Numbers 21:4-9 / John 3:14-21

How often do we get to read and hear a sermon from the Book of Numbers? The literal answer, for those of us who follow the Revised Common Lectionary for our Sunday Scripture readings is a mere three times in 156 Sundays. This Sunday, the Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year B, is one of them.

Read Numbers 21:4-9.

The theme is not original here; the Israelites spend a good portion of their wilderness journey complaining to God and fantasizing about how good life was as slaves in Egypt — at least the diet was more varied than manna and quail three times a day! This opens us to the question, “Is it OK to complain to God?”

Numbers 21:6 would sure seem to indicate that, No, it is not a good idea to complain to God! Take some time to sort out this whole passage, Numbers 21:4-9. What does it say about God? What does it say about people? What does it say about the relationship between God and people?

Now take some time to sort yourself out about this passage. What do you think about it? What questions does it raise?

How do we square the loving, forgiving God we meet in Christ with this stern and punishing God?

I leave you to ponder...