wants all of our attention. Yes, we are talking about making Him our one thing. “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek… to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord…” (Ps. 27:4, NIV, bold emphasis mine).
• Expectantly. When my kids come to ask me for something they need, they don’t approach me hesitantly. They stroll self-assuredly into my room and confidently make their request. Actually, I think it would probably hurt my heart if they shuffled in, head down, and nervously muttered, “Ma’am, I’m a little hungry. Do you think you might, um…, I mean, it’s okay if you don’t, but…”
  Daddy God loves it when we expect Him to meet our needs. This reflects deep heart trust in His goodness and His overwhelming desire to provide for us. Our bold, unhesitant expectancy as we look to Him steals His heart. He responds with overflowing eagerness!
• With a steady, absorbing gaze. Holy Spirit wants to train us to continually, unfalteringly look unto Him. To be absorbed with Him. To have eyes for no other. The more we grow up in this way, the more His power will flow into and through us. His provision comes to us as we gaze on Him.

Remember, the bronze serpent was up on a pole. The children of God had to look upwards to gaze upon it. Daddy God invites us to set our hearts on the things above, not on earthly things. No matter what is going on in your life today, look up. Look at Jesus. Drink in His beauty, and His deep, deep love for you. As you gaze on Him, His virtue is flowing to you, even now.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” (Heb. 12:2, NIV).

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If Jesus became a curse for us to set us free from the curse (Gal. 3:13), what all is included in that curse breaking? What provisions can we count on receiving, as we fix our gaze on Him?