Numbers 21:6-9 (NKJV)
6 So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.
Sometimes, bad things come our way. Really bad things. Disease can stop us in our tracks. For the Israelites, it was poisonous snakes that were biting the people and they were dying. Why did these snakes appear? It seems that “…the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses…” God doesn’t like it when His people criticized His servant Moses. The Lord sent these fiery serpents against the people which bit them, and many died. This was an example of cause and effect. Be careful what you say about God’s servants.
In our country, people have been railing about the things of God and how He should stay out of our lives and our business. Ann Graham Lotz spoke in an interview and said “Americans in a sense have shaken their fist at God and said, God, we want you out of our schools, our government, our business, we want you out of our marketplace. And God, who is a gentleman, has just quietly backed out of our national and political life, our public life. Removing his hand of blessing and protection.” Some have asked us to remove the Ten Commandments from public buildings like court houses. People are thumbing their noses at the Lord’s ways and, while He may not send fiery serpents upon the land today, there are always consequences of not following His ways. The fifth Commandment tells us to honor our father and mother so that it may go well with you. God gives us direction so things will go well with us. He desires our blessing. Because He has great plans for us, He will not let us stay in the valley. He will lift us up high. Those who looked at the bronze serpent were healed, and they lived. Another benefit of listening to God.
Speaking of lifted up, John 3:14-15 NIV says, 14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” Jesus is our Bronze Serpent! He was lifted up high. And up on that cross, He freed us from sin, death and disease. By His stripes, we are healed. Not going to be healed. It is past tense. It is finished! While chaos reigns in the world around you, peace can reign in your soul. All you need do is look upon your Bronze Serpent and be healed. Do not be afraid. The Lord your God will protect you! Fear not! For He is with you! In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit! Amen!
In Him,
Robert “Dr.Bob” Springer
The Computer Doctor – I’m not really a doctor but I play one at Network Meetings. _____________________________________
Encouragement Daily Book 366 Daily Devotions Subscribe