This week’s Pastor to Person is written by Pastor Caleb.
[Num 21:8 NIV] 8 The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”
Interestingly, when you look at an ambulance or hospital you will see an Aesculapius (single snake) or usually a Caduceus (double snake) symbol. Many have wondered if the beginning of those stories goes back to this section of scripture.
Jesus uses this story in His conversation with Nicodemus as a preview of the gospel — [Jhn 3:14 NIV] Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.
Two things stand out to me as we near Easter. First the command to “look.” So many things God could have instructed them to do. Here the LORD connects healing with the simplicity of lifting your eyes and looking. So many people were in pain because of their sin. If they would have had to touch the pole, or climb the pole, healing would have seemed so out of reach. Instead, no matter how much pain they were in, all they had to do was to look up.
Second, looking at the snake on the pole confronted them with their own sin. They couldn’t hide from what they did. Like a seasoned counselor seeking to bring healing via self-confrontation the LORD connects the healing with the acknowledgement of sin and the desire for help.
1 John 1:9 tells us that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Confession is all about agreeing with God about what He already knows. It is looking at Him and acknowledging that we were wrong, and we need / want help. The Bible says that forgiveness and restoration will come when we do this! Have you been bit by your sin? Is the bitter sting of sin calling you to look up and call out to Jesus? Jesus says just look at me, ask me and I will heal you? Thank you, Jesus, for how simple you have made the road to healing.
-Pastor Caleb