Un-Complicated
One of the stumbling blocks of Christianity is that it is too simple – it is not complicated enough. You would think this would be a good thing, but it really can trip people up.
To live after being bitten by a venomous snake the Jews had to look at the snake on the stick. That was it. Period.
But put yourself in their shoes. Isn’t that too easy? Wouldn’t you feel better about it is it had more requirements or it was harder? You know, maybe if at certain times of the day you had to face in a certain direction and say certain words. Now that would be better, right? Or if there was certain penance you had to live out to make up for your wrongs of the past? Or maybe a requirement that you pay a certain price, a real cost, either monetarily or physically – nothing brings feeling better about being healed than a good case of suffering, right?
But that is not God’s plan. He turns to us and says, I love you, I want you, come to Me, turn to Me, cast your eyes on My son and I will give you life.
How are you making it more complicated so you feel better? Are you “doing things for God” out of obligation, trying to add to Christ’s saving grace with your good deeds?
God wants your obedience, but only the obedience of a loving and grateful heart. God wants you to give things over to Him, but only through adoration and praise. If you are doing it for yourself, then it isn’t for God. Don’t make it harder than it is, just turn and believe and live.
My Answers:
7.
a.
Make a snake and put it on a pole, anyone who is bitten can look at it and live
b.
Graven image – crafting an image, especially one of a snake/serpent, 2 Kings 18:4 Hezekiah destroys it because people are worshiping it
8.
a.
The Son of Man must be lifted up like the way that Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness so that all who believe can have eternal life. The image of the snake on a pole was a foreshadowing of the sin of the world being laid upon Christ’s body on the cross as He was lifted up to die for us.
b.
Solid and growing – I hope someday to have a faith as un-bending as that I see demonstrated in the children I teach.
The Notes are Good 