A Bronze Snake Lifted Up

Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak 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 snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. 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! Numbers 21:4-9

Bronze Cross from Portugal

Grumbling resulted in punishment…snakes! Wasn’t that snake in the Garden of Eden enough? No. The Lord sent poisonous snakes to punish those undeserving, complaining Israelites. But once again, God had a plan. This plan involved a bronze snake on a pole. Anyone who looked at the bronze snake was healed. Sounds similar to when people look to the Cross today—to Jesus’ Cross. They are spiritually healed. Jesus Himself used the example of Moses and the bronze snake when talking to the Pharisee Nicodemus about spiritual birth and eternal life.

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.

Look to the Cross—look to Jesus.

Read that scripture passage in Numbers 21 again. The people realized that they had sinned against the Lord and against Moses. They repented. That is an important part in a relationship with the Lord. Another thing to note is that those who were obedient to the Lord’s saving instructions—look at the bronze snake—were healed.

Look to the Cross—look to Jesus and believe in Him. You will have eternal life.

Prayer ~ Lord Jesus, Thank you for being lifted up the Cross as a sacrifice  for us…that we may have eternal life—and live with You forever.

Daily Bible Reading: March 3 – Numbers 18-20

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

As usual every Friday is Feast Day—Feasting at the King’s Table. We can’t live on just spiritual food …nor can we live on bread alone. Do you feel like the Israelites who complained to Moses that they hated manna? We’ve got to have some meat and veggies. Here’s a family favorite from my Aunt Mercedes that she got from Grandma Caroline.

Cabbage Rolls

Head of Cabbage – Use 8-10 outer leaves whole, then finely chop about 2 cups cabbage.

1 pound ground beef, browned

1 cup cooked white rice, or brown rice (start with ¼ cup uncooked)

1 small onion, chopped fine

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp dry parsley, optional

Salt and pepper, as desired (about ¾ tsp salt and a dash of pepper)

Be sure to steam the outer cabbage leaves, or at least pour boiling water over the leaves to wilt them. You could microwave them for a minute. Mix beef, rice, onion, garlic and seasonings. Then wrap the mixture into the wilted outer cabbage leaves, place on the chopped cabbage in a pan, add about 1 cup of water, cover and cook on low heat for about 1½ hours.

© 2017 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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