SCRIPTURE: Numbers 21:1-9
OBSERVATION:
A violent time: Israel cruelly attacked, Arad and his people totally destroyed, poisonous snakes killing some Israelites, and God seems to be actively mixed up in it. How can God tolerate, endorse so much violence and suffering?
We tend to ignore our own responsibility, wasn’t Arad’s defeat in response to his nations cruel violence; wasn’t Israel’s suffering the result of their grumbling against God?
We blame God for the consequences of sin, we live in a world of our own making.
God works within our sinful world to restore us, He respects us enough to allow us our freedom to choose and to endure the consequences.
God did not put the poisonous snakes there, He was restraining them until they grumbled against Him, so He let them see how much He was doing for them.
God gives them a glimpse of what would happen if He were not restraining evil, then shows them (by way of serpent on cross) how He will deliver them (see John 3:14-15).
APPLICATION:
If we only knew how much God protects us from each moment, our world would be hell without God.
God works within this sinful world order to save us, the only other option would be to allow us all to go to ‘hell’ (what justice demands) and start over with new people.
God shoulders the brunt of our sin (Jesus on the cross) in order to rescue us from the consequences of our sin.
Do I appreciate how much God does (endures) for me, where I would be apart from His mercy, or am I guilty of grumbling against Him too?
PRAYER:
Lord, forgive me for being so quick to blame You, and so slow to accept responsibility for my own guilt. Thank You for not allowing me to fully experience the consequences of my sin, and for taking the death penalty in my place. Help me to look to You! Amen.
How quickly the people murmured, yet each time the Lord showed His faithfulness and presence. The Lord brought relief twice in this reading.
How quickly I am to forget the faithfulness of God in my life and grumbling about the day’s events, even the weather. This too is against my Creator God, who hears my murmurings. But He remains faithful, being my Bread of Life. As He made the children of Israel look to the brazen snake for relieve of their pain, so I must look to Jesus, believe in Him for my relief, my salvation. He was lifted high to die so I could live forever. Increase my faith Lord. Help me to see You. Take my hand Lord this day and lead me and guide me so that I do not stray.