The people tested His patience. God became angry with the complainers during the 40 year wilderness experience and at other times. Miriam and Aaron complained against Moses’ leadership. Moses married an Ethiopian woman. Their real complaint (I think) was not about that; but more because of their selfish jealousy and envious nature. They wanted to be in charge and perhaps wondered why God had not selected them (now we know why)! This the same problem with Adam and Eve listening to evil voice and allowing the serpent to engage her and seduce and deceive, entrap her. She, as the mother of all living, thought everything over and made a pivotal decision for all mankind. Same “type” here. The people questioned Moses” right to be the leader. They decided to make a “golden calf” while he was on the mount. In other instances the “people” complained about water and food..unhappy with the heavenly menu God Almighty provided. Their behavior was not complimentary to themselves. It was detrimental to their destiny. Grumbling is expressions in a discontented manner. Complaining is similar: expression of dissatisfaction or resentment. Mummering is complaining with a low indistinct voice about being dissatisfied about something. There are other instances of mummering and complaining in the bible. Numbers 21:4-8 is a great example and can be directly linked to the New Testament and guidance to baptism and salvation. The grumblers are dissatisfied and a long way from home (in their shallow thinking). Even though God had delivered them from horrible hundreds of years enslavement and working miracles in their sight, they complained against Moses and against God about food and water. God held a conference with Moses. Numbers 21:4-8 “They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,to go around Edom. The people grew impatient on the way; 5 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!” 6 Then the Lord sent venomous (poisonous, stinging, burning) snakes among them; they bit the people and many (thousands) Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned (they learned a good lesson in a very hard way) 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 (Nachash: a shining thing of brass; saraph (Greek/Hebrew translations) burning because of their poisonous bite) (Isaiah 6:2 Genesis 3:1 says serpent: a hissing creature, the shrewdest beast”) Seraphim) brass snake, shining one in appearance and “fiery serpents”)He told Moses to put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.. This may be referenced to also by the snake logo demonstrated in the medical profession. What is the message here? Reading John 3:14,15 we receive clarity. We can immediately learn that not everyone looked at the bronze snake in faith. If everyone had looked at the bronze snake (in faith) they would have all been healed. But that’s not what happened. Some died; those who had not faith in looking at the bronze snake, did not live. Reading John 3:14 & 15 (14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up (means exalted in Greek). We find that Jesus talks about being lifted up. He is speaking of his crucifixion on the cross and exaltation into heaven where he will be lifted up. Bringing this home to our present day understanding, we find that when we look to Jesus the Christ and Messiah, our savior in faith, we can be saved. When we call on His name in faith and accept Him as Lord and Savior, we can receive the free gift of salvation. This ancient healing and salvation experience of looking at the bronze snake may also infer to us that them by glancing at the copper serpent, they are looking to our heavenly father for healing. Such was that same for the bronze snake. The burning serpents might be viewed as the sting of sin, which we can repent of and be healed of by looking up to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. After they (those who survived it) had perhaps forgotten about the “fiery serpent” experience, they began to worship the copper snake as a relic. That was not the purpose at all and that is a major problematic theme in the bible: pagans worshiping false gods and turning to worship of objects to be worshipped (Romans 1:21”For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.” God is not a man who will lie. He is sovereign. His word is irrevocable: (Psalm 119). Time is short ladies, gentlemen, sons and daughters. That is why I must be very honest with you. It’s time for real change and we must be prepared through the miracle of salvation. The pandemic, floods, rains, syberattacks and all these things are only a sampling (birth pangs) and nothing even near to what and how the end will be. Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker, Founder-Superintendent Today’s Fresh Start Charter School 323-293-9826 www.todaysfreshstart.org; Askdrjeanette® www.askdrjeanetteparker.com [email protected] “Inquiring minds want to know.”© All rights reserved. Ask Dr. Jeanette® Scripture references: Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14, 15; John 8:28-34; John 3:1-21; Genesis 3:1; Romans 1 & 2