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That title is hopefully intriguing, although it might also sound provocative. How is it possible that there could be a serpent who saves? What’s even more intriguing is that it’s a picture of Jesus on the cross. What’s even more interesting is that it was Jesus Himself who connected the events in Numbers 21 to Him being lifted up on the cross.

When you come to Numbers 21, Israel has been in the wilderness almost 40 years. The issue in this chapter is the complaining and grumbling by the sons of Israel against God and against Moses. It’s almost 40 years later!

Israel wanted to pass through the land of Edom in order to get to the promised land. Edom controlled the trade routes and passing through their territory was the most direct route.

Moses sent emissaries to request permission, but they refused to allow Israel to pass through. This was discouraging and disheartening because the Edomites were the descendants of Esau and were therefore brothers. And because they were brothers, Israel did not wish to fight against them.

So Israel headed south to go around the land of Edom. They traveled so far south as to pass near the Red Sea, at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba.

But Israel became impatient because of the journey. Many commentators believe this would have been during the hottest part of the year and therefore a difficult time to be traveling this far south in the wilderness. Frankly, it would’ve been difficult no matter what time of year was.

In their complaining the people spoke against God and against Moses with the same complaint we have heard many times, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to die in the wilderness?” They insulted God even further, however, when they said untruthfully, “For there is no bread and no water.” There most certainly was. And then they brought their complaining to new heights when they said, “And we loathe this miserable food.” In other words, they hated and despised God’s provision of manna.

God uses difficult times to train and prepare you for what He knows is coming into your life in the future. God is building character and strengthening faith.

What did God expect? God expected them to persevere; to master the wilderness before it mastered them. Yes, the wilderness was difficult; it was adversity. But God chooses difficulties and adversities to bring spiritual maturity. Wouldn’t it have been better if they could have responded by saying, “Yes, this is hard, but God is preparing us for better things to come.”

I. Complainers Complain

 A tree is known by its fruit. The root of discontent and complaining is the heart. Complainers complain. There’s always something for complainers to complain about.

 These are the children of complainers. Do sons have to be like their fathers?

Numbers 14:18, “The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations.”

 It means that God will visit the children to the third and fourth generations to see if the iniquity of the fathers continues.

 You do not have to be like your father; this can end. It can end with you and it can end right here. Let this be the generation in which God does a new work.

A. Rise above your circumstances

 There is a bigger picture; there are deeper things. Some people live only in the moment and according to the circumstances.

 They were weary, impatient and tired. They had to turn south. That’s not the right direction and they knew it; it made them discouraged.

 It’s one thing to complain, but it’s another thing to complain against God and that’s what they were doing.

 Jesus said that the word of God is sown among men with different types of hearts. Some hearts are hard and cannot receive the word of God at all. Some receive the word with joy, at least at first, but when affliction or adversity arises, they are offended. And in this they accuse God.

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