Numbers 21:4-9
Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Today we embark on a reflective journey through an intriguing passage found in the book of Numbers 21: 4-9. It’s a story that, at first glance, may seem distant and detached from our modern lives. Yet, it holds profound truths and lessons that are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. This narrative invites us to consider our own spiritual journey, our responses to God’s providence, and the transformative power of faith.

The Journey Begins

The Israelites, in their desert wanderings, faced a moment of great challenge and despair. They had been delivered from Egypt, witnessed miraculous signs, and yet, their hearts grew discontent. Their path, which once brimmed with the promise of freedom, now seemed arduous and endless. The scripture recounts, “The people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread’” (Numbers 21:5).

Here, the Israelites’ ingratitude and impatience bloom into outright rebellion. How quickly they forget their deliverance from bondage! How swiftly they dismiss the manna, the very sustenance provided by God! Their journey, both physical and spiritual, hits a tumultuous phase, mirroring the trials we face in our own walks with God.

The Divine Response

In response to their rebellion, the Lord sends fiery serpents among the people. Many are bitten and die, a direct consequence of their actions. The serpents represent the tangible outcome of their spiritual departure from God. Yet, this harsh moment also serves as a turning point. Faced with the consequences of their actions, the people come to Moses, repentant and seeking intercession, saying, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He takes away the serpents from us” (Numbers 21:7).

It’s a moment of humility and acknowledgment of their dependence on God. Their plea for relief is met with divine mercy, but the remedy is most unexpected. God instructs Moses to make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole; anyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live. Moses fashions a serpent of brass, and as promised, those who look upon it are healed.

The Serpent of Brass: A Symbol of Redemption

This bronze serpent, lifted high on a pole, becomes a powerful symbol of God’s salvation. It’s not the serpent itself that possesses healing power, but the act of obedient faith in God’s provision. This emblem, paradoxically a symbol of their sin and its consequence, becomes the very means through which healing is dispensed. It teaches us that God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts not our thoughts.

The narrative invites us to consider the serpents in our own lives—those challenges, sins, and trials that threaten to overwhelm us. Like the Israelites, we are called not to focus on the serpent but to lift our eyes to the source of our salvation. In John 3:14-15, Jesus Himself draws a parallel between the serpent lifted up in the wilderness and His own crucifixion: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

The Journey Forward

As we navigate the wilderness of our own lives, let us remember the lessons from this ancient story. The path of faith is not without its trials and tribulations. There will be moments when our faith is tested, when we face the consequences of our actions, and when we feel lost in the desert. Yet, it is precisely in these moments that God calls us to look up, to trust in His provisions, and to find healing and redemption through faith in Him.

Let us not be consumed by the serpents at our feet but be uplifted by the grace and mercy of our Lord. The story of the Israelites is a testament to the fact that our God is a God of second chances, of healing, and of deliverance. When we find ourselves bitten by the serpents of doubt, fear, and sin, let us remember to lift our eyes to the cross, where our ultimate healing and salvation were secured.

As we close this reflection, let us carry forward the lessons from the wilderness. May we cultivate a spirit of gratitude, even in the face of challenges. Let us be quick to repent and seek God’s face when we stray. And above all, let us keep our gaze fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who was lifted up so that we might have life in abundance.

Remember the power of obedient faith and the promise of God’s unfailing love and mercy. Let this story remind you that no matter how treacherous the path, our redemption and healing are always within reach, if only we look up.