Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking him to meet you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
“They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food.”‘ Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “‘We sinned 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. The Lord said to Moses, “‘Make a snake and put it on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”‘ So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.”
– Numbers 21:4-9
Devotion
The forward movement of the Israelite people now brought them into the path of conflict. The way was rough and difficult and the people were discouraged. They once again felt a lusting after Egypt and spoke against God and Moses. So pronounced was their rebellion that swift judgment fell upon them in the form of serpents. God then delivered the people through the means of a bronze snake. Jesus would later explain that the bronze snake pointed to Himself as the means of salvation. Numbers 21 shows us that God is faithful to His people.
The Big Question
What do you do when life’s struggles become so overwhelming that you get discouraged? Have you failed so frequently that you wonder if victory is possible? Have you committed your life to Christ? Are you trusting in Christ, His cross and the eternal life He gives to all who look to Him?
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.