Your Ultimate Healing & Protection from the Plague of Fiery Snakes
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Well congregation, has this COVID 19 pandemic, this plague, disturbed and inconvienved our lives? Getting cabin fever. We can be thankful noen of us has cotnracted this. But you wouldn’t be suprpised to here that people are walking around the house ansy, depressed, anxious, crying. Think oof our work, our future, more than an inconvience longterm harship
‘ You can see how people and things could break down. And for the oeple of Israel in brokenness of their desert journey, we read one obstacle after another. Sometimes there fault sometimes just part of a borken world, . but all part of their traniing in faith and edpeence on God. 40 years Miriam now dies, 250 tirbal leaders rebel, Aaron now dies. Now just Moses as leader of first genreation, but the grumbling and copaining even overcomes him, he strikes the rock twice with high hand, with rebellion and pride - disbelieving God’s command to speak to the Rock. And he is banned from the new chapters of the Promised Land.
But now, aseam in the book appears, the new gerneation is marching by grace again. Then they get to Mount HOr, also border oof Edom, King of Arad attacks, Hormah - where failed before but now ISRAEL makes a vow - be people who won’t hanker after mellon’s of Egypt, live only taste touch as man can in Egypt's of this world; live for you to gift us with a land, God fight for us, to establish a kingdom - light to this world! VOW like haven’t seen in this book - since vow of Nazarite! 6, vow like 15:3-8 feloowship offerings make a vow to LORD - servant of teh LORD! This is progress is a new life after all the death, testing and trial of the desert. = zealous self giving, sacrfiicla attitudE!
Messiah in desert resist this temptation - not bread alone
So too last grumbling test before reaching plains of Moab = turning point in book = unlike others - God’s deliverance at end not second from end and peple punishment second to last not last, but patience, reoccuring. Even the greatest leader of the 1st gerneation Moses complained lost patience, hgh handed REBELLION like people he accused, - judgment… But now marching by grace again, just about there, new gerenation, Miriam had died, Aaron, few left, pledge of victory - not genocide, but attacked… LORD grant victory;
Then they get to Mount HOr, also border oof Edom, King of Arad attacks, Hormah - where failed before but now ISRAEL makes a vow - be people who won’t hanker after mellon’s of Egypt, live only tate touch as man can in Egyptss of this world; live for you to gift us with a lnad, fight for us, to establish a kingdom - light to this world! VOW like haven’t seen in this book - since vow of Nazarite! 6, vow like 15:3-8 feloowship offerings make a vow to LORD - servant of teh LORD!
= zealous self giving, sacrfiicla attitudE!
But after longing marching the people BECOME IMPATIENT… speak against Moses and God . And now another terrible interuption, can’t use the kingd’s highways through borther Edom’s land. Another road block. And we read
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way.
-impatient, the souls of the people were shortened… Neighbour two weeks ago perceptively said, what world needs - slow down! Ie Dr. Zeus - longer souled with people around you and GOD! deep down some ultimate - but “Ain’t nobody got time for that”!!! = no time for each other, no time for God, no time for His kingdom. We are impatient, short of soul for the journey to the kngdom fo God in this world. The world is opposite of long-suffering, could mean discouraged, despair Key = people “lacked the soul” for bearing their long and difficult journey!/ “on the way” or “because of the way, impatient” since one more detour, difficulty
deep down some ultimate - but “Ain’t nobody got time for that”!!! = opposite of long-suffering, long of nose, red… ; could mean discouraged, despair
Key = people “lacked the soul” for bearing their long and difficult journey!/ “on the way” or “because of the way, impatient” since one more detour, difficulty
And do you rebemeber what is at the root from which all discouragement and rebeelion, comes - not just doubt, but unbelief , lack of exercisign trust and faith:
Big question how can we sinful people, impatient, prone to suffer and to be punsihed live near a holy God? What do we need to get through the wilderness. This book is full of sign- sign - tassels, budding of a staff before the testimony, bronze censers beat into atonement cover - all the priestly laws purification Levites laws, - need … But now the last symbol from this book, from the last GRUMBLING, after the central one of the land, now last one - fail to obey lead to death, but repent though God is just , way for mercy and entrance into the land, of all who are generation of faith!
But now the last symbol from this book, from the last GRUMBLING, after the central one of the land, now last one - fail to obey lead to death, but repent though God is just , way for mercy and entrance into the land, of all who are generation of faith!
And when God sends His Son Jesus in to the mess of this world’s struggle in the widlerness and sin and suffering. He gives us these gospels to tell us, Jesus is the one who must lead your through, and provide and protect, and deliver you. Gospel of John prophet like Moses, prophesy in Spirit, but he is also good shepherd rod and staff, passover lamb (Miriam’s death should have been celebrating in the land but death), manna from heaven, water giver, Shekinah glory of God tabernacling. But in this last test and God’s provision seem and in this time of general plague, pandemic in this world - picture of common bondage to death world is in gradually, now accelerated. Our neighbour said to her husband who isn’t a believer, this is the END TIMES - possible but all this is a picture of the very end times -But Kevin DeYoung result of common curse God has on broken sinful world- all must endure.
if plague in week span globe and world changed like that, don’t think God who created in seven days, bring about the greatest change, - Day of Judgment and Deliverance is Coming - what you need most is what the Son of God gave Israel in the powerful picture of in the bronze serpent lifted up on a pole - and what He gives the whole world in Cross! This is the most enduring image of the book of Numbers. Today has Christ fulfilled that in your life , in this time of plague? Today you must see that the bronze serpent a symbol Symbol of Judgment, Victory, and Discipleship - Call to Difficult Obedience
what was the bronze serpent a symbol of? Symbol of Judgment, Victory, and Call to Difficult Obedience
People would love to have a magic god of healing like Egyptian, or Facebook prayer… or God co-opting a symbol of life for YHWH of his power… BUT not the case: the Bible leads us to see the serpent as a symbol of your rebellion, of the victory Christ must work in it, and of the call for us to live that victory out!
Key Truth: The ultimate healing from the ultimate plague comes as we give our life-look to Jesus lifted up for us.
That’s what we need to figure out today how to give a Life-look to Jesus. And you’ll never see this if you just think this is a picture of magic healing power, or even just of the Cross. TO understand the healing and what the Cross of Jesus can do for you, you must see
his basic meaning opens up the episode in a different way, ultimately showing that God’s healing occurs in conjunction with the people’s confession and repentance of their sinful ways.
This basic meaning opens up the episode in a different way, ultimately showing that God’s healing occurs in conjunction with the people’s confession and repentance of their sinful ways.
A. The Serpent is a Symbol of a Rebellion You are Part of
David L. Stubbs, Numbers, Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2009), 166.
Unike all the other sections of Numbers beginning with introductory Words: And LORD’s said, word of the LORD happened, then Moses speaks to the people God’s Word. Here life is just about the people speaking against God and Moses!
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.”
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.”
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.”
Just like q on waters of Meribah . Do you see their contradiction there: there is food and water, we just hate it. One commentator put it this way: When a person’s heart is intent on rebellion and beset by discontent, even the best of gifts from the Lord can lose their savor; nothing will fully satisfy until the heart is made right.
not a statement of actual circumstance, but their mental state. Do you see their contradiction there: there is food and water, we just hate it. One commentator put it this way: When a person’s heart is intent on rebellion and beset by discontent, even the best of gifts from the Lord can lose their savor; nothing will fully satisfy until the heart is made right. KEY LIKE LAST WEEK - lacked faith that God’s good plan for them might come through difficulty and suffering … Why not me… What q do you ask God Just like q on waters of Meribah .
not a statement of actual circumstance, but their mental state - KEY LIKE LAST WEEK - lacked faith that God’s good plan for them might come through difficulty and suffering … Why not me… What q do you ask God
Lack faith in in God’s goodness and His wisdom, - have you been there? The way is so long, one more straw to break your camel back - don’t belive God works good supreme good, despite any evil permitted to come our way - PROVIDENCE before the plague strikes = too wise to err, to loving to do any harm!
Lack faith in in God’s goodness and His wisdom, - have you been there way is so long, one more straw to break your camel back - don’t belive God works good supreme good, despiate any evil permited to come our way -
PROVIDENCE before the plague strikes = too wise to err, to loving to do any harm!
deep down some ultimate - but “Ain’t nobody got time for that”!!! = opposite of long-suffering, long of nose, red… ; could mean discouraged, despair
David L. Stubbs, Numbers, Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2009), 166.
Something so instructive and so symbolic in how God responds to their lack of faith = send serpents , no just convenient method of punishment in wilderness, why not hyenas or lions? Or starvation. What is the punishment that matches the crime? Listen serpents are instruments of suffering and death - fiery = burning of their poisonous bite = Carpet vipers! represent the difficulties of journey to promised land in . And God gives them a picture of how they are chosing Egypt over His kingdom and the promsied land. Do you choose this world’s pleasuress, a life wihtout the msision of God but your own private comfort or hording over a life with the mission of God, His kgindom?
What match the punishment with the crime? Listen serpents are instruments of suffeing and dath - fiery = burning of their poisonous bite = Carpet vipers! represent the diffulcties of journey to promised land.
who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock,
Do you hear the accusation in their voice: And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place?
who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock,
Key = people “lacked the soul” for bearing their long and difficult journey!/ “on the way” or “because of the way, impatient” since one more detour, difficulty
And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place?
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.”
Just like q on waters of Meribah . Do you see their contradiction there: there is food and water, we just hate it. One commentator put it this way: When a person’s heart is intent on rebellion and beset by discontent, even the best of gifts from the Lord can lose their savor; nothing will fully satisfy until the heart is made right.
And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place?
not a statement of actual circumstance, but their mental state - KEY LIKE LAST WEEK - lacked faith that God’s good plan for them might come through difficulty and suffering … Why not me… What q do you ask God
And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place?
Q what is at the root from which all discouragement and rebeelion, comes - not just doubt, but unbelief , lack of exercisign trust and faith:
And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.”
But listen to me, if you want to crack the code of this wilderness journey, and your survival, protection, and accomplishment completion of it, even through this plague of pandemic, you and I must understand how Moses in these first 5 books has seen the serpent at work two other times:
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.”
Just like q on waters of Meribah . Do you see their contradiction there: there is food and water, we just hate it. One commentator put it this way: When a person’s heart is intent on rebellion and beset by discontent, even the best of gifts from the Lord can lose their savor; nothing will fully satisfy until the heart is made right.
not a statement of actual circumstance, but their mental state - KEY LIKE LAST WEEK - lacked faith that God’s good plan for them might come through difficulty and suffering … Why not me… What q do you ask God
R. Dennis Cole, Numbers, vol. 3B, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 347.
not a statement of actual circumstance, but their mental state - KEY LIKE LAST WEEK - lacked faith that God’s good plan for them might come through difficulty and suffering … Why not me… What q do you ask God
And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place?
And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.”
Part of actual physical trials along the way too. But listen to me, if you want to crack the code of this wilderness journey, and your survival, protection, and accomplishment completion of it, even through this plague of pandemic, you and I must understand how Moses in these first 5 books has seen the serpent at work two other times:
Lack faith in in God’s goodness and His wisdom, - have you been there way is so long, one more straw to break your camel back - don’t belive God works good supreme good, despiate any evil permited to come our way -
PROVIDENCE before the plague strikes = too wise to err, to loving to do any harm!
Something so instructive and so symbolic in how God responds to their lack of faith = send serpents , no just convienient method of punishment in wilderness, why not hyennas or lions? Or starvation.
What match the punishment with the crime? Listen serpents are instruments of suffeing and dath - fiery = burning of their poisonous bite = Carpet vipers! represent the diffulcties of journey to promised land.
who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock,
Part of actual physical trials along the way too. But listen to me, if you want to crack the code of this wilderness journey, and your survival, protection, and accomplishment completion of it, even through this plague of pandemic, you and I must understand how Moses in these first 5 books has seen the serpent at work two other times:
Confrontation with Moses and Pharaoh - symbolizes Egypt and its gods. God is saying, what you prefer life in Egypt, to life as journey to promised land, life under my protection - you would just fill your stomach with Egypt’s fair; rather than have my freedom, my vocation, my worship - fine taste it where life under Egypt leads life under the rule of the snake! Like plagues on Egypt…
But where is the other serpent in Moses books?
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”
Judgment and punishment from God is the result of listening to the serpent. The appearance of the serpent again here, is a clear picture to us, God’s people, that giving up in the middle of the test, journey, means that we are listening to the poisonous lies of the deceiver. And just like with Adam and Eve’s fall into sin, the issue is them doubting that God’s provision and ordering are really for their good! And that is exactly the temptation that Jesus undergoes for us in the dessert, being Tempted by Satan which means deceiver - if you were really teh Son of God - wouldn’t have to have suffering, take my offer the kingdoms, bread, glory of this world - give up on the journey ot hte Cross and the kingdom that is not of this world but is in it!
And this is where I must return to the application of this book of Numbers as a book for our youth! Our church congregation is barely 40 years old, like Kingdom of Israel in this time - time of facing future shaping serpentine temptation in wildernees - Satan would seduce the young , corrupt what life is about. Book of Maccabees puts it even more bluntly - I Israel was a pure virgin, hadnt yet left home, guarded the rib from which I was made, BUT Satan is a seducer on a desert plain, seeking to destory, deceitful serpent, to defile the purity of my virginity!
In our time of testing, give up on the kigngdom , knngdom of Christ influence , just likve to stock pile wrold’s goods, live to have perfect health , secure your job career, give up on living for kingdom of Jess Christ in this world. Do you get it, Satan has a kingdom in this fallen world, and he calls to God’s people to forsake the covenant and instead shack up with Egypt and the way of life it represnt - a life where immdieate desire are fed, but they are enslaved, and their is no vision of the righeouness kingdom of the promised land, light to the nations - sacrficial service and full of beuauty and worship of the Lord.
That’s the picture here, Satan’s venom has gotten into God’s people like a terrible virus and causes them to doubt God’s words, ways, goodnness - and there they are writhing in spirtual death!
ii. BUT look here in this last of the grumbling stories, we have a reordering of the ytpical story of the seven trials. It’s not the punishment that it ends with, but the people’s healing. And what do we have in the very centre of the trial:
And 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.
Wow. In this pandemic, people have no problem saying Mother Earth is responding, beaten up so badly that now - land is getting the break it needs, actually true of all the evil of the land of Canaan - and then when Israel abuses it and each other and forget s God - land needs a break. And guess what the air is way cleaner in China. But why are we so resistant to be moved to cry out to God when evils strike our nation. OUr old hymn book service of prayer for time of natural crisis. I don’t know about you - but I don’t believe every instance of suffering and evil is a reuslt of personal or natural sin. But some of it is! God’s built in natural consequences to sin. And when we are to ask - Lord are you disicplining me , Psalm139 on eof the most comforting Psalms steady confidence in the presence, protectino the plan providence of God, Feel like responding like Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World! but even it do you remember how it ends:
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Like a good parent the LORD will reveal if he’s disciplining you - voice o fthe Holy Spirit of Conscience. Heard of the unbelief in assisted suicide, have a pandanmic of - rightly concerned about and helping neiboghour s with responbilie self-isolating; but are there not other pandemics think of need for fostering, adopting, think of trap of addictions, think of abortion of babies in Canada - dneied life.. think of individualism that ceelbrates indivdual freedom as the ghiest good rather than a privelege for social respondibilty , think of sexual sin - resluting traficking of young girls in this very province. Participation in pornography, think of econmoic systems that result in child labour…
Are reasons to take a step back, and say to God O God waht have I become, oh God what whave we become. Save us from our sin. And even if this pandameic isn’t a result of paritcular sins of indidviduals or nations, part of the gernal suffering of this world, it is sin that has brought death and sickness into this world, and so the respoinse is right.
Do you know what Moses and Aaron did when plague broke out in the sixth test: God had said enough move away from the whole congregation - and Moses and Aaron trained by God to intercede they didn’t run away from the plague and people stuck in it . Korah, a jealous cousin, second cousin of Moses and 250 leaders rebelled and got most of Israel to follow. The earth open ed up and then fire came from the Lord - a cpiture of judgment day - But look what they do:
“Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces.
“Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces.
They didn’t move away. They put their lives in danger’s way to intercede. I wonder if you are praying not only for doctors and nurses, but for God ALmightiy to stop this pandemic? If you humble yourself, to stop and reckon with our need before a holy all powerful and merculf God?
Moses says to Araon - take your censer - the one with fire from the altar not strange fire, one representing the pleasing aroma of the people of God’s prayers, look what Aaron does:
Moses says to Araon - take your censer - the one with fire from the altar not strange fire, one representing the pleasing aroma of the people of God’s prayers, look what Aaron does:
And Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun.”
Look how his action is described:
And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.
Look how his action is described:
And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.
Do you pray for people not only to be healed, but to be made right with their Creator, to know Him through the Saviour Jesus?
B. The Serpent on the Pole is a Symbol of the Victory You Need
Now that’s the second thing that serpent but on a pole symbolizes. God doesn’t just forgive them and them outright, but commands: construct a fiery serpent and set it on a Standard! “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”
And 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.
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.”
As Moses raises a serpent in the air, he is saying, Look at the battle standard you are following - envious of power of Egypt, lust for easy comforts , turn back form greater mission of mercy, .ove and justivce of the Kingdom of God. But gruesome as it may be, this is like the vicotr taking the head of wretched enemy and placing it on the tip of a spear. And so Israel’s turning their eyes in faith to that snake, was their confession and acknowledgement of their sin. Say my sin deserves all the suffering, missery, wrath - judgment; But this acknoeldgement in faith in God and his mercy - is a coomitment to follow the LORD. You want God’s life, want His goodness in the middle of this plague, it is only possible through God curing the poision of your desire and devotion to the serpent! That’s the life look- to look on God’s healing solution with trust and faith and understanding!
This week Pilgrims’ progress coming out - master retelling read many times to my children - The Hard Way but the right way. That’s what this time in the iwlderness we’re to ask our selves. Western Seminary prof puts it this way: The bronze serpent lifted up suggests that, for those bitten by the serpent in the wilderness, the way to the promised land is one of confession, repentance, faith, and recommitment to God’s difficult yet healing ways. David L. Stubbs, The Serpent on the Standard is a sign of God’s victory, and why Jesus Christ looked back to this final trial of Numbers and said to Nicodemus and to all of us:
The Serpent on the Standard is a sign of God’s victory, and why Jesus Christ looked back to this final trial of Numbers and said to Nicodemus and to all of us:
David L. Stubbs, Numbers, Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2009), 169.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
those who live by faith partake joyfully in the sign of the Lord’s victory over Satan. As we eat the bread and drink the cup, we are pointed afresh to the Lord’s victory: we look backward and proclaim his death on the cross, and we look forward and proclaim his certain return. The Lord’s Supper too is a sign that works by faith, feeding and spiritually strengthening and healing those who discern the Lord’s body and blood, while those who partake without faith receive no benefits from it. It is spiritual food that sustains us in the wilderness and assures us of the reality of Heaven and the certainty of God’s faithfulness to us personally. . Max Lucado.“To see sin without grace is despair. To see grace without sin is arrogance. To see them in tandem is conversion.” It is why Christ later said the Cross is both about Satan and about Me:
It is why he later said the Cross is both about Satan and about Me:
Gane, Roy. Leviticus, Numbers (The NIV Application Commentary) (p. 681). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.
Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
It is why he later said the Cross is both about Satan and about Me:
Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Do you understand that is why Israel later put this bronze Serpent where, as an appropriate sign at the courts of the temple. Actually found one right in this area, made of copper, bronze, red in Timnah. Same era. Others on pottery with Hebrews writing. That redness is like rituals washings and scarficies, a symbol says you want in to the kingdom of God, you truly humble yourself and call out, trusting the healing, the regenerationg power of God, give you new life and his presence and protection the journey no matter how many more trials lay ahead of us - look to Christ, bearing the sin of His people, taking on the curse and having undergone our trails ad passed, yet still taking our punishment - bearing our sin and sickness, our sufferings and our death, even our hell itself - and making atonement for us!
Do you understand that is why in the OT when they cleared out all the idols, they put it where, as an appropriate sign at the courts of the temple - like rituals washings and scarficies, a symbol says you want in to the kingdom of God, you truly humble yourself and call out, trusting the healing, the regenerationg power of God, give you new life and his presence and protection the journey no matter how many more trials lay ahead of us - look to Christ, bearing the sin of His people, taking on the curse and having undergone our trails and passed, yet still taking our punishment - bearing our sin and sickness, our sufferings and our death, even our hell itself - and making atonement for us!
What a fittting closing episode to PART II of the book of Nubmer these 7 tests and the accompanying laws that show how cleansing, and protectinon, salvation of Lord will come - when we live by faith. Any one who looked in faith is healed phyiscally, but do you understand the point of the book, the big turning point has come - and the younger generation, the ones who will learn to live by faith - they spirtually heal - begin to act in ways befitting of repentance and renewed dedication to God - for the diffucltyu journey.
He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan).
You have seen the empty shelves, saw news in the States where only a dozen cases and no deaths - of people not only hording, but verbally and even physically harmnig merchants. They are in the plague and in the wilderness and refusing to live by fatih. But in fear, selfportecting selfishness and panic.
Understand the Cross, from jessu words, he ddint come into this world, our temtpationans ad our wilderness to condemn us, but to save us. Everyone who belives in him will not perish, but thrive. The isreaelits in the wilderness wher judged by their reactions to the signs and wonders fo God - what is your reaction to Jesus becoming that snake and defeating Satan and the poison he work sin this world and in your life? DO you get it the Cross is the symbol we now have of God’s power to heal our sin? And that brings us to the third point, for those who believe with a life=llok to Jesus:
C) The Serpent on the Pole & the Cross is a Symbol of the Discipleship to which we are called
Healing results in you and I renewed in our power to obey God’s difficult yet life-giving ways. Today in this trial, we are called to confession, repentance, recommitnment Jesus says, any one who follows me take up their own Cross and follow me. Do you see it for these days, to love God in these cricumstance,s tied to loving your neighbour as yourself. Start with those now forced to spend more time with. Then with those can choose to pick up the phone and call, send and email . The Bronze Seprent on the Pole, is Judgement, and it is Healing, but it is also Discipleship. It is Christ saying, not only is God decaptiatitng Staan in your life - you trust Christ and human life now has a new head Listen to it in
to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
That word unite is recapitulate, NIV to bring all things together under one head! - re head - give your life and mine a new headship. He restores us not ohnly to fellowship with God through frogiveness, but also to fellowship and partnership with God through obedience. So that in this old world of death and decay, plagued with death and pandemics, and fear and hording, you and I as part of the new creation - would be people that others see amid all the decay and struggle in the wiledernes sof this world, and say Look healing, look possiblity of new world, look a mission in this world, that points beyond to another world!
Interesting study on attitude and its effects on vicotry or defeat: Maxwell and Dornan: When people sense victory they: sacrafice to succeed. look for ways to win. become energized follow the game plan. help other team members. When sense defeat they: give as little as possible. look for excuses. become tired. forsake the game plan. hurt others. Their thesis was that to really become motivcated to succeed, people need to believe they can win.” That is what the snake said, victory at Hormah, - what the Cross says to you and me too!
We are looking at this snake in Numbers, but really we’re looking at the Cross of Christ, We are preoccupied with the plague of Coid 19 in our world, but it is all part of another plague of brokenness all of us, not just 30% or 70% will get, and that is death - all dying, whetehr lsow or fast , and all born corrupt and out of fellowship - but you look to the Cross and see God’s judgment, with faith and repentnance see Christ vicotry over sin, then you will also here this call to faith and dsicpleship. Because it not a cursed dead snake on the Cross, but it is a beuatiful Christ who modelled and now living empowers the way of the kingdom for us!
Thus Jesus identified himself as the ultimate antidote to the “snakebite” of mortality that results from sin (cf. ). By looking at him, lifted up and dying for our sin, we see the depth of our fall, the fate we deserve, and the magnitude of his mercy. “The simple equation endures: the cure for snakes is a snake; the cure for human life is one man’s life; the cure for death is death. Nothing less will do.”12 Not just Lamb of God innocent, Jesus also becomes sin for us:
Not just Lamb of God innocent, Jesus also becomes sin for us:
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
John Stott “He was not content to take our nature upon him; he took our iniquity upon him as well. He was not only ‘made flesh’ in the womb of Mary; he was ‘made sin’ on the cross of Calvary.”14 He allowed himself to be identified with evil so that by dying he might destroy the sting of death (cf. ; ) and so that by looking we might live. = only way to conquer evil, sacrficial love of individual…
A lot of people in this pandemic - just longing for life to get back to normal, and isn’t it true that that temptaion is life of pursuit of just more and mpersonal comfort. Like in the wliderness, even with a pandmeic, is opprotunity not to poine for the good ol days back in Egypt , but to look forward and lvie foraward for the Kingdom of God! Like Moses, like Aaron, we arre not to run from those stuck in this with us, but we are to pray, we are to point to this Cross, we are to spur each other on to this life of disdipeship.
A lot of people in this pandemic - just longing for life to get back to normal, and isn’t it true that that temptaion is life of pursuit of just more and mpersonal comfort. Like in the wliderness, even with a pandmeic, is opprotunity not to poine for the good ol days back in Egypt , but to look forward and lvie foraward for the Kingdom of God! Like Moses, like Aaron, we arre not to run from those stuck in this with us, but we are to pray, we are to point to this Cross, we are to spur each other on to this life of disdipeship.
Gane, Roy. Leviticus, Numbers (The NIV Application Commentary) (p. 682). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.
A lot of people in this pandemic - just longing for life to get back to normal, and isn’t it true that that temptaion is life of pursuit of just more and mpersonal comfort. Like in the wliderness, even with a pandmeic, is opprotunity not to poine for the good ol days back in Egypt , but to look forward and lvie foraward for the Kingdom of God! Like Moses, like Aaron, we arre not to run from those stuck in this with us, but we are to pray, we are to point to this Cross, we are to spur each other on to this life of disdipeship. AMEN
Ultimate victory - striding from the grace, so unlike that snake on the ple, proved he conquereed death, remedy of life for all humanity , those who believe healed, energized, and press on with the game plan, willing to undeure any hardship or pain to carry this good news. Baptized in his name we are to press on in all he taught us, to go out making disicples! Overwinnaars; we too become energized, follow the game plan, and sacrifice rather than make up excuses. We too give generously, encourage rather than criticize, and assist others rather than vying with them to see who can become the greatest.
But it is my greatest joy to show how God responds to your faith in His Son today.
D. God Gives us Wells of Living Water to Make us a Singing People.
Did you see the moving scene of those in self-islation in Italy, they went out on theire balconies and what did they do? They didn’t turn on their radios and lsten together. They opened their mouths and hearts and they sang together.
Well in a very simlar way, as the old genreation of unbelief dies off, and now the generation f faith rises up forthe third part of the book - there is a toally different tone to the book - and it is like that singing on Italian balocney’s Sure another test waiting for them on the Plains of Moab, sure diffuclties and inconviences in a broken wilderness world, but as the push on with faith. Look what happens. In the past they grumbled and compolained then cried out and at Moses intercession - God gave them living water. Look at this picture - standing water putrid, not fresh, unfit to drink, salt water … but this is a wadi that never runs dry in the mddle of the wilderness.
And God opened one of these up for Israel just before this and we read in the New Testament that was a picture:
and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
But now Israel in their detour by the Kings highway, look what happens without asking:
And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.” Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.” Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
We sang of that didn’t we? Jesus said, you look to me in faith, give you the Holy SPirit well up within you to eternal life, All who are thristy come to me give you living water, never thrist again. But how do you get it. God brought them to the well, but the people are to sing and they are to pray, and that water comes gushing up. What a picture. Is their song in your life, together. Is their prayer? They sing and pray claiming God’s promise and then living by faith the water comes and refreshes them. Only singing one other time and that was the Lords’ Passover deliverance night cross the Red Sea, and Miriam and Moses like those Italians start singing and the others join in. Now before the deliverance and the water the people sing and the water comes. The second gerneation of faith are transformed from a sinning peope into a singing poeople. They are so close now to the PRoised Land and they are going to enter it - and as they draw closer there singing grows louder and more intense. Is it so with you - if your eyes are fixed on Jesus and His Kingdom how can you not sing. How can you not like those Italians get out in the balocnoy of life - and declare the good news and the promise to the whole creation. You need that song and you need that water, in the Lord’s Supper by faith we need to take hold afresh of the LORD’s Victory - of Jesus and all HIs benefits - experieinignn ahelaing and a sustaining for the rest of our wilderness journey. It’s the spiritual food that sustains us in the wilderness and assures of the reality of Christ’s Kingdom and the certainty of God’s faithfulness to us personally! Amen. see the serpent as a symbol associated with evil and sin. Thus the sending of the serpents and the lifting up of the bronze serpent become revelations or symbols of Israel’s sin.
We drink form refreshing well in the desert - make it hrogh!
God’s people sing - water at Red Sea deliverance - Miriam, now at divine human cooperation dig well, up water, - claim divnine promise us too… those who live by faith sing songs of praise. The gospel transforms us from sinners to singers. To be sure, that is often a gradual process. Throughout our lives, we will continue to be simul cantor et peccator (“at the same time a singer and a sinner,” to paraphrase Luther’s famous expression). However, as we near our destination, the songs should gradually increase in intensity. Those whose eyes are fixed on Jesus should be increasingly hungry for worship. They love to join the angels in singing praise to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, reminding themselves of the good news and declaring the gospel to all creation. They love to celebrate the faithfulness of the Lord in the present and the sure expectation of final deliverance from the Lord in the future.
Fourth, those who live by faith partake joyfully in the sign of the Lord’s victory over Satan. Israel was given a visible symbol to look at: a bronze serpent. We have been given a visible and tangible sign of God’s victory in the Lord’s Supper. As we eat the bread and drink the cup, we are pointed afresh to the Lord’s victory: we look backward and proclaim his death on the cross, and we look forward and proclaim his certain return. The Lord’s Supper too is a sign that works by faith, feeding and spiritually strengthening and healing those who discern the Lord’s body and blood, while those who partake without faith receive no benefits from it. It is spiritual food that sustains us in the wilderness and assures us of the reality of Heaven and the certainty of God’s faithfulness to us personally.
AMEN
God’s people sing - water at Red Sea deliverance - Miriam, now at divine human cooperation dig well, up water, - claim divnine promise us too… those who live by faith sing songs of praise. The gospel transforms us from sinners to singers. To be sure, that is often a gradual process. Throughout our lives, we will continue to be simul cantor et peccator (“at the same time a singer and a sinner,” to paraphrase Luther’s famous expression). However, as we near our destination, the songs should gradually increase in intensity. Those whose eyes are fixed on Jesus should be increasingly hungry for worship. They love to join the angels in singing praise to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, reminding themselves of the good news and declaring the gospel to all creation. They love to celebrate the faithfulness of the Lord in the present and the sure expectation of final deliverance from the Lord in the future.
Fourth, those who live by faith partake joyfully in the sign of the Lord’s victory over Satan. Israel was given a visible symbol to look at: a bronze serpent. We have been given a visible and tangible sign of God’s victory in the Lord’s Supper. As we eat the bread and drink the cup, we are pointed afresh to the Lord’s victory: we look backward and proclaim his death on the cross, and we look forward and proclaim his certain return. The Lord’s Supper too is a sign that works by faith, feeding and spiritually strengthening and healing those who discern the Lord’s body and blood, while those who partake without faith receive no benefits from it. It is spiritual food that sustains us in the wilderness and assures us of the reality of Heaven and the certainty of God’s faithfulness to us personally.
John Donne (born 1572) understood submission to the discipline of faith when he wrote: Batter my heart, three person’d God; for, you As yet but knocke, breathe, shine, and seeke to mend; That I may rise, and stand, o’erthrow mee, and bend Your force, to breake, blowe, burn and make me new.21
Gane, Roy. Leviticus, Numbers (The NIV Application Commentary) (p. 686). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.