In today’s Numbers reading, we come yet another time when the Israelites grumble and complain (I think I heard a sermon about that).  This time, God sends poisonous snakes as a consequence.  When the Israelites finally repent, God tells Moses to build a bronze snake, and raise it up on a staff.  When someone was bitten by a snake (notice it doesn’t tell us that God removed the snakes, it tells us that He provided a way to be healed) they could look at the staff and be healed.

This healing occurred by faith in God’s provision, not by faith in the bronze snake. It was God who did the healing, not magic or because the people worshiped the snake.  Flash forward to John 3:14-16 and we see Jesus use this imagery as a metaphor for what is about to happen.  Just as the Israelites looked upon the snake and were healed, those who look in faith Jesus who was lifted up on the cross will be healed of their sins. Those who looked upon Him and believed in Him would have eternal life.

Thank You God!  We are grateful that your Word isn’t a bunch of disconnected stories assembled in some anthology.  Your desire for people to turn to you for healing and salvation is one of the golden threads woven throughout your entire Bible!

Today’s Proverb gives us some Biblical background as to why part of our Mission and Vision is to have people CONTRIBUTE to the Story that God is writing at Westwind and in the hearts and lives of our people.

Proverbs 11:4, “Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death.”

We understand that everything belongs to God…

We understand that you can’t take earthly wealth into the afterlife…

We understand that “righteousness” (in this case, how we use our resources) is more important than accumulating “things”…

We understand that God wants and deserves our best (Time, Talents, Resources)…

We would love to share more with you about how God wants all of us to CONTRIBUTE to His Story and live out Proverbs 11:4.  If you haven’t been through our ELEMENTS class, be on the lookout for the next class offering and get signed up!

“Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and He told His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed and horrified. Then He said to them, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow—to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake.” Then He went a little farther, fell to the ground, and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” -Mark 14:32-36

In today’s reading there cannot be a greater demonstration to full submission than Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane praying to his Father. Mark’s gospel demonstrates the conflicting will of Father and Son, but also the absolute surrender of Jesus’ power to the plan God had for him. Think of it–Jesus, fully knowing what was about to take place, since we was fully God and fully man, asks God if it is possible the events that were about to take place to be avoided. Is there anything so theologically complex?

But let’s not focus on theological theories for what transpired and instead focus on what we do know–Jesus submitted himself to the Father’s will even unto death.I find it had to separate the pain of the physical torture, from the torment of being separated from the Father because the weight of humanity’s sin in resting upon you. I think both of these aspects of what laid ahead for Jesus had him pleading for another way. Yet, he relented and submitted to the Father.

Let us think for ourselves today how well we submit. What is God asking of us that we need to give in to him. In comparison to the cross, does it even seem important?

Of course one psalm isn’t better than the other, but I am amazed at how one particular psalm so touches the heart.  Consider what precedes it (2 Sam. 11:1-12:24).  King David has lusted in his heart after another man’s wife and followed it with adultery.  Upon discovering Bathsheba’s pregnancy, he does all he can to hide it, even bringing Uriah the husband home from battle to sleep with his wife, causing him to think the child is his own.  Uriah, a man of the highest caliber, denies himself this privilege while his comrades lie on the battlefield apart from their wives and families.  Frantic, King David writes out a battle order to result in Uriah’s death and Uriah faithfully carries his death sentence back to his commanding officer.  David marries Bathsheba, perhaps to avoid a scandal, and then is boldly confronted by Nathan with the most creative of stories.  And yet through this illustrative story, David’s heart is broken.  Destroyed.  Crushed.  And yet, from a place of overwhelming guilt before a holy God Who saw it and sees it all, David writes one of the most heart-wrenching and yet joy-filled prayers.  The cry of a sinner that finds grace instead of judgment.  Freedom instead of condemnation.  That psalm?  Psalm 51.  I encourage you to open it and experience anew David’s God of grace and forgiveness.