[When available, audio recordings of these devotions are posted at http://www.redeemerclc.info/audio-devotions]
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Numbers 21:9 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.
SIN'S POISON COUNTERACTED
When the Israelites were traveling through the desert to the promised land of Canaan, they demonstrated time and again how vulnerable they were to Satan's temptations. God had shown them His lovingkindness in numerous ways by bringing them out of Egypt safely, rescuing them from Pharaoh's armies, providing them with food and water, and protecting them from danger. But they grew impatient with the Lord and started grumbling against the Him and Moses. As a chastisement for their sin God sent poisonous vipers into their camp. The vipers bit them and a great many died. When they called out to Moses for help, asking him to intercede for them before the Lord, the Lord instructed Moses to fashion a snake of bronze and put it on a pole. All who looked at the snake on the pole weren't harmed by the vipers' deadly venom.
Sin is like a lethal venom which the Old Serpent, Satan, has injected into our veins. It has been so ever since Eve succumbed to Satan's temptation in the beginning. Because of our transgressions we deserve to have God punish us with temporal and eternal death. Our only hope is to look in repentance and faith to the One lifted up on the cross for us. As Jesus told Nicodemus: "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life" (John 3:14-15) Again He says: "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:40).
Satan, hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ!
Drop your ugly accusation, I am not so soon enticed.
Now that to the font I've traveled, All your might has come unraveled,
And, against your tyranny, God, my Lord, unites with me!
(Worship Supplement 2000, 751:3)
