It can be easy to look judgmentally at the Israelites following Moses.  The people of Israel constantly complain, usually with a comment about how much better off they would have been if only Moses and God had not dragged them away from Egypt.  How easily they forgot the many miracles God had worked to free them from brutal slavery: plagues that led Pharaoh to let them go; parting the Red Sea so they could escape Pharaoh’s pursuing army – and then unparting the Red Sea when the army tried to follow; sending water, manna and quail; being present in thunder, lightning and clouds.

So, in today’s reading from Numbers, when God let’s His anger show a bit in the form of deadly serpents, part of me thinks the forgetful ingrates deserved what they got.  Truth be told, many of us overreact to real or perceived slights or problems, and we are not homeless, wandering in the desert and facing the variety of threats those following Moses encountered.  Too often, I treat my frustrations as justified and reasonable, and in the process fail to notice the many things God is doing to help me through whatever situation has me so uptight.  Too often, my attitude to God seems more of “what have you done for me lately” than it is “I am not worthy to have received so much from you.” 

Thankfully, God’s mercy and compassion are more than we deserve.  For the children of Israel, the pole-mounted bronze serpent offered healing to whomever looked at it.  For the Israelites suffering under Roman rule, Jesus Christ filled that role.  John 3:14-15 makes a direct connection:  And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.  In today’s Gospel reading, when Jesus warns the Pharisees that unless they lift up the Son of Man, unless they believe as God would have them believe, they will die in their sins. 

That message resonates with us today.  Perhaps one lesson to be learned here is that when we focus on the troubles nipping at our heels, we are in serious trouble; but when we lift our gaze and put our focus on Christ, raised for all to see, healing and redemption are available to us.  Continually surrender your problems, challenges and worries to God, and continually trust in God.  In the word’s of an old hymn:  Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.