Thursday 21 February 2008

Background

If the Bible were simply a book of improving stories or a moraltract, this would be an embarrassing tale. In this story God isangry and disappointed with the Israelites, so snakes are sent tomake clear God's wrath. Many die, and the rest seek to pacify theangry God.

The Bible isn't a manual of ethics. It tells us what we need toknow about the human condition and how to cure it. It also useshumour, sometimes black humour, to point out our foolishness andour frailties.

The people had great reason to trust God and Moses. God had ledthem out of Egypt, showing many mighty acts and wonders. When thepeople were thirsty in the wilderness, God provided water from arock (Numbers20.1-13). Yet, not for the first time, the people whined andmoaned, like a group of sulky teenagers determined never to besatisfied with any parental deed. No wonder God was exasperated andprovoked beyond endurance.

Moses put up a poisonous serpent of bronze. Those who were bittenlooked at the bronze serpent and were healed. We can speculate thatit was as if the poison (the snake's venom but also their poisonousimpatience and ingratitude) was transferred to it.

According to John's Gospel, Jesus used this story to point up God'sdesire to heal and save his people (John 3:14-17). Thelifting up of the bronze serpent points to his own lifting up uponthe cross.

To Ponder

Jesus' interpretation of Scripture, evendifficult passages like today's, usually emphasises God's lovingkindness for people. Is this what we seek to find and stress whenwe read the Bible?

What do we do with our own impatience andingratitude?