Tag: accepting sin

Where are you looking?

Num 21-22

Ps 20

Mark 4

~ Devotion by Cayce Fletcher (SC)

Cayce Fletcher is a wife and homeschool mom of three. She writes and podcasts at amorebeautifullifecollective.com where she helps women cultivate a life of depth, discipline, and delight. Read the latest post on finding beauty in the everyday here. 

The Israelites are approaching the end of their 40th year wandering in the desert. The older generation had passed away, and the new generation was rising up and being prepared to enter the Promised Land. 

At the end of Numbers 21, Edom had refused passage to the Israelites, so the people were forced to take the longer way back around the Red Sea. In the quintessential Israelite fashion, they began to complain about Moses’s leadership and the ‘worthless food’ they were eating. So, God sent ‘fiery serpents’ to attack the people. 

Why fiery serpents? The word ‘fiery’ here is seraph. This could mean a venomous snake – whose bite would sting. But the word seraph is interesting. Fire throughout the Old Testament is often used to describe God’s judgment and holiness. By sending a fiery snake, God was inciting judgment on the Israelites for their complaints. 

Why fiery serpents? Ever since the Garden of Eden, serpents are synonymous with evil. Why would God send those to the people? David Christensen writes, “The serpents point to “Egyptian symbolism.”” The people had desired Egypt and its God, so God effectively sent them these things. But, of course, the effect of this is the opposite of what the people wanted. When the people get what they desire, it results in death. 

This is true for us as well. Sometimes, we desire what we should not. We complain. We get bitter. We think, if only I could have that instead of the worthless things around me. But when we get that desire, it results in death. James 1:14-15 describes it like this: “But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

Thankfully, our salvation mirrors the salvation found in this passage. Moses was told to put a bronze serpent on a stick, to lift it up, and anyone who looked at it would be healed. John 3:14-15 says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 

Left to our own desires and devices, we will follow a path that ends in death, but when we look to Christ as our sacrifice, savior, and King, we will find the path to eternal life. Where are you looking today?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Israelites wanted to go back to Egypt despite all they had seen? 
  2. Why do you think God sent the fiery serpents as a punishment? 
  3. How do you see yourself in the story of the Israelites? 

Prayer

Dear Lord, 

Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son, whom we can look to for eternal life. Help us to follow after you in obedience and reverence. Let us not turn away to our own desires. Help us to flee from them and run towards you. 

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

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In the Doghouse or in the Pasture?

Jeremiah 22-23

jeremiah22_29

Sunday, March 5

 

Wow.  There was some heavy material just in these two chapters.  I think it’s pretty safe to say that God is not messing around with this stuff… “Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors.  I will bring on you everlasting disgrace- everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.”  (Jeremiah 23:39-40 NIV)  I mean, at one point He even came at your mother!  (Jeremiah 22:26 NIV)

Obviously these commands that He mentions in 22:4 are incredibly important.  This is that point where your brain should be flashing red lights to remind you to pay attention!

In chapter 23 there is a big emphasis on false prophets and the trouble they are getting themselves into.  The thing that struck me here is that the prophets getting lectured aren’t only the ones that prophesied Baal, but also the ones who simply didn’t tell someone that they were doing wrong.  It makes sense to me that someone who is worshiping idols would be in trouble, but someone who was saying “You will have peace.” was a little harder to swallow.  These prophets were in the doghouse because they were accepting and condoning sin… probably with the intention of not hurting anyone’s feelings!  How often do we let “little” things slide like following their own heart versus God’s plan without us saying anything because we don’t want to come across as rude? I know I’ve done it!  We try and twist God’s words like fire (vs. 29) into something that makes us and others feel good and comfortable… but one day that’s going to come back to bite us.

With all of these warnings and pretty intense messages it is easy to skip over one of my favorite parts of these passages, starting in 23:3 with “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number.”  I love this because it shows that no matter who or what tries to get in the way, God has a plan and it’s going to happen my friends!  It doesn’t matter if we’ve been scattered across the world, the flock will eventually come home!  He has a part for everyone in His grand plan, but if you don’t step up He will get it done either way.  It’s up to you, but who wouldn’t want to take part in this?!?

-Sarah Blanchard

Sarah Blanchard is a senior in high school from Pine Grove Bible Church in Minnesota.  She recently got back from the Philippines with Moriah Railton where they were able to teach the book of Genesis to kids across the world!  FUEL is something Sarah looks forward to every year, and she is excited to come back again in 2017!

(Photo Credit: found at http://www.verseoftheday.com/en/07012015/)