"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.
8 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.”
9 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, he lived. "
Numbers 21:7-9
"Hezekiah removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. It was called Nechustan."
2 Kings 18:4
"Dear children, keep yourselves from idols."
1 John 5:21
There are many instances where the Lord did something awesome for the Israelites, but instead of thanking, praising, and glorifying God, the people turned the symbol that was used into an idol.
This was the case here...Just a piece of metal, but for hundreds of years it was worshipped and sacrificed to, instead of the Lord! In reading this, my first thoughts are, "How stupid can these people be, ignoring God and making up false gods like that?"
But people do this all the time. What is it about us-man-that turns away so easily, and gives that which belongs to God alone to another? Why do we seek to adore worthless things, and heep adoration on other devoted things besides the One who is worthy? Idolatry is equal to adultery, perhaps even graver, because it involves forsaking our eternal Bridegroom.
David said: "Create in me a pure heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me..."
As we enter the Days of Awe between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, let's purify our hearts and perspectives, and gravitate only to He who is worthy, forsaking all idols and graven images.
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