In John 3:14-15, we read: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
She stepped out of the back door and realized she had stepped on something squishy. Down a couple of steps, she turned to see her dog step on the same thing. “Snake, snake,” she screeched. The tongue flashed from the head in the coil, watching her with his beady little eyes. He made himself quite at home. In her garage, of all places.
The sound of running feet. Her grandchildren had heard her summons. They stopped short when they saw the snake and--shut the door so it wouldn’t come into the house. Watching from the glass in the upper half of the door, they offered suggestions as to how to handle the snake.
She wanted help, not suggestions. She retrieved the shovel and made quick work of “snake removal.” No, she didn’t kill the snake (not poisonous) but was tempted. He had invaded her territory. She bopped him on the head, tossed him in the woods, with advice: Never return!
In Numbers 21:4-9, the account shows how the children of Israel became discouraged, whined and provoked the Lord. He sent fiery serpents which caused raging fevers and agonizing deaths to those bitten. The people cried out and God told Moses to make a bronze image of the serpent, set it on a pole and whosoever looked upon it would not die from the bites.
Discouragement, whining, provoking. I share all of the attributes of the Children of Israel without half-trying. Bitten by the serpent, he thought he had me. Then Jesus came. He declared that just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, if I would look upon Him as He was lifted up on the cross, I would not perish but have eternal life. The Lord Jesus, the sin offering to the Father, paid in full for all my sins and yours, paid by His death on the cross and lifted up for all to see.
Kingdom Thinking. Many stood around the cross the day that split history. Not all of them chose to look up and see a Savior...some saw only a man. Are you a ‘whosoever’? He has promised never to leave nor forsake you. He loves you with an everlasting love. Won’t you accept Him, the one who died for you?
She stepped out of the back door and realized she had stepped on something squishy. Down a couple of steps, she turned to see her dog step on the same thing. “Snake, snake,” she screeched. The tongue flashed from the head in the coil, watching her with his beady little eyes. He made himself quite at home. In her garage, of all places.
The sound of running feet. Her grandchildren had heard her summons. They stopped short when they saw the snake and--shut the door so it wouldn’t come into the house. Watching from the glass in the upper half of the door, they offered suggestions as to how to handle the snake.She wanted help, not suggestions. She retrieved the shovel and made quick work of “snake removal.” No, she didn’t kill the snake (not poisonous) but was tempted. He had invaded her territory. She bopped him on the head, tossed him in the woods, with advice: Never return!
In Numbers 21:4-9, the account shows how the children of Israel became discouraged, whined and provoked the Lord. He sent fiery serpents which caused raging fevers and agonizing deaths to those bitten. The people cried out and God told Moses to make a bronze image of the serpent, set it on a pole and whosoever looked upon it would not die from the bites.
Discouragement, whining, provoking. I share all of the attributes of the Children of Israel without half-trying. Bitten by the serpent, he thought he had me. Then Jesus came. He declared that just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, if I would look upon Him as He was lifted up on the cross, I would not perish but have eternal life. The Lord Jesus, the sin offering to the Father, paid in full for all my sins and yours, paid by His death on the cross and lifted up for all to see.
Kingdom Thinking. Many stood around the cross the day that split history. Not all of them chose to look up and see a Savior...some saw only a man. Are you a ‘whosoever’? He has promised never to leave nor forsake you. He loves you with an everlasting love. Won’t you accept Him, the one who died for you?