Numbers 21-22

Now, Isreal seeks the Lord to defend themselves (they are being so good this time!) as they head toward Atharim.  The Lord allows them to defeat the Canaanites that had attacked them.

Then the Isrealites turn around and speak against God and Moses again because they were impatient (never mind that their wanderings were a result of their own sin; it was much easier to blame someone else for being uncomfortable.  We never do that, do we?) and the Lord sent venemous snakes.  The Lord told Moses to make a snake and put it on a pole and anyone who was bitten could look upon it and not die.  This was NOT idolatry, because the Lord directed this...this was a foreshadowing of Jesus being lifted up after he died on the cross....both events saved people from their sin....read John 3: 14-15.

The Isrealites continue on their travels and Sihon King of the Amorites and Og King of Bashan are defeated by the Isrealites.

Chapter 22 is dear to me, because I was in my forties and sitting with some great Baptist friends who were talking about a talking donkey in the Bible.  I could not believe it....This little Lutheran girl didn't learn about that in Sunday School.  This is why I believe everyone should read the Bible!  How do you know what the Truth is otherwise?  This little donkey saved Balaam the sorcerer's life.  The King of Moab wanted a curse on the Isrealites and Balaam was willing to travel far for money.  The Lord sent and angel to block Balaam's path, but the donkey could see it.  I LOVE how the Lord finally opened Balaam's eyes and he could see the angel of the Lord.  Remember when God opened Hagar's eyes and she saw a well that had been sitting there the whole time? This just shows me that there are things all around that the Lord has not let us see yet.  It is all part of the plan and we are in the process of having our Spiritual Eyes opened.  Thoughts?





These stained glass windows depict Moses lifting up the brass/bronze snake curing the Isrealites of snakebites.  Hezekiah (an Hebrew King we'll read about later) called the snake Nehushtan.



In 1508 Michelangelo Buonarroti, commissioned by Pope Julius II, painted on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel an image of the plague of serpents sent upon the Isrealites and their deliverance by the creation of the bronze serpent.