Numbers 21:4–9 (NRSV)
Read Numbers 21:4–9 on biblegateway.com
Verse 4From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. Verse 5The 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 we detest this miserable food." Verse 6Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. Verse 7The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. Verse 8And the Lord said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." Verse 9So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
Devotion
God’s story and God’s people have always been on the move, going somewhere. Along their journey the Israelites found that things were not as they imagined they would be, and their patience was tested. They were tired, crabby, angry, and doubtful. They cried out, complained, and blamed. God responded, as always. God responded because the Israelites were God’s beloved.
In 2024, we are on the move as well. Navigating next steps, seeking to find ourselves in God’s narrative, and hoping to make sense of our own stories that are at the heart of our daily journey. Just like those who have gone before us, our exhaustion, hunger, crabbiness, anger, and doubt cause us to cry out, complain, and blame. Our cries evoke a response from God because we too are God’s beloved. The Lenten season and this story invite our return to God, who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
Prayer
God of mercy and love, when we are impatient and angry because things are not going how we imagined, remind us that there is another way, another space to lean into. Help us to breathe and give us strength and patience to recognize your constant gracious presence. Amen.