Thanks-Giving Experiment: Look and Live

How’s it going with the experiment? Remember, during the month of November, we’re elevating giving thanks in prayer and toward others. I know you’ll see for yourself that saying thanks more often actually changes the way you think, feel and, therefore, live.

Deliberately doing what Paul instructs, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) will actually make a difference in your life!

Now, to today’s inspirational thought.

There’s an interesting story in the book of Numbers that at first glance can be confusing.

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, they lived.” - Numbers 21:9

This passage comes out of a narrative that’s filled with problems.  I’m not going to go into the disobedience and ingratitude of the Israelites. I’m not going to go into God’s reaction to their sin: to send snakes among them to bite and kill them. (Uh, God?) I’m not going to go into the fact that when followers of the God of the Bible —Christians—usually think of a snake it immediately takes them to the serpent, aka, the devil in the garden. And yet…

Here in this Hebrew Bible passage, God instructs Moses to craft a bronze “snake” (the Hebrew translation is actually the word saraph, from which we get the word “seraphim”, interestingly enough), and get those who’ve been bitten and are now dying to look at this saraph, up on a pole, and live. 

Now, for God’s people today, long after this original narrative which implores us to look and live, we think of Jesus. This scene is a clear foreshadowing of the cross of Christ.

Held high on a pole, a tree, a cross, for all who would look, we would not die, but live.

It seems like basic instructions, but when the Israelites were in pain with venom in their bloodstream, while they watched their loved ones succumb to the same fate, while snakes slunk about setting the people of God into confusion, dismay, terror and pain, this simple instruction was probably a lot to ask.

Look and live.

• I’m thrashing about in pain, here! - Look and live.

• I’m really angry at you, God. - Look and live.

• I’m walking away. I’m done. - Look and live.

• I’m tired of your platitudes, Lord. - Look and live.

• I don’t understand your ways. - Look and live.

• I’m faithful, but it seems you really aren’t. - Look and live.

If you’ve looked once at the cross of Christ, you’re alive.

Don’t now look away.

Look again. And live.

~ Nancy

CALLING

This month, I’m taking my own advice: for every one look I take at my sin, at my situation, I’m taking nine at the cross. Join me, then give thanks for the Life found there.