1 Dec, 2011
Look Up!
Angry India charmer lets loose snakes in office
Hakkul, of Lara village in Basti district, dumped the snakes, including a number of cobras, at the land revenue office in Harraiya town on Tuesday.
Many of the frightened villagers and officials ran out of the office, while others climbed on top of tables.
No-one was bitten or injured but the snakes are yet to be caught.
(Story and Picture provided by: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-15963842)
Numbers 21:5-9
New International Version (NIV)
5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.7 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.
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.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
John 3:14-18
New International Version (NIV)
14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
What does God's Story scripture teach us about where salvation comes from?
Today, I gave you the passage from Numbers so you could have the back story for Jesus analogy. The long and short of the Numbers story... The nation of Israel began turning their back on God, because though He was providing they didn't like how or what he provided. The Hebrews were then disciplined using poisonous snakes. God in His mercy also offered a cure for the snake bite.
In the section from John, Jesus is talking to a Pharisee named Nicodemus. Nic would have known this story very well – in fact he would have had it memorized. It was the perfect example for Jesus to explain how God would save the world.
The only way for people to not die, in the Numbers story, was to keep an eye on the "Snake-pole." The only way for people to live eternally with God is to keep an eye on Jesus who was also lifted up.
How can we connect today's God's Story Scripture to our lives?
Nicodemus wondered how Jesus anology connected to His life also. Jesus was making a dynamic statement when he compared himself to the pole being lifted up in the desert.
- Make sure you understand the gravity of Jesus statement. If you are not sure then find someone you respect that is following Jesus and ask them to help you understand.
- Learn the story in Numbers and retell it to a friend.
- Memorize John 3:14-16
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and our story to others?
Fear of snakes is one of the most common fears in the world, so the scripture story and news story from today can bring about some lively discussion.
- Share the news story with a friend. Then ask how they would react? Are they scared of snakes? Would they try and catch the reptiles?
- Now tell them the story from Numbers and ask what their reaction would be. Would they stay close to the pole so they could always look up? Would they not care and just go about life as usual?
- As the conversation unfolds you can share how you see the sin in our lives as snakes and Jesus is the life giving pole being lifted up.
- No matter what make sure your friend knows that you love them and care about them.
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