PODCAST
The Tongue That Bites
September 22nd, 2015
Numbers 21:4-9
The Israelites had just celebrated a battle victory, and in the beginning of our passage, they continued their journey. Along the way, however, they became impatient and discouraged. The people begin complaining against God and Moses for bringing them out of Egypt and into the desert. There was no bread or water there–only manna, God’s gift, which they now detested. Suddenly, their bitter tongues were silenced by biting, poisonous snakes, and many of the people died. God did not look kindly on His people speaking against Him, despising His gifts, and failing to trust Him.
The people cried out to Moses, “We sinned!” Moses then approached God on the people’s behalf. God’s instructions were to fasten a bronze snake to a pole and lift it up so the people could see it–“Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived” (Numbers 21:9b).
Once again, we see sin, sickness, pain, and death together. God also comes to us, but He comes with a promise: a promise of healing, tender mercy and loving kindness.
Author: Jack W. Eyestone
September 22nd, 2015 at 8:20 pm
This reminds me of Deuteronomy 7:14-15 You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and none of the evil diseases of Egypt which you knew will He put upon you, but will lay them upon all who hate you.
Declaration of Faith:
I believe there is no sickness in my house. The Lord has taken all sickness from me. He does not permit any of the diseases of the world to come upon my household. He sends them back into the devil’s camp instead.
Reference: The Complete Promise Topical Bible, James Riddle, p. 412