Numbers 21:8-9 ~ Devotion

⁸ The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.  (Numbers 21:8-9; NIV)

 

My friend and I were having a lively discussion on what it meant to “keep your eye on the ball.”  I said that I had always heard it used in the context of a pitcher and batter, with the batter having to keep his “eye on the ball” in order to hit it.  Harmon usually used it in reference to catching a ball that was being thrown to you – if you didn’t keep your eye on the ball, it would likely hit you in the face.  Regardless of who was right, we did agree that not keeping your eye on the ball spelled disaster.

 

The Israelites had been given a similar command by their God.  After yet another round of grumbling and complaining, the Lord had sent poisonous snakes into the Israelite camp.  The Israelites came to Moses, sorry for their sins against God, and “the Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”  The Israelites were told to keep their eye on the bronze snake, and they would live.  Those that believed the promise of the Lord and looked at the snake when they were bitten were saved!

 

Our God has promised something similar to us.  As we see our sins – whether it is a poor attitude toward the blessings God has showered in our lives, or complaining about blessings we don’t have that we think we need – we turn to our God like the Israelites in confession saying, “I did it.  I was wrong.  I have sinned.  I deserve your wrath and punishment,” and the Lord says to us, “Look at your Savior and live.”  As we keep our eyes on Christ our Savior in faith, we are saved from the spiritual poison of sin.  In fact, Jesus compared himself to the bronze snake in John 3.  And as we fix our eyes on Jesus, God promises us eternal life.

 

While here on earth, we will continue to struggle with sin and the effects it has on our lives, rest assured and live confidently that the poison of sin has been overcome by your Savior.  Keep your eyes focused squarely on him, and live!

 

 

Dear Lord, I come to you and ask for your mercy. No matter how hard I try to do only your will, I fail. There are so many things in this world that call to me. Show me your mercy and strengthen my faith so that you always will come first in my life. I ask for your mercy in Jesus name. Amen.

 

 

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Today’s Light Bible reading:  Numbers 19-20

 

To read today’s Bible reading online, click here.

 

Saturday’s “Today’s Light Bible” reading:  Numbers 21

 

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