By Christopher Dryden
4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
6 Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
Numbers 21:4-9 (NIV)
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
John 3:14 (ESV)
Laurel and Hardy – still a duo that brings a smile to the face of many for their comic antics almost one hundred years later. There is that look of barely concealed anger from Oliver Hardy at the bemused and befuddled face of his friend, Stan Laurel after some mishap and those words come from his lips, “Well, that’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into.”
It wasn’t a comedy for Moses though, as he often was made to feel like the Laurel in the situation with the people of Israel badgering him as the belligerent Hardy. What was worse was that the people failed to take responsibility for their own action. Here they were complaining to Moses about their situation, when it was their rebellion that led to them spending more time wandering in the wilderness. Their lack of gratitude for divine provision as well as their continued murmuring reinforced their constant and deliberate antagonising to God.
When there should be thanksgiving, how often is the preference to murmur and grumble? How often is this seen in situations in which we are responsible? It’s this rebellious, ungrateful, self-centred nature that expresses the sin problem well. Where the focus should be on God, we dismiss Him for failing to be at our beck and call.
This was not the first time the Israelites had shown such a nasty attitude to God. The situation on this occasion, however, triggered a response from God that highlights the fatal consequence of sin. Many who grumbled suffered a deadly snake bite. Later in offering a gospel explanation, the apostle Paul would inform the readers in Rome that the wages of sin is death.
The Israelites needed to go through a process that is worthwhile for us to remember. For them, being rescued required – recognition, repentance, faith and receiving. The healing did not come about because of their good works at all. The healing came as they recognised their sin, turned away from it, placed their faith in what God provided and then received the healing from Him through His provision.
What God provided then was the source of the curse hung up. As we recognise our sinful condition, we have God’s amazing provision. It’s amazing in that Jesus came without sin. Jesus did not rebel or grumble. Yet He was hung up for us. He who knew no sin, became sin so that we could receive not just forgiveness of sins but a restored and right relationship with God. It’s amazing that God should do this for us – yet this is our portion, if we likewise recognise, repent, have faith and receive what God has provided.
In that setting, we will no longer need to complain about the nice mess we’re in. Rather we can laugh in joy and relief at the mess that we’ve been delivered from, thanks to He who became sin for us.
Ask – What brought about the healing for the people after the snakebite?
Seek – Whenever you find yourself grumbling about a circumstance or situation that you’re responsible for, just remember the great grace expressed to you that allowed you to have your sins forgiven … including that sin of grumbling against God.
Knock – Where often we come across excuses, diversions and other people to blame for all the wrong in the world, pray today that God will show mercy to us and open our eyes to see our need for Him as we acknowledge our sins before Him and as He draws people to Himself through the Son of Man lifted.
(Upper Photo by Pete Alexopoulos on Unsplash)
(Inner Photo by Kyle Johnson on Unsplash)
