Read: The serpents and the cross
So many children's Bible story books do not cover this wonderful story, so try to find one that does or read to them from your Bible today.
- The Gospel Story Bible: God Heals Israel with a Bronze Snake (84-85)
- The Ology: God's Holiness Cannot Be in the Same Place as Sin (85-87)
- God Gave a Way to Cover Sin (89)
- Jesus is the Sacrifice We Need (90-91)
Sing: Hark the Herald
Think: Hebrews 12:2
Pray: pray with your children that they would see their sin as poison and that they would look to God for life
For You
Numbers 21:4-9
John 3:1-21
Hebrews 12:2
I LOVE this story. This is one of the clearest pictures we have in the Old Testament pointing us and our children to our need for Jesus and His grace. God's people are needing to be rescued ... again. God has rescued His people so many times and led them through the wilderness on their way to the land He has promised them. They had everything they needed ... but they didn't think so. Instead of praise and adoration for all God had done for them, the desert is filled with sounds of complaining and grumbling.
Sadly, God's people chose to ignore God's good Word and doubt His care for them. God sent fiery serpents as judgment. Many people died. Sin hurts so much... Sin leads to death. God's people could NOT save themselves. Salvation had to come from someone else.
God gave His people a way to be rescued! (Doesn't He always?!) Moses (as mediator) pled with the LORD to take away the snakes. God, in His graciousness provided a way of escape. God's instructions were followed, and all the people had to do was to look at the pole with a snake on it when bitten and live. Those who believed God's Word and promise, lived. God promised life to those who trusted in Him for salvation. Sound familiar?
The snake may seem like an odd choice for God to ask His people to look at... a picture of pain, sin, and death. (Remember the garden a few days ago?) When God asked His people to look at the serpent, it was like they were seeing their sin up there on that pole. The snake was the reminder of a promised Deliverer. - One whose heal would be bruised, but Who would crush the sin that infects us all!
Written across the pages of my life are so many moments of grumbling and complaining. So often, I doubt or even ignore God's good Word instead of praising the God Who provides, leads, and rescues me....and keeps His promises. God delights in saving His people - He delights in saving me! And it's a good thing, because I cannot rescue myself.
We are just like those people in the desert. We have all been bitten by sin, and its venom leads to death. We cannot remove the venom of sin out, nor can we cut it out. Sin has spread through every part of us. Life and salvation must come from an outside source, or we will certainly die.
Enter the Rescuer - God has provided a way for His people through the PROMISE of salvation....and it was on another pole. My sin wasn't pictured as a venomous snake hung around a pole. No, my sin was fully placed on the shoulders of a Son - One who lovingly and willingly hung Himself around a pole for me. I look at that pole and see my sin nailed to it. I look at that pole and see Jesus.
So here I am, looking up at the cross to live while God looked down upon His Son and then looked away because Jesus actually became sin for us. When I look at that pole, the cross, I behold Him ...the only one who could fulfill the promise and bring me life. And now, when God looks at me, He sees only Jesus' righteousness because my sin is no more.
Tidings and tidbits:Sadly, God's people chose to ignore God's good Word and doubt His care for them. God sent fiery serpents as judgment. Many people died. Sin hurts so much... Sin leads to death. God's people could NOT save themselves. Salvation had to come from someone else.
God gave His people a way to be rescued! (Doesn't He always?!) Moses (as mediator) pled with the LORD to take away the snakes. God, in His graciousness provided a way of escape. God's instructions were followed, and all the people had to do was to look at the pole with a snake on it when bitten and live. Those who believed God's Word and promise, lived. God promised life to those who trusted in Him for salvation. Sound familiar?
The snake may seem like an odd choice for God to ask His people to look at... a picture of pain, sin, and death. (Remember the garden a few days ago?) When God asked His people to look at the serpent, it was like they were seeing their sin up there on that pole. The snake was the reminder of a promised Deliverer. - One whose heal would be bruised, but Who would crush the sin that infects us all!
Written across the pages of my life are so many moments of grumbling and complaining. So often, I doubt or even ignore God's good Word instead of praising the God Who provides, leads, and rescues me....and keeps His promises. God delights in saving His people - He delights in saving me! And it's a good thing, because I cannot rescue myself.
We are just like those people in the desert. We have all been bitten by sin, and its venom leads to death. We cannot remove the venom of sin out, nor can we cut it out. Sin has spread through every part of us. Life and salvation must come from an outside source, or we will certainly die.
Enter the Rescuer - God has provided a way for His people through the PROMISE of salvation....and it was on another pole. My sin wasn't pictured as a venomous snake hung around a pole. No, my sin was fully placed on the shoulders of a Son - One who lovingly and willingly hung Himself around a pole for me. I look at that pole and see my sin nailed to it. I look at that pole and see Jesus.
So here I am, looking up at the cross to live while God looked down upon His Son and then looked away because Jesus actually became sin for us. When I look at that pole, the cross, I behold Him ...the only one who could fulfill the promise and bring me life. And now, when God looks at me, He sees only Jesus' righteousness because my sin is no more.
The Snake Crusher has crushed the snake. We must only look and live.
Beneath the cross of Jesus
I long to take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land,
a home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat
and the burdens of the day.
Upon the cross of Jesus,
my eye at times can see
the very dying form of one
who suffered there for me.
And from my trite heart, with tears,
two wonders I confess:
the wonder of his glorious love
and my unworthiness.
I take, O cross, your shadow
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine
than the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all, the cross. -E. Clephane
- For a fun Christmas pops cd, try this one. It is one of my favorites.
Resource Corner
I wanted to share two resources that I find helpful to read to my children along with this particular Bible story about the bronze serpent pointing to Jesus. The first is Pilgrim's Progress. My children absolutely love this particular edition because of the pictures on each page. In particular, I like to read the chapter when Christian looks at the cross and his burden rolls away. This is a powerful picture for children, and Christians looks at the cross like the Israelites had to do. So, if you have a copy of Pilgrim's Progress (please get one if you don't already have one), find that chapter and read it to your children. Another wonderful edition for children is this one.
The second book is another favorite of ours. The Prince's Poison Cup is a wonderful story that reflects what Jesus has done for us in taking the poison of sin. The imagery is very vivid and clear. If you have children who like adventure and princes and king stories, this is a great book to have. We have read this over and over, and this book also goes along very well with today's Bible story. I would highly recommend getting this book to add to your library.
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