When I begin a blog to share God’s love as I am learning myself, I always begin with prayer that He will guide me. My prayer after reading Numbers 21 was for insight that I don’t ever mislead anyone by my own ignorance. He helped me realize I keep reaching for profound insight when all I need is Him. All I have ever needed is Him. Be with Him, He reminded me. Patiently wait in hope and trust in Him. Do we ever truly realize that what God wants most from us is our hearts for Him? His heart is for us.

The people swing back and forth between victory and impatience which leads to grumbling. They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” v. 4-5. I cringe every time they speak against God like this. They just experienced victory over the Canaanites after vowing to the Lord: If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities.” v. 2. A kind of “see saw” that was so short sighted.

The part of this chapter that gave me trouble was the bronze snake God told Moses to make. Their grumbling and complaining resulted in venomous snakes biting them and killing many of them. They turned back to God admitting their sin and asking Moses to pray the snakes be taken away. v. 6-7 (see saw). The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. v. 8-9. In the side margin was this reference: Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness (Numbers 21:8,9), so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” John 3:14-15. In the commentary below it said: When the bronze snake was hung on the pole, the Israelites didn’t know the fuller meaning Jesus Christ would bring to this event (see John 3:14,15). Jesus explained that just as the Israelites were healed of their sickness by looking at the snake on the pole, all believers today can be saved from the sickness of sin by looking to Jesus’ death on the cross. It was not the snake that healed the people, but their belief that God could heal them. This belief was demonstrated by their obedience to God’s instructions. In the same way, we should continue to look to Christ (see Hebrews 12:2).

Why my difficulty? It felt like God was telling Moses to make an idol. So I looked up “you shall have no idols” and saw this: (1) The bible makes it plain that an idol is nothing (Jer. 2:11; 16:20). It is only a piece of wood or stone, carved by human hands. It has no power of its own. Samuel calls idols useless things (1 Sam. 12:21), and Paul clearly states: “We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world” (1 Cor. 8:4; 10:19-20). Another reference: “You Shall Have No Other Gods Before Me” (Ex. 20:3; Deut. 5:7) The first commandment reminds us that everything in the Torah flows from the love we have for God, which is a response to the love he has for us.

The people sinned over and over again with their unbelief and constant grumbling. They would turn to God only when the need was so great there was no other option. The biting snakes and their poison I can understand as a metaphor for our sins that bite us poisoning us. I know that Jesus died for our sins. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21. That was my problem. Reading a little further…As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” (Isaiah 49:8) I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2. In Him…not in us, not in a bronze snake…Him. In Him is our salvation.

Over and over again the people complain and rebel against God and Moses. Over and over again, God provides. From the very beginning God has been working for us to provide salvation for us. We have been fighting Him all the way but His will is for our good. There are so many “types” or foreshadowings of what will be throughout Scripture. All of them point to our salvation and God’s love including the bronze snake foreshadowing the love of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit who gave Himself for us to ransom us from the pain of sin and death…poison.

So was His reminder to me this morning. He is all we need. Be with Him each day and He will guide us faithfully. All He wants is our hearts trusting Him who works faithfully for us.