I don’t know if you have had the opportunity to watch The Chosen, but if you haven’t, please try to tune in. It has deeply touched my heart as it tells not only of Jesus’ ministry while He was here on the earth, but also depicts the “what if” background stories of the twelve disciples when Jesus first called them. License is taken when painting the picture of what could have happened to bring the disciples face to face with Jesus. In this telling, their humanity suddenly comes to life.
Why it ministers so powerfully to me is that their stories are mine. I can see myself in their heartache, weaknesses, and sin. Each time Jesus’ love and forgiveness depicted on screen is given, it seeps into my heart reminding me that same hope is here for me and everyone who belongs to the Lord. The truth packed into episode seven, season one deeply impacted me.
In Numbers 21:4-6 nkjv, the Israelites found themselves in a horrific plight that I can barely imagine happening. Because they had grumbled against and not trusted in the Lord’s tender care for them in the wilderness, complaining, “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,” the Lord sent venomous snakes who bit and killed many.
Yikes! Thankfully, the Lord has not brought that judgment on us. The sad truth remains that at one time or another all of us have found ourselves in the shoes of the Israelites. We don’t truly trust in the Lord. In our weaknesses we grumble and stumble in fear. Whispers about what could happen tomorrow often push faith aside. Instead of taking refuge in, and looking to the Lord, we focus on our circumstances and ourselves. And the lament of “poor, pitiful me” sung by the Israelites becomes our own.
But the Lord in His graciousness provided a way for the Israelites to be saved from the snakes.
He didn’t rain fire from heaven that would burn the snakes up, nor bring torrential rain that would wash them away. What He did do was to require the Israelites to step out in faith, trusting and obeying what He told them.
“So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord said 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.” 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 21:7-9 nkjv
And that is the same requirement the Lord puts before us today. In faith, to believe and obey the Truth that we can only be saved by coming to Jesus just as we are.
Stumbling sinners in desperate need of a Savior.
The Israelites could no more save themselves from the poison of the snakes than we can from the venom of our own sinfulness.
Only Jesus can do that.
Trust in Him.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:14 nkjv
Heavenly Father, please forgive us when we don’t fully believe You. In Your mercy, please cleanse our hearts and give us Your faith to completely trust in and obey You. Only You, Lord, can do this. Thank You, Father God, for loving us.
In Jesus name,
Amen
Kimberly
Thank you, Kim! That’s just what I needed today.