Numbers. 21:4-9

On the 4th Sunday in the season of Lent, our reading is Numbers 21:4-9. How often have you read, or heard anything preached from, the Book of Numbers! This is a rare opportunity, indeed!

Here we come upon one of the many times the people grumbled to Moses and against God. Notice the circumstances: they “became impatient” (v. 4) about the journey to their new home.

How do our current pandemic restrictions give us unique insight into the Israelites’ impatience? Do you ever wonder, “Why is God doing this to us?”

What do you think of the weird response from God? Doesn’t seem very loving! Jesus will allude to the poisonous serpent episode just before that most familiar and often-quoted statement, “God so loved the world…” (see John 3:14). How do you make sense of this apparent cruelty?

We are dealing with very ancient material here, from a culture very different from our own. So, this business of Moses raising up a bronze serpent, and the people looking at it, will seem truly bizarre. But before you reject it as unimportant, struggle with it. Research it on your own. Prayerfully ask the Lord, “How is this your word to me today?"