Snake Bite
Philosophy View of snake
A long limbless reptile which has no eyelids, a short tail and jaws that are capable of considerable extension, some snakes have venomous bite.
A treacherous of deceitful person.
A long flexible wire for clearing obstacles in piping.
Biblical view of snake
And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us everyone, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, no doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
And he shook off the beast into the fire and felt no harm.
Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
Acts 28:1-6 KJV
Sometimes it is so hard to deal with people’s gripes and grumbles because it can wear you down. Moses and Aaron were constantly dealing with discontented people, it was difficult for them.
Moses was a Hebrew Prophet, teacher and a leader who delivered his people from the Egyptian slavery. He was also the founder of the Jewish community known as Israel. He was one of the greatest leaders in all the bible, he never thought of himself as eloquent and was insecure but God used him in a mighty way.
Aaron was a Prophet, high priest, and the elder brother of Moses. Aaron grew up with his elder sister, they remained with their kinsmen in the eastern borderland of Egypt.
The children of Israel became impatient with their leaders and with the direction the Lord was taking them. According to Numbers 21:3 the Israelites had just won a military victory and became self-confident
And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.
Numbers 21:3 KJV
Many of us as Christians when we overcome our obstacles, we turn our backs on God just like the Israelites who blasphemed God, rejected Moses, and complained about the manna, the bread from heaven.
In the book of Numbers 21:5 The NIV said “we detest this miserable food” The KJV stated it like this “our soul loatheth this light bread” they constantly complained that they hated God’s provision for them.
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!” Numbers 21: 5 NIV
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. Numbers 21:5 KJV
By rejecting the food, they were rejecting God’s gracious provision. According to the book of John Jesus made it clear that he is the bread of life.
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
I am that bread of life.
Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead.
This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eats of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever
John 6:32-35, 48-51,58 KJV
Some parents find it difficult to cope with their children when they are misbehaving or out of control, but if they were to get in trouble the parents will be the first person to find a way for them to escape, in the natural, so in the spiritual. Numbers 21: 8-9 echoes that God’s response was to send poisonous snake among the people when they chose to grumble and complain and many died. God judged their complaining attitude but also provided a way of escape. God’s solution was a bronze snake on a pole and whoever looked at the snake lived.
And the Lord said unto Moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looked upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Numbers 21:8-9 KJV
It is easy to complain but, it is wrong. The bible says we must not do it. Paul warned the Corinthians not to “put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites”
I know that in the body of Christ some of us can be very contentious, What do I mean by contentious? arguing and disagreeing 1st Corinthians 10:9 warns us that we should refrain from complaining and arguing.
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents
1st Corinthians 10:9 KJV
In the New Testament Jesus used that story to teach that sin is like a snakebite, it gets into your spiritual bloodstream and, unless you repent and look to Jesus on the cross as your only hope for healing and life, we will die in our sins. As Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted on a pole so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:14-15KJV
Once we have received eternal life:
We usually do not stop complaining overnight.
Complaining has no place in a believers’ life.
Complaining is habit- forming and can be self-destructive.
Complaining is sin, especially when God says he will provide for us all we need in Christ. We need to continue looking to the One who was lifted high above the earth to save us like the snake on the pole in the wilderness.
We should be mindful of grumbling about our family, spouses, children, church and friends. Life can feel like a desert at times, and we may be hot, tired and exhausted and yearn for a new place but beware of complaining about everything or anyone, it can be like a poisonous snakebite.
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