Numbers 21 Fiery Serpents
Israel is underway again. And they fall back into complaining again. They call the bread of Heaven “worthless food” and God strikes back with fiery serpents.
I want to remind you that this complaining is on the heels of God giving the people a great victory over Arad. After He returned their captives. And after they had made a pledge to devote the city to destruction. The words from a song are ringing in my mind “What have you done for me lately.” How long ago does “lately” have to be?!
What grabbed my attention, and God’s too probably, is their calling the mana from Heaven, “worthless food.” The ONLY food they could be assured of each day. The food that had not stopped coming since the day God first sent it down. The food that tasted like honey in their mouths. THIS food is what they were angry about.
Who was doing the complaining? The remaining people of the first generation, or the second generation that God would bring into the promise? Was one ‘infecting’ the other?
I can understand being tired of eating the same thing, day in and day out. But if you have nothing else, then DON’T call your only source ‘worthless’! Forty years of having God feed you is a miracle NOT to be taken lightly.
One more thing I noticed, before we jump into our story is that God didn’t remove the serpents. God gave them a way of salvation IF they chose to take it. We know from Jesus’ story that HE was like the serpent lifted up in the wilderness. He is STILL calling for man to look up and not die. Only in HIM can we receive eternal life. And purpose for life in this fallen world.
Now that I have said my piece, let’s join the congregation as they continue their trek towards the promised land.
♥ ♦ ♥
The celebration of the return of the captives went long into the night. The next morning, everything was back to normal. Those who had participated in the battle and searched the slain were still ceremonially unclean. They had eaten their meal on the outskirts of the crowd, but still enjoyed the festivity.
God graciously waited for these men’s time of uncleanness to end before starting Israel on their way again. There was some tension in the camp during the wait.
“What if the neighbors come after us.” “I’m tired of waiting! When are we going to move?” “The Promised Land isn’t getting any closer this way.”
Moses did his best to calm the people and keep their spirits from sagging. “The Lord’s timing is perfect. We must wait on Him. He has everything in His control. If ever you doubt this, think back on the wonders He has already provided for us.”
The day has finally come! The pillar of cloud lifts from the Tabernacle. The people pack their camps as quickly as possible. With this many years of practice, it is an easy process.
The silver trumpet sounds the long blast and the people of Judah lead the way. The whole camp is moving within an hour of the first blast of the trumpet. God is leading them by way of the Red Sea around the land of Edom. Edom has refused them passage, so it’s the long way around for them.
They walk all day. They have learned to take a midday meal in sacks with them, so there is no need to stop. When it is time for the evening meal they stop for the night. As soon as the mana is gathered in the morning, they are off again.
Day after day of walking is wearing on this already surly group. Complaints begin to rise; again. This time they are half directed towards the Lord Himself, instead of voiced directly to 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.” (Numbers 20:5)
God’s eyes burn with anger at their insults. For forty years now, they have been eating the very bread of Heaven. And NOW they are calling it WORTHLESS FOOD! They have railed against the lack of water and meat before, but never have they so disrespected what God has provided for them.
“Let’s see how they like this ‘gift’ instead” thinks the Lord.
In an instant, fiery serpents appear and begin biting the people. Each one represents an arrow of anger the Lord is feeling towards this stubborn and heard hearted people.
People scream in fear as they see the serpents and as they are bitten. Death comes quickly, but painfully, for those who are bitten. Their screams of terror turn into pleas for mercy.
“Moses, Moses, help us! ‘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.’ (Numbers 20:7)”
Moses turns to the Lord and He immediately speaks to Moses as to how to handle this issue.
“Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”
Moses is not an artist or a metal worker, but the Lord has called him to do this job. It’s a good thing that they have already made camp for the night. He is able to call on one of the metal smiths to help him with this task.
“Please assist me” Moses asks of Bezalel. “The Lord has commanded me to make a fiery serpent, like those that plague the people, and raise it on a pole. I need your assistance in doing this.”
“Did the Lord say what it was to be made of?”
“No. Only its form.”
“I will use bronze. It is more plentiful and easier to work with.”
“Make it with as much haste as possible. For those who are bitten by the fiery serpents may gaze on it and live.”
“I will do what I can, my lord.”
Bezalel begins work right away. He pulls enough bronze from their supplies to complete his task. He heats the forge and begins heating the bronze until it is pliable. With his hammer and mastery of working with metals, he begins to fashion an accurate likeness of the snakes killing the people. It is ready by morning.
Moses comes to Bezalel to check on the progress. He is amazed to see the piece already completed. Bezalel is putting the final joint on the pole, where the serpent will ‘rest’.
Once the final bond is made, Moses thanks Bezalel and takes the rod to put in front of the people.
Moses calls the congregation together using the silver trumpets. “Hear the words of the Lord.” There is still screaming and dying going on within the camp. The people assemble quickly, while still keeping a watchful eye out for snakes.
“The Lord has commanded me to make a fiery serpent and put it on a pole. Any who are bitten by one of the serpents may look at the serpent on this pole and be saved.”
Some of the people are skeptical while others are relieved to have an answer to the serpent problem. Within moments, its effectiveness is put to the test as several people within the congregation are bitten. Those who turned to the serpent on the pole lived. Those who didn’t, died.
This serpent traveled upright with the people for several days, before the serpents no longer were a problem. After the serpents were gone, the one Moses carried would be placed in the Tabernacle each time it was erected.
(to be continued)
Can you imagine being so stubborn that you wouldn’t look to the serpent when bitten? There must have been some who wouldn’t. It is just as true today. Jesus was lifted up above all men. All we have to do is turn to Him and be saved. Yet millions refuse to.
Did you notice also that the serpents were still a problem, at least for a while? And being bitten and saved once didn’t mean they wouldn’t be bitten again. Troubles doesn’t disappear just because we have given our lives to Jesus. We have to keep turning to Him in the middle of it all. We aren’t ‘saved’ again every time we repent of our sins, but we have to come back into right relationship. He is the ONLY way of hope in this world. He doesn’t take us out of this world, but walks through everything that comes our way with us. And leads us around the ‘long way’ sometimes to keep us out of trouble. “Sometimes He calms the storm, and sometimes He calms His child.”
Thank You Father God for making a way of salvation for me! I am lost on my own. Forgive me for the times I have taken my eyes off the cross. Today, I was distracted so many times during our time together. I’m sorry for letting the cares of this world stop our time. My husband’s needs have to be dealt with immediately, but searching for things on the internet could have waited. I’m glad You brought me back so we could finish the story; for today. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s story. Not the war part, but the water part.
