How does Numbers 21:7 encourage us to respond when we recognize our sinfulness? Setting the Scene Numbers 21:7: “Then the people came to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Intercede with the LORD, so that He will remove the snakes from us.’ So Moses interceded for the people.” This moment follows Israel’s grumbling and the LORD’s judgment by venomous serpents. The verse captures their turning point—showing us how to respond when our own sin becomes unmistakably clear. Seeing Ourselves in Israel • We, like Israel, often forget God’s goodness and complain. • Sin’s consequences (guilt, broken fellowship, painful fallout) quickly remind us of our need for mercy. • Their reaction models a path God still honors today. Steps of Genuine Response • Acknowledge the offense – “We have sinned.” No excuses, no blame-shifting. – Psalm 32:5: “Then I acknowledged my sin to You … and You forgave the guilt of my sin.” • Confess specifically – “We have spoken against the LORD and against you.” They name the sin and the injured parties. – Proverbs 28:13: “He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.” • Seek divine mediation – “Intercede with the LORD.” They appeal to the appointed mediator, foreshadowing our reliance on Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). – Hebrews 4:16: “Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” • Desire deliverance, not just relief – They ask for the snakes’ removal, showing they want reconciliation, not a quick fix. – 2 Chronicles 7:14: if God’s people “turn from their wicked ways,” He forgives and heals. • Trust God’s provision – Verse 8 reveals God’s remedy—the bronze serpent. Israel’s role was to look and live. – John 3:14-15: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” Why God Invites This Response • He delights in mercy (Micah 7:18). • Confession restores fellowship (1 John 1:9). • Repentance protects us from greater harm (Hebrews 12:10-11). • Humble hearts magnify His grace (James 4:6). Christ Fulfilled the Pattern • Moses’ intercession prefigures Jesus’ high-priestly work (Hebrews 7:25). • The bronze serpent pictured sin judged yet lifted up; the cross displays Christ “made to be sin” for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). • Looking to the crucified and risen Savior is how we now “live” eternally. Taking It to Heart When conviction strikes, Numbers 21:7 urges us to: 1. Own our sin without delay. 2. Confess it plainly to God (and to any we have wronged). 3. Run to our Mediator, Jesus, expecting mercy. 4. Embrace the remedy God has already provided—the cross—so fellowship is restored and life is renewed. |
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