Tuesday, April 8th
Debbie Sones
“From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpent from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
As we are well into our journey through Lent, we too may have grown weary of the same routine day in and day out. Maybe you gave up your favorite food or drink or took on an exercise program that you now find too big of a commitment. Maybe you have grown tired of daily prayer, weekly worship or trying to faithfully follow Jesus.
In the scriptures given for today, God has punished the Israelites for their impatience and complaints of no food and water. He sent poisonous snakes to bite them and many of the Israelites died. But, God didn’t send the Israelites into the wilderness to die. He did provide them with food and water. But, this was not enough for them to be satisfied on their journey. This punishment is not the end of the story. God has given them the antidote of a serpent made of bronze that, once bitten, they only need look upon the serpent, and they will be healed.
The serpent lifted up on that pole is a familiar symbol we see today worn on Paramedics uniforms as a symbol of healing. It is compared to Jesus being lifted up on the cross for all who have been bitten, not by a snake, but by sin. If we look to Jesus on the cross, he is the antidote for our sin.
I can see in these scriptures that God’s patience is endless. His forgiveness is already given. Just as the prodigal son, before he could say anything to his father, he was already there to welcome him home, throw his arms around him and forgive him.
When I do grow impatient with circumstances in daily life, I look around me at the people of the Chapel of the Cross and realize I am not alone. I see God’s work in each of us. He is not giving up on us. We are not to the promised land yet, but we are on our way. He guides us to worship, to eat and drink from his Body and Blood, to prayer, to service to all in our Chapel community and our surrounding communities and the world. I see his steadfast love in my daily life and my faith is fulfilled.
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