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A Bronze Snake and a Cross Lifted High

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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." 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)

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We often forget that we have been given great grace by God.

Still we complain to God about little problems.

A long time ago, the Israelites made the same mistake.

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The Israelites were freed by God and lead from Egypt where they had lived as slaves. And they went through a desert to go to Canaan, their hometown.

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There was no food in the desert and it was hot during the daytime and it was cold at night. Therefore, by day, God led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire not to be cold.

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God let loving people eat Manna every morning so they wouldn’t starve in the desert.

And if they wanted to eat meat, God let them have quail.

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The Israelites gave thanks to God.

Yet, quickly again, their thankful hearts turned back to complaining.

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So the people went to Moses and spoke against God. They said,

“Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert?

There is no bread and there is no water. We detest this miserable food!” When they were liberated from being the slaves of Egypt, they gave thanks to God. As they faced each new little problem they forgot all about God’s previous grace that He had given to them.

So God was very angry.

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God sent venomous snakes among them.

So many snakes came out from here and there to bite the people.

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The venomous snakes bit people who spoke against God and Moses.

The people ran away from the venomous snakes.

The place instantly turned into a madhouse.

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The poison spread throughout the people’s whole body. The sounds of the death agony’s cries were heard from near and far. People who forgot God’s Grace and spoke against God were severely punished. Many people began to die by the poison. Finally, they realized their own faults and came to Moses and begged for forgiveness. “We have sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.”

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God explained to Moses the remedy for the sick people to be healed.

Though we do wrong if we beg for forgiveness, God will forgive us, too. For God is love.

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God said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole.

Anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."

So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole.

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Moses said to people,

“People who have been bitten! Look at the bronze snake.

Then all of the poison in your body will disappear and you will be clean. God has listened to your prayer.”

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 The people who listened to Moses and looked at the bronze snake with faith were healed miraculously. The poison disappeared and they became clean.

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We were also put before death by sins like the Israelites.

The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) We are all poor people.

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But Jesus died on the cross for our sins to be cleaned just like when the people looked at the bronze snake and were cleaned. Now whoever looks at Jesus with faith, all their sins will disappear and will be able to go to heaven.

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I hope that you, worshiping friends, believe in Jesus who died on the cross.

So that you can receive His gift of living forever with Him in heaven.