Nehustan

Nehustan, meaning “a piece of bronze.” 

In Number 21:4-9, the Israelite became impatient on the way around the land of Edom and complained against God through Moses for lack of food and water and loathed the light bread of God’s provision which triggered the anger of God ensuing in sending forth serpents who bit to death many of them who rebelled. Then on their pleading for prayer for deliverance from the serpents, God charged Moses to make a fiery serpent, to set it on a pole, and everyone who were bitten had to see it to live. That bronze serpent, a type of the redemption of Christ accomplished at the cross, was the means for salvation. However, in their superstition, the Israelite regarded the bronze serpent as an idol, which was called “Nehustan.”

Hezekiah, the king of Judah, in 2 Kings 2:1-8 broke down all the idols including that piece of bronze, which many deemed as worthy of worship. This deed of dealing with idolatry brought him prosperity, and Jehovah was with him.

What the Lord spoke to me in this regard was the need for dealing with superstition, even those that sounds scriptural or spiritual. God is God and there can be no substitute for Him. Even today’s Christian's crucifix or commonly known as “the cross” in form, picture, sign, ornaments etc. are all idols. The reality is Christ, and He cannot be replaced by any person, matter or thing. 

Our “Nehustan” must be dealt with, broken down and completely destroyed. There must be no religious symbol as such, as believing into Christ is not a matter of religion, but a life relation with God in Christ. And there must not be and cannot be any substitute for Christ.

Furthermore, all forms or idols or even images of religious deities, even for the Christians like “Jesus”, “Mary” and “the cross” must all be torn and broken down. God cannot be drawn by an artist, or printed on a piece of paper by a printing machine, or sculptured by a sculpture. God is Spirit, and can be worshipped, touched, experienced, enjoyed only in the spirit. A genuine Christian will have nothing to do with these substitutes. To do so would be following the custom of the nation in their religiosity or superstition or spiritual blindness. In fact, that would be idolatry. May the Lord fully deliver all His children from all falsehood, religiosity and superstition.

God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truthfulness. John 4:24