March 21st - Reflection

Numbers 21:4-9 (NRSV)
Moses lifts up the serpent

From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food." Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Reflection
Look and live. Look at the serpent on the pole from God and live. Look at Jesus, Moses, and Elijah and the Light of God and live. Look at the cross of Jesus and live. Look at the body, the bread and the blood, the wine and live. Look and live.

God teaches us that salvation only comes through him. Salvation is not something we come upon or stumble upon with our own effort or work. Salvation comes from God and God alone. Look and live...only in God do we receive deliverance.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as I open the Word in the pages of the Bible, I see so many examples of "look and live." You reveal yourself and save me and your people. This day may I "look and live" as I encounter you in the world you send me into. --- Amen