God Orders a Graven Image for Healing? Numbers 21:9

Saturday

Highlights

There are four main “rabbit trails” in Mark 1:29-39. First, we have the fact that Peter was or at least had been married. Perhaps more than once if widowed. Second, we have the healing of the mother-in-law. The mother-in-law theme will be contrasted with the mother-in-law Naomi in the Book of Ruth during my message tomorrow. Third, we have the healing itself. Which we have discussed in detail in yesterdays posting. And, fourth I want to contrast this healing with Numbers 21:9 regarding the healing of the disobedient Israelites and a thing called Nehushtan. The story in Numbers 21:9 teaches us to look up for our healings!

In Depth

The people were disobedient. While in the wilderness they became disappointed with God’s provision. We often become disappointed with God’s provision for two reasons. First, we confuse our wants with our needs; And/or second, even if our needs will be provided, we want them delivered on our timing and not God’s. So, as is often the case, since we are all concerned about God ‘hurrying up,’ God then provides a catalyst to hurry us up in our faith! Who says God does not have a sense of humor? In this example, God sent poisonous serpents. Actually, the poisonous serpents were already on earth, but the Israelites were so busy shaking their fist at God, they evidently walked into a viper nest. God wants your eyes and your heart, so your hands will do His work using God's timing. In any event, God always makes a way to escape… especially when we don’t deserve it! First Corinthians 10:13 says…

“No temptation (sin, obstacle, problem, difficulty, etc) has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, God will also provide a way to escape, so that you can endure it.”

Therefore, we need a ‘way’ to escape. So, God tells Moses to make a graven image. What!!!!! I thought God had a rule against that? Well, I am not going to tell God what He can and cannot do. Now back to the story! God tells Moses to make a bronze (brass-brazen) snake and put it up on a pole. He instructs Moses to tell the Israelites that if they ‘look up” at the serpent, they will be healed. Sure enough! It worked! So, why an image? Well God often uses our weaknesses to encourage us in the right direction. Remember? Pastor Jim became a Christian because he was chasing a girl in high school. That girl invited him to a Campus Crusade for Christ Conference. I never got the date, but I found Jesus! In any event, in our most ‘unspiritual’ mindsets, God does whatever it takes to bring redemption. Later on, this image called Nehushtan, was worshiped as an idol and Hezekiah was praised by God for destroying it.

“Hezekiah removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)” 2 Kings18:4

In other words, what was meant to be metaphor for Jesus Christ…

¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.” John 3:14-14

Had ceased from being a metaphor and now had become a god in it's own right! Is it any wonder God gets a little frustrated???

Well, here is the point, we all need healings! At any point in time we may need a physical healing, but we need spiritual healings at a greater frequency. You can take your spiritual healing WITH YOU, but not your physical healing. Think about that!

Here is some humor…

Trying to disprove the saying “You can’t take it with you,” a stingy old lawyer, diagnosed with a terminal illness, finally figured out how to take at least some of his fortune with him when he died. He instructed his wife to go to the bank and withdraw enough money to fill two pillowcases. He then told her to take the bags of money to the attic and leave them directly above his bed. When he passed away, he planned to reach out and grab the bags on his way to heaven. Several weeks after the funeral, his wife, up in the attic cleaning, came upon the two forgotten pillow cases stuffed with cash.

“Oh, that old fool!” she exclaimed. “I knew I should have put the money in the basement.”

See you tomorrow IN CHURCH!