Dear Friends,
We hope this week's devotional will encourage you in your spiritual walk
You are welcome to share this in your church newsletters if you wish; we just ask that you please give credit to NTC and the author. Thank you!
Numbers 21:4-9 (NRSV)
4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. 5 The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” 6 Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
Devotional Thought:
Look Up and Live!
In Queensland, the slogan “Look Up and Live!” is used to warn people about the dangers of overhead power powerlines. But Number 21:4-9 puts a different emphasis on this slogan.
This passage known because of two things:
· Firstly – the rebellion of the Israelite people so close to the time of entering the promised land.
· Secondly – the symbol of the bronze serpent instituted in the passage is still used today as a symbol of healing.
Logo of the Australian Medical Association
But let’s focus on the context of the passage. Because of their lack of faith, the Israelites have been waiting for 40 years to pass before they could enter the promised land. With less than a year to go, they have come close to the land that will be theirs. But the King of Edom has refused them passage through his land (Numbers 20:14-21), and so the travellers must skirt around Edom. In doing so, they must turn back towards the Red Sea.
Imagine how the people feel. “Forty years we’ve been wandering, and now we are turned away again!” “Can God be trusted? Maybe God won’t ever let us enter!” And so their disappointment and impatience leads to more argument and annoyance, their faith falters, and they start on the usual complaints – about the food and water. This is the last time they complain about the food – and it has the most disastrous results. Poisonous snakes come among them and many Israelites die from snake bites. The solution is simple yet profound: a serpent is fashioned from bronze and fixed to a pole; any who look up at this serpent will be healed. Look Up and Live!
What are the things that annoy us, that niggle at our faith? Perhaps it’s travel or other restrictions due to COVID-19. Perhaps lack of finances mean we are tempted to doubt the love of our Father God. Perhaps setbacks in our jobs or studies discourage us. Maybe hassles with our church or family relationships mean we are unsettled. Like the Israelites, we need to look away from our problems and look toward God. We need to trust that the God who has called us will equip and lead and empower us to persevere in the life of love. As the Israelites discovered, following God wasn’t always easy, but looking up to God meant that they could have life. This week let’s Look Up and Live!
Prayer:
O God, forgive us for the times we have failed to trust you; for the times when we have doubted your love; for the times we have turned away from you. When we are tempted to turn from your way, help us to stay focussed on you. Help us O God to always look up to you and choose life. Amen.
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