FEBRUARY 12 | NUMBERS 21:4-9
- Judy Webb
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
DAILY READING
REFLECTION
We All Need a Little Jesus
By Judy Webb
They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea…, 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. (Numbers 21:4-6)
I recently received a note in the mail and inside the envelop was a tiny figure of Jesus. The note read, ‘everyone needs a little Jesus.” I thought this cute but also knew that there were many days I needed a great big Jesus. A Jesus too big to be confined to my pocket, but small enough to fit in my heart.
In the text today we see that the Israelites also needed a heart filled with goodness. The trip was long and arduous; the difficult journey gave everyone a short temper. Have you ever been on a trip that seemed to never end, the destination always just out of reach? Today we find Moses contending with an ungrateful group of people who complain and grumble at every turn. They not only grumbled against Moses but also railed against God. This didn’t end well for them; in fact, it was a death warrant for some.
After studying this portion of scripture, it is stunning to witness the Old Testament pointing us to Jesus. He is referred to, foreshadowed, and very present on the pages. The OT is full of these sorts of references. Have you seen it yet? Have you identified the verses about Jesus? Hint: read verses 7-8 and study them.
Who do you know was put on a pole and raised up for all to gaze upon? And then once they looked at the pole they were saved from death? The snake on the pole in verse 9 is symbolic—not magical! One commentary pointed out: To look upon the snake, the Israelites were admitting their sin. Looking into the mirror an unspoken confession was all it took to live. This was physical healing, not eternal salvation.
Fast forward a few thousand years and we see this scene play out in the life of Jesus Christ. As Christians we not only gaze upon the cross but believe Jesus died for us and our salvation. Jesus is the great big Jesus we all need to embrace.
PRAYER
Dear Lord,
We need you everyday. Life is so complicated at times and only Your Wisdom can show us the way we need to go. Thank you for always being available to us. Thank you for never changing your nature and for loving us constantly. Amen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JUDY WEBB
I have been a member of UALC for 26 years and have been writing devotions for this site for about 17 of them. Writing is my passion. As retired staff I still love everything about UALC and its members including my small group.
Thank you for pointing us to the later verses foreshadowing the cross of salvation Judy, and what a welcome reminder of how BIG Jesus is, yet small enough to dwell in our hearts. Love it!