The Rebellion
On their way to the promised land, the children of Israel became weary and began to complain. They longed for the ‘good old days‘, the days of their servitude in Egypt. Somehow, the memory of those days that they once dreaded became nostalgic. They forgot about the many arduous hours that they were required to work each day. Lost to their memory was the demanding deadlines. The remembrance of the many beatings and the slaying of their offspring was somehow erased. Instead, they reflected on the good things like the food, in particular the tasty, light bread that was their staple. And yes, the water – they had water. It was definitely not like it is now, where they are unable to quench their thirst.
God took offense and attacked them with venomous serpents. Realizing their misdeeds, they repented and asked to be forgiven. So what is God’s solution to the dilemma?
Meditate On The Serpent
What else but the obvious, he commands them to look to the serpent on a pole for their healing. Now is it not passing strange that in a book where the serpent is seemingly demonized, that it should be their only avenue of deliverance? Why would God instruct them to do this? Especially when the word ‘looked’ used in verse, does not mean to glance casually upon. Rather, it means: to look intently at.So in other words, Moses was instructing them that they had to meditate on the serpent in order that they might receive their healing. Meditate on a snake? Would that not, at the very least be idolatry, but even worst Satanic worship?
The Serpent Healer
‘The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake [saraph] and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake [nachash] and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.’
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The power is in knowing that you are the center of the universe