Numbers 8:15-21:7 (21:9)
The journey doesn't always go the way we think it should. Isn't that one of the biggest struggles in our faith. We have these pictures of great and might acts that we would like to do for the faith. A Battle with Satan, snatching people out of the fires of hell. A missionary to a culture that has never heard of Jesus. (Which for some of us may actually be our work) Teaching or preaching to a multitude.
While some are called to those tasks, God's journey for you and me involves: crossing the street to the neighbor, walking around the cubicle at work, working in the nursery, teaching a SS class, and serving our families. And when you come to think of it, those are the mighty acts of faith God calls us to.
In our reading today, Israel goes on a journey from Sinai to Kadesh headed for the Promised Land. But, the journey doesn't go quite exactly as they planned.
They get tired of the manna and God brings them some quail. Aaron and Miriam get in a disagreement with Moses and Miriam gets leprosy.
Twelve spies go on a 40 day journey of the Promised land and ten spread a bad report to the assembly. So they rebel against God and refuse to go in to the Promised Land. For their disobedience, God punishes them so that they will have to wander the desert for 40 years. The whole assembly rebels and wants to stone Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb.
Korah starts a rebellion and God opens up the earth and swallows them. Miriam dies, they couldn't find any water, Edom won't play nice, and then Aaron dies.
Not exactly the journey to the promised land that they expected. Most of the problems brought on by their own disobedience and lack of faith. But were not done yet.
Num 21:4-9 The people start grumbling again.
"Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"
Evey parent has heard that from their child. "I don't want to go! I don't want that for dinner! I don't like it! Sounds way too familiar. At some point, we discipline our kids for whining and grumbling, and disobedience. And so does God, except this time he sent a bunch of venomous snakes. He provides the consequences because of His holiness, but He also provided the remedy because of His love and mercy.
"Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."
God says to the Israelites: Follow through on this one rule, just look at the snake and you will live. Just have faith in Me, and you will live.
And the message is the shadow of what is to come for all of us.
John 3:14-15 "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life."
The journey doesn't always go the way we think it should go, but the destination doesn't have to be a mystery. Jesus has been lifted up, and God has asked you and I to look up, have faith, and believe.
External Links:
From Sinai to Kadesh
http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/029.htm
Around Kadesh
http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/030.htm
The Twelve Spies Journey
http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/031.htm
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