Look up and Live
Numbers 21:4-9
When we read about the Israelites as a nation, we often hear about their complaints. They often bring up the life was better in Egypt as was the case in Numbers chapter 21
Numbers 21:5 ESV
[5] And 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 loathe this worthless food.”
The Israelites ignore that the Lord saved them from slavery. They are rejecting the salvation from God when they talk like this. The truth is that God was providing food and water for then. They ate heavenly food and called it worthless food.
Often the blessings which God gives us become sore points for us. The discipline our parents gave us, the education we received, the people who support us can all be areas of resentment because we feel entitled. We cannot imagine a life without these blessings and therefore take it for granted.
Before, whenever the Israelites asked for water or food, God provided. However, this time God sent snakes.
Numbers 21:6 ESV
[6] Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.
God wasn't just punishing the Israelites. He was teaching them to trust in Him and not focus on the blessings.
Numbers 21:8-9 ESV
[8] And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” [9] So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
When we chase after God, we can overcome the difficulties. We need to fix our eyes on God and not what we want. We need to see the sins on the Cross. We have to confront the evil in our lives.
God wants us to focus on Jesus. We will start to realize that we are living in Grace. We will see how much we are blessed.
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