Numbers
21:1-8
New
International Version (NIV)
Arad Destroyed
1 When the Canaanite king of
Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to
Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. 2 Then Israel made this vow to
the LORD: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally
destroy[a] their cities.” 3 The LORD listened to Israel’s
plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and
their towns; so the place was named Hormah.[b]
The Bronze Snake
4 They traveled from Mount Hor
along the route to the Red Sea,[c] 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.
Daniel’s Thoughts:
Think about the experience of Israel and how they come to be in
the desert when this event happens. Israel has been saved from the land of
Egypt by the very hand of God. God’s very presence has led their way in a
pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of smoke by night. Then as his people
grumbled against him he answered their prayers and God has provided for them in
the desert. For food he rained manna from heaven in the morning and sent the
quails in the evening. God provided water from the rock.
Even in this very same chapter of Numbers Israel asks the Lord
to bless their conquest and the Lord hands the Canaanites over to them.
Yet the Israelites easily turn their backs on God and forget.
Not only that they complain about the blessings God sent them.
And so God punishes them by sending poisonous snakes! Yet when
they confess their sin and turn back to God he answers. It is significant that
the Israelites pray for God to take the snakes away. They pray like we do
asking for God to do it all and make things easy. But what happens when God
does answer? Israel forgets and turns from him again. I know I do the same, I
fail to give thanks to God and remember his faithfulness.
But God is wise and instead of taking the snakes away or even
making them no longer poisonous, God leaves the poisonous snakes and offers
salvation another way. God has Moses make and raise up a snake on a pole.
Let us take this understanding to the Christ and the Cross.
John 3:14-17
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of
Man must be lifted up,[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[g]
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him.
In God’s
wisdom his plan for our salvation was the cross. This is foolishness to the
world but the very power of God to those who are being saved.
Let us
remember the Cross and Christ so that we might not live in sin but live to
Christ in righteousness.
Daniel’s Prayer:
Lord
You have done great things!
In my life and in the world
Let me not forget or turn from you
In the trials and hardships in my life
Let me remember your faithfulness.
Thank you for most amazing gift
Sending your son Jesus
To the Cross grave and resurrection.
Let me never forget that sacrifice.
I want to live a new life to you Lord
Amen
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