ASSEMBLY YOUTH

Wilderness Years
the bronze serpent
by A. Wood

In Numbers 21 verses 4-9 we have the bronze serpent that was lifted up, that Jesus talks about in John 14. But before we jump to this point, what led up to this? Well Israel is once more impatient, once more they are not content with what God has planned for them. It's amazing, roughly 4000 years have passed, and are we not the same? So often we want God to do things our way in our time, instead of waiting patiently for what God has planned in His time. Just as the Israelites had to learn to wait, so do we.

In judgement, God sends forth "fiery serpents" whose bite kills many of the Israelites. The Israelites come to Moses, repent and ask him to intercede on their behalf. Likewise when we sin against God, we need to come to Jesus, to repent and ask Him to intercede on our behalf. God's response was an interesting one.

Rather than just taking away the serpents he had sent, he got Moses to build a bronze one. God decreed, that anyone who was bitten, looked upon this bronze serpent then they would live. Our actions can never make things right with God, but in His grace, He accepts us by faith in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. For we read in John 3v14-15: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Please send any comments you have on this article to a.wood@assemblyyouth.net


Dare to be a Daniel
God is still on the throne
Next month: are you possessing the land.
 
Thought for the month
Testimony
Wilderness Years
 
Last month: How soon we forget.

All quotes are from the English Standard version of the Bible unless otherwise specified.