I can only imagine Moses believing that he was traveling around in the wilderness with a million 7-year-olds. It may truly be the age of impatience--children who are sick and tired of travelling, or are so incredibly emotive that most of the ride or walk they are "dying" of hunger, "dying" of thirst, or the worst, "dying" of boredom. Rarely do they speak about the beautiful things of the journey. They persist in bashing that which is uncomfortable for them. They deserve better. They deserve more.
By the time we encounter Numbers 21, some unfortunate things have occurred in the lives of the Israelites. Miriam and Aaron have died. The Edomites have refused to let them travel through their country. Moses and Aaron struck a rock for water rather than spoke to it. It is a jumble of mini-catastrophies that find their apex in chapter 21. Rebellious hearts combined with short memories have embroiled a group riot against Moses and his leadership for God. They believe that Moses has no idea what he is doing. They've seen the Red Sea before. Why are they going there again? If they can beat Arad, why can't they beat Edom? And now the kicker. We still have the same food, which in their minds is no food at all. They rebel. They scream. They throw a tantrum. "We loathe this worthless food!" (5) The miracle of God, the bread of contentment, has now become something they despise.
And before we go off on some self-righteous rant, we better see our own breaths fog up the mirror first. What miracles of God do I find little contentment in? I wake up with aching muscles and joints and wonder why do I always have to hurt? (You can walk, child.) Why does it have to be so cold? (I am a God of creative wonder.) Why? Why? Why?
For the Israelites, God gives a consequence of wonder. He draws them back to Eden when their first parents would despise the serpent. The snake was always a reminder of their sin and now it has come to bite them in the, ahem...The serpents are sin personified--well--reptilified. They are the visible evidence of what sin has done since the fall. And now they plead for God to take them away.
God does what he does. There are consequences, but there also may be healing. "Fashion a fiery serpent and set it on a wooden pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live." Notice God doesn't take the serpents away. He makes the people stare at the picture of their sin on a pole. It is hideous and horrible. God wants them to fix their eyes on the offense.
God wants us to fix our eyes on the offense. To cement our eyes on the pole to which is pinned the consequences of our sins. He who knew no sin became sins that we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5) Fortunately, we are also to fix our ears to the echo of the empty tomb. And fix our lives to the resurrected Christ who left our offense in the grave where it rightfully belongs.
And so this day, we have nothing to complain about on our journey. We are not dying of hunger, thirst or boredom. We are dying to see Jesus who is the author and perfecter of faith.
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