Discover His heart: Because He loves us so, He has provided salvation through His Son
After seeing hundreds of young lives receive salvation and a touch by His Spirit at camp one summer, we drove the 45 minutes home over the weekend to get refreshed, wash clothes and buy supplies for the next week of camp. This particular weekend my husband Tom was out ministering, but I stayed home with our children. I got up one night to visit the bathroom, and when just about finished, I looked down at the floor and saw movement. It was a snake.
The snake in my bathroom had to be reckoned with because this worn out body would not get needed rest for the week ahead with a snake in the house. I prayed for His strength, woke up my 9-year-old son and loaded us up with shovels and hoes. We went after that 14-inch snake as though our lives depended on it, and got it! Unfortunately, the Israelites’ snake encounter did not go as well for them.
@ Numbers 21
The Israelites had just won a huge battle and defeated the Canaanites. The Promised Land was within a few days reach after 40 years in the desert, but they became impatient. They knew the journey ahead through Moab would be long, they were tired of manna, and they wanted to possess the land now. They complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?’ they complained. ‘There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!’ So the Lord sent poisonous [fiery] snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died.” (5-6) Oh…
“Then the people came to Moses and cried out, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.’ So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord told him, ‘Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!’ So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed!” (7-9) In a vulnerable moment after a great victory, the Israelites sinned, but a replica of the very thing that had caused them pain became their salvation. In just a short time they went on to possess their land.
I don’t remember complaining about anything that summer weekend invoking a snake encounter to bring about correction from the Lord like the Israelites experienced. I do know that I was worn out, somewhat depleted and a perfect target for the enemy who sends His fiery darts in weak moments. It’s often after a great victory for the Lord, like the powerful camps we had experienced or the Israelites’ mighty victory, that the enemy brings his attack. However, Jesus has already provided the remedy for us.
“And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15) Jesus became sin (2 Cor 5:21), became the very thing that was killing us so that we may be saved and have eternal life with Him.
And we may also look to Him for salvation from the enemy’s fiery attacks against the body, soul, and spirit. The enemy did not win in my life that weekend, and we went on for yet another great week at youth camp, lives changed by the power of God. When we turn our focus to Jesus, high and lifted up, whatever our fiery trial may be, He will bring victory.
Moving Forward: Jesus lifted up! I look to Him today for salvation and deliverance because He paid the price for me on the cross.
Tomorrow @ 2 Chronicles 1-5
Phyllis Benigas 