SOLACE ON THE HIGH PLACE

The mumbles and grumbles of the Israelites had gotten into God's nerves big time. They had gotten out of control. Moses and Aaron were totally worn out by their endless complaints. Through the journey in the wilderness, they never stopped pointing out how they wished they had died in Egypt. How devastated God must have been to hear them utter such misgivings. The many miracles God performed right before their eyes. The numerous victories He gave them over their enemies. The manna and the quails. All these lost significance to the children of Israel. They thought God was being unfair to them. Really? 

This allusion resonates with us in a big way. Life is like a mountain, one Congolese singer refrained. It has its highs and lows. When the tidings are favorable, we smile and sing with joy. However, when the bad times set in, we tend to be so frustrated that we even forget the good times. We start blaming God with some going to the extent of even doubting His existence. The Israelites did the same. They spoke against God and in the end, they faced the music.

After a couple of years spent wondering in the desert, two of Moses’ siblings, Miriam and Aaron, perished. The people mourned them for long and later moved on. They took long routes and the Israelites could not hide their impatience. Numbers 21:5 tells us that they spoke against God and Moses. They openly expressed their anger. God then puts them on the razor's edge. He could no longer stomach their mediocrity. The same Numbers 21:6-9 gives a very significant account the Israelites encountered. They had pushed God to the wall.

Our God truly is slow to anger. Instead of sweeping the Israelites off the face of the earth, He still gave them a chance. God sent venomous snakes among them and many died. They then went to Moses and begged him to pray for God's mercy for they had sinned. They wanted him to ask God to take the snakes away. God heard Moses’ prayer but He answered it His way. He asked Moses to make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. If anyone was bitten by a snake and he/she looked up at the bronze snake, he/she lived. All they had to do was just focus on the bronze snake. 

God could have taken the venomous snakes away, but He chose not to. He wanted us to draw something from this short encounter. We may go through difficult times: financial constraints, broken relationships, unemployment etc. Hard as it may seem, it is better for us not to grumble and complain like the Israelites did. Life is not meant to be a bed of roses. That is a fact. If we accept it, then we will be able to view life from a reasonable angle. The story of Job brings this out perfectly. Job had all He wanted and even more. When the worst came his way, he took it in as well. He never cursed God (contrary to the devil's expectations). He tells his wife off when she taunts him in Job 2:10, “…shall we accept only good from God and not trouble?” That kind of unwavering loyalty to God…amazing.

I cannot begin to imagine the kind of torment the Israelites experienced with the serpents. The bronze snake on the pole was their savior then. It may appear quite simple, focusing on the pole, but how come today it still proves challenging? Today, Jesus Christ is our bronze snake. To top it all, He did not just hang on the cross, Jesus died for our sins. He opened the door for our direct fellowship with God. Isaiah 53:5 puts it across wonderfully. The Lord chose to leave all His glory and power to come and die for us. We were not worthy but He did it all the same. Without a doubt, there is no greater love.

That higher place is always there. All we need to do is just focus on the Lord Jesus. We should not allow fear, doubt or worry to cloud our focus on the cross. Looking up at the bronze snake means trusting in God in whom we find infinite solace. Am certain many Israelites succumbed to the snake bites due to anxiety and doubt. The deal sounded too good to be true. Well, I tell you the truth, it's all for real and all for free. The tribulations may not be evicted from your life but the Lord promised, in Joshua 1:5, that He would never leave you nor forsake you. He will carry you through. 

The small snakes serve to test our faith in God. James 1:12 says”Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised those who love Him”. Thus, let us be steadfast and focus on the high place where our Lord is. He is faithful. Even when things don't go our way, let us still trust and praise Him at all times. The price at the end of the race is worth the tussle.