A Snake That Saves Series

The venom of the African black mamba is one of the deadliest poisons. Within minutes of a bite, the central nervous system begins to shut down culminating in convulsions, paralysis, and a suffocating death. Researchers have discovered that this deadly venom also contains a potent painkiller known as mambalgin, which is as effective as morphine. But unlike morphine, mambalgin does not lead to tolerance or addiction, and has no dangerous side effects. The same snake that causes horrible death also holds the key to incredible relief. (Chaya Shuchat)

As we continue our Moses: Made for More sermon series, we’ll see how a snake caused the Israelites both pain and relief. What’s more, this snake incident will help us understand how God brings us eternal relief from our sins. Listen to these selected verses from our text.

In our sermon last week, the Israelites were camped at the foot of Mt. Sinai where they had received the Ten Commandments and promised to obey them. But we also learned how they smashed the very First Commandment when they worshipped an idol in the form of a golden calf. Today’s sermon takes place about 40 years later. We’re skipping over how the Israelites once stood on the edge of the Promised Land, but like the toddler who won’t jump into a pool because he thinks it’s filled with sharks, the Israelites refused to take possession of the Promised Land because they thought there was no way they would be able to dislodge the Canaanites who lived there, even though this is what God promised he would give them the ability to do. For their lack of faith, God threatened to destroy the Israelites. Again, Moses intervened as he did with the golden calf. He said: “In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” (Numbers 14:19) God responded: “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. …Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness.” (Numbers 14:20-23, 33)

It would take 40 years for the rebellious generation to die off. Those 40 years were now coming to an end. A new generation of Israelites was poised to enter Canaan. But were they any different than their parents? No. When they ran out of water, as had their parents shortly after leaving Egypt, the new generation too complained: “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place?” (Numb. 20:5)

I love Moses’ response. When confronted with this challenge for which he had no immediate answer, he ran to the Lord in prayer (Numb. 20:6). Do you do the same thing? I know I often don’t. When people share their troubles with me, I often feel so inadequate. Can I give relief to someone who has back pain? Can I cover a family’s financial shortfall? Can I fix a marriage? No. But I know someone who can, and so do you. Like Moses, let’s not hesitate to go to the Lord in prayer. In fact, offer to pray with the person who is hurting and then continue to look for solutions to the problems, trusting that God is on the job.

God had a solution for Israel’s latest water shortage. He directed Moses and Aaron to take that special staff, the one they had to use to strike the Nile River and turn it to blood 40 years earlier, the same staff that Moses had waved over the Red Sea so that it parted, and the staff with which Moses had struck a rock near Mt. Sinai and caused water to come gushing out. With that staff in hand, they were to go to a rock in full view of the Israelites and…speak to it. God promised water would come pouring out when they did. Just as when God spoke at Creation and brought forth light, water, and air out of nothing.

When’s the last time you had a conversation with a rock? While there are many who think that the red rocks in Sedona can do amazing things, I’ve never seen a rock play the role of vending machine—like the rock Moses was to address was going to do. But Moses never did end up speaking to that rock. Instead, he scolded the Israelites: “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” (Numb. 20:10) He then proceeded to hit the rock with his staff…twice. Water came gushing out in abundance and quenched Israel’s thirst. But the Lord was not pleased with Moses and Aaron. He said: “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” (Numb. 20:12)