Water Out of the Rock/ Bronze Snake
January 11, 2012
The lesson for this week covers Exodus 17:1-7 and Numbers 21:4-9. We look at two different times the Israelites complain about a lack of water in the desert and two different ways the Lord responds
Around the Table:
Again we see the Israelites complaining. They were concerned about their lack of water. Planning for water in the desert is important. However, complaining and thinking that you are going to die when you have seen plenty of evidence that the Lord is with you is another.
The Israelites showed a lack of faith that God would provide. The first time they complain about water, the Lord delivers by having Moses split open a rock and a fountain of water came out. The second time the Israelites complained about water we read in Numbers 21:4-9. The Lord responds differently this time around. Instead of just delivering the water, poisonous snakes are sent upon the camp.
Why would God allow poisonous snakes to attack His people. Why would God allow such a thing to happen? In a word, discipline. The Lord needed to remind the Israelites who their deliverer was. It was not Moses, it was God. Notice that God does not leave the people to die from the snake bites. If the people looked up at the bronze snake then God would save them. Just as God needed and needs to discipline His people, parents must be willing to discipline their children. Discipline is not mean, it is necessary to help children learn to respect their parents and ultimately the Lord.
Ask your children:
Did the Lord discipline the Israelites because he was mean or because he loved them?
How is it loving to be disciplined?
How does discipline help us learn to respect our parents?
Personal thoughts:
It is easy to look at this story and say that God is “mean”. Why not just deliver water and be done with it. This story was meant to remind the Israelites who ultimately saved and freed them from Egypt. Just like today, 1Peter 1:18-19 reminds us that we are redeemed by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 reminds us that we are brought near to God by the blood of Christ. How true was this to the Israelites in the desert when they were faced with life or death after being bitten by a snake. They could choose to shun God and die, or they could “look to the staff” and be saved.
There are many “do it yourself” guides our there. The bible is not one of them. God's word repeatedly shows us that on our own merits we fall short. We need to gaze up toward God. We need to be guided by God and not rely on our own understanding or our own talents. Have you taken your gaze off of God recently. All you have to do is look up and He is there.
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