Thursday, June 9, 2011

Snake on a Stick

Jesus likens his death to Moses lifting the serpent in the wilderness. This story can be found in the book of Numbers 21:4-9. In a fit of discouragement the people spoke against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread” (manna).

Because of their ungrateful attitude, God sent poisonous snakes and people began to die. When they cried out for forgiveness God instructed Moses to put an image of a snake on a pole. Whoever looked at the serpent lived.

But God provided a way to escape his wrath against their ungrateful sin. So we look to Jesus’ crucifixion to forgive our sins against him.