Numbers 21:1-9
When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. Then Israel made this vow to the Lord: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities.” The Lord listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.
They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!
Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
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.
Why?
But the people grew impatient on the way"; There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!
Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived: Here symbolized look up Jesus on the cross will be alived and saved from the sins.
The Lord listened to the Israelites' plea and gave Canaanites over to them. Actually, they had no experience or weapons or strong fighters. For the Lord them so they may destroy them.
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20章發生亞倫和米利暗,過世,表示第二代的開始。舊生命不能進神的國,新生命才能進神的國。我們的舊生命死了,有了新生命才能進入神的國。
他們向耶和華發願,不是發怨言。出埃及後遇到的第二戰爭。在曠野,他們的敵人就是他們自己的私慾。發出的怨言和以前一樣,不信的心與想法仍然影響他們,人的罪會影響下一代,影響到我們的周圍,但是他們這次不一樣,不是摩西主動,百姓主動到摩西面前認罪,求神赦免他們。重生的人還是會犯罪,但是會認罪。仰望神就可以得醫治,看似毫無相關的事,這是考驗人是否真正願意悔改?其實和傷口沒有關係。神的方法是叫智慧人羞愧!以現在的說法應該說打毒蛇血清。
這次的災難得醫治不是普遍性、群體性,而是個別性的。不是一個代表來看銅蛇。信仰沒有派代表的。
人求的是什麼?蛇離開。神給的不是叫蛇離開。問題在於人是否聽話,危險的不是蛇,而是聽話。蛇掛起來已經表示蛇已經被殺了。考驗人是否相信神勝過蛇!神給的是更深層的,我們常常向神求的是膚淺的。
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How?
Pray to the Lord if the Lord listens it will be successes to our destination, and overcome our challenges in our jobs or life.