Numbers 21: 4-9
As the Israelites continued to wander through the wilderness, they also continued to operate in their cycle of faith-obedience-provision-lack of faith-disobedience-punishment. This passage describes yet another example of how quickly and easily they forgot all that God had done for them, and why they were in that situation in the first place. They had just seen many of their people slaughtered by the current inhabitants of their Promised Land as a direct result of disobedience to God. Yet, they continued in their cycle.
Here we see that they were on the move again, this time from Mount Hor on their way around Edom since they were not granted passage through there. Aaron had died and Moses had been forbidden to lead them into the Promised Land, both because of their disobedience. Now, because the route they were forced to take was so long, the Israelites began to complain, again, against God and Moses. Their lack of gratitude for the provision they did have provoked God to send poisonous snakes among them and many were bitten and died (v. 6).
Of course, this led them to repentance, although short-lived, and they pleaded with Moses to ask God to take them away. So Moses prayed and God rescued them, again; but not they way they had requested. God didn't take the snakes away. Instead, he provided a means of healing for anyone who was bitten in the form of a bronze snake mounted on a pole. Anyone who was bitten just had to look at the bronze snake and they would be healed.
That is exactly the way God distributes his grace to us today. He doesn't take away all the sins that we could get caught up in. He doesn't make all our situations better so that everything goes our way. Instead, he gave us Jesus; once and for all. Sin still exists and we are still subject to fall victim to it. But, if we just look to Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross, we can be delivered from it eternally. Just as the snake replica was mounted on the pole to give healing, Jesus took all our sins to the cross to bring salvation.
Thank you, God, for Jesus - our means of salvation and eternal life with you in heaven. Thank you for forgiving our sins, time and time again. Thank you for your provision, God, even when we don't deserve it. Please continue to show us your will as you strengthen our faith to follow the path you have set for us. Help us to not take your grace for granted and always honor you with our lives. Remind us to look to Christ for salvation and healing when we are surrounded and overwhelmed by the sins of the world; and not give in to temptation. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
As the Israelites continued to wander through the wilderness, they also continued to operate in their cycle of faith-obedience-provision-lack of faith-disobedience-punishment. This passage describes yet another example of how quickly and easily they forgot all that God had done for them, and why they were in that situation in the first place. They had just seen many of their people slaughtered by the current inhabitants of their Promised Land as a direct result of disobedience to God. Yet, they continued in their cycle.
Here we see that they were on the move again, this time from Mount Hor on their way around Edom since they were not granted passage through there. Aaron had died and Moses had been forbidden to lead them into the Promised Land, both because of their disobedience. Now, because the route they were forced to take was so long, the Israelites began to complain, again, against God and Moses. Their lack of gratitude for the provision they did have provoked God to send poisonous snakes among them and many were bitten and died (v. 6).
Of course, this led them to repentance, although short-lived, and they pleaded with Moses to ask God to take them away. So Moses prayed and God rescued them, again; but not they way they had requested. God didn't take the snakes away. Instead, he provided a means of healing for anyone who was bitten in the form of a bronze snake mounted on a pole. Anyone who was bitten just had to look at the bronze snake and they would be healed.
That is exactly the way God distributes his grace to us today. He doesn't take away all the sins that we could get caught up in. He doesn't make all our situations better so that everything goes our way. Instead, he gave us Jesus; once and for all. Sin still exists and we are still subject to fall victim to it. But, if we just look to Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross, we can be delivered from it eternally. Just as the snake replica was mounted on the pole to give healing, Jesus took all our sins to the cross to bring salvation.
Thank you, God, for Jesus - our means of salvation and eternal life with you in heaven. Thank you for forgiving our sins, time and time again. Thank you for your provision, God, even when we don't deserve it. Please continue to show us your will as you strengthen our faith to follow the path you have set for us. Help us to not take your grace for granted and always honor you with our lives. Remind us to look to Christ for salvation and healing when we are surrounded and overwhelmed by the sins of the world; and not give in to temptation. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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