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SPEAKING AGAINST THE LORD

Text: Numbers 21
14 September 2009

SPEAKING AGAINST THE LORD
“And the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way.
And the people spoke against God and against Moses:
‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?
For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” Numbers 21:4-6

1. Danger of discouragement

a) It can cause people to speak against the Lord

b) It can cause people to sin grievously

2. Content of complaint

a) Same old issue- Leaving Egypt
“Why have you brought us up out of Egypt?”

b) Same old issue- Wilderness
“To die in the wilderness”

c) Same old tired issue- Provision
“No food and no water”

d) New element- despising of God’s special provision of Manna
“And our soul loathes this worthless bread”

JUDGMENT AGAINST THIS COMPLAINING SPIRIT
“So the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.” Numbers 21:6

1. Fiery serpents

a) These were snakes

b) The wilderness was a natural habitat of some species of snakes

c) They were prevented from attacking Israel by the pillar of fire at night

d) Once that protection is lifted, the fiery serpents would be able to attack the children of Israel easily

2. Many people died from the snake bites
This was swift judgment from the Lord

THE CONFESSION OF THE PEOPLE
“Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD that He take away the serpents from us.'” Numbers 21:7

1. Confession of sin

2. Content of sin declared

a) Speaking against the Lord

b) Speaking against Moses

3. Plea entered

a) Intercessory prayer

b) Specific prayer that the snakes be removed from the Campsite

MAKING OF THE BRONZE SERPENT

1. Moses in prayer
“So Moses prayed for the people” Numbers 21:7f

2. God’s Reply
“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.'” Numbers 21:8

a) The symbol of the bronze serpent

b) The repentant sinner must look at this symbolic serpent with a contrite heart

3. The making of a bronze serpent
“So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.” Numbers 21:9

a) The bronze serpent had no magical powers to heal

b) The healing power was to be found in God

c) There must be contrite confession of sin

d) There must also be a look of faith

Hopefully, the children of Israel would learn about how the deadliness of sin!