Hope Reflected

Encouragement and Hope from God's Word

Biblical symbolism Archive

Saturday

16

September 2023

The brazen serpents in our lives

Written by , Posted in Christian Living, Published Work

We have all been guilty at one time or another of making an idol of pride out of our piety. | Read more about idolatry on hopereflected.com

What comes to mind when you think of idols?

The first thing that comes to my mind is Exodus 32, where Aaron collects the golden earrings from the children of Israel and makes a golden calf for the children of Israel to worship.

Idols are mentioned many times throughout the Old Testament, and idolatry was such a problem that God included specific direction about it in the ten commandments when He said, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:” (Exodus 20:3-5).

In the books of Kings and Chronicles, we read that certain kings “removed the high places”, “brake down the images”, and “cut down the groves” (2 Kings 18, 2 Chronicles 14). One king in particular, Hezekiah, even went so far as to “brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made:” (2 Kings 18:4). Upon a quick read-through, we may pass over this piece of information, but it is very important.

Wasn’t the brazen serpent a good thing?

Sure, we understand why Hezekiah would remove the high places, brake down the images, and cut down the groves: Because he was trying to eliminate worship of false idols in order to direct his people to worship the one true God.

So why would Hezekiah go so far as to “brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made”? After all, wasn’t the brazen serpent a good thing?

In Numbers 21, after the children of Israel were plagued by fiery serpents, the Lord instructed Moses to make a brass serpent and put it on a pole, so if anyone had been bitten by a snake, all they had to do was look at or think about the brass serpent, and they’d be healed (Numbers 21:6-9).

The brazen serpent was a symbol of salvation, a literal cure for poisonous snake bites, so why would Hezekiah want to destroy it?

The answer is quite simple: The children of Israel had taken something good, something symbolic of salvation, and made an idol out of it. God gives pretty specific instructions when it comes to idolatry. Any thing that takes the place of God in our lives is wrong.

Perhaps we think we don’t have any idols in our lives, and that right there—pride—is an idol in itself!

Hope Reflected

What are the brazen serpents in our lives?

What are the brazen serpents in our lives? Perhaps we think we don’t have any idols in our lives, and that right there—pride—is an idol in itself! 

In his letter to the Christians at Colosse, Paul wrote that we should have nothing to do with desires that direct our minds away from what’s right (love of money and self-centeredness are two things that come to mind) (Colossians 3:5).

We have all been guilty at one time or another of making an idol of pride out of our piety. Even good things can become idols if we let them take the place of God.

Originally published as “The brazen serpents in our lives.” Independent Plus. June 30, 2022: 5. Print. Web.

Friday

25

November 2022

Consider the ravens

Written by , Posted in Christian Living, Published Work

He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry. Psalm 147:9 | Read more about the significance of ravens on hopereflected.com

True or false: After the flood, the first bird Noah sent out of the ark was a dove?

False.

After the flood, the first bird Noah sent out of the ark was a raven (Genesis 8:7).

Even though it’s written right in Scripture, perhaps we are surprised at this because we prefer the illustration of the presence and promise of God associated with the dove more than we do the darkness and death often associated with the raven. Several commentaries observe that Noah’s reasoning for sending out the raven first was likely because as a scavenger bird, the raven would be first to smell the decaying flesh of dead carcasses on the dry earth. And yet, when we think of Noah’s ark, we are more likely to recall the dove returning to the ark with an olive leaf. We should not discount the importance of ravens in Scripture, however.

Ravens in the Bible are very significant.

Ravens are fascinating creatures. When we read about ravens in the Bible, several times throughout Scripture ravens are used as examples of darkness, however ravens also paint a beautiful picture of God’s provision. It is interesting to note that God would choose to use such a bird as an example, because in Biblical times ravens were abominated by the Jews and considered to be unclean (Lev. 11:15). This is what makes the picture so beautiful: If God cares and provides for even the raven—a bottom-feeding bird that is despised and unclean—how much more must He care for us!

God cares for all His creatures.

The same God who cares about people whose homes and lives are being destroyed because of ravaging war also cares about birds in backyards who are building their nests. While we may not understand how He can care simultaneously for both, Jesus Himself told the disciples to “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?” (Luke 12:24). God demonstrates care for all His creatures; both great and small. Creatures that don’t matter at all to us matter a great deal to Him. God Himself asked Job, “Who provideth for the raven his food? When his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.” (Job 38:41). Who provides for the ravens? Certainly not man, but God. And if God provides for even the lowliest of creatures, will He not also provide for us?

“Although the Lord may not appear for us in the way we expect, or desire, or suppose,
yet He will in some way or other provide for us.”

Charles Spurgeon

When Elijah could not provide food for himself, he remained obedient to God and trusted Him. It was no coincidence that God used ravens to provide Elijah with what he needed (1 Kings 17:6). Here again we see a beautiful picture of God’s providence and provision for us, painted from one of the most unlikely sources (ravens in the Bible). As Spurgeon said, “Although the Lord may not appear for us in the way we expect, or desire, or suppose, yet He will in some way or other provide for us.”

“He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.” (Psalm 147:9). God provides all things to all creatures, even the ravens.

Originally published as “Consider the ravens.” Independent Plus. April 28, 2022: 5. Print. Web.