Why did Jesus compare a bronze snake to His own death on the cross? The “snake episode” Jesus referred to in His conversation with Nicodemus took place as the nation reapproached the promised land. They had spent 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, and two of their leaders, Miriam and Aaron, had died. Israel had just won a victory against a Canaanite king, and the people were growing impatient. They had been traveling around Edom (inhabited by the descendants of Esau) since they’d been denied passage through that land. Predictably, they complained against God and Moses, and even grumbled about manna (v. 5). (To be fair, though, manna had been their staple food ever since they were children!) God judged them with a plague of poisonous snakes. They confessed their sinful words and attitudes, and Moses once again interceded on their behalf (v. 7). God instructed that a bronze (or more likely copper) snake be made and hung on a pole. Those who looked at it would live (v. 8). Why did God choose to use a snake? Perhaps because that was what was killing them. At any rate, they had to trust in the Lord and obey His instructions in order to be healed. Only the truly repentant would trust and obey. Perhaps this new generation had learned something after all, for instead of doubling down on their rebelliousness, they repented and obeyed God. Seven centuries later, in the days of Hezekiah, people turned this historic relic into an idol, and it had to be destroyed (2 Kings 18:4). But even later, just as mentioned in today’s verse, Jesus, the Son of Man, would be lifted up (this time on a Roman cross) to bring life to all who believed. >> Worship belongs to God alone! What do you “lift up” in your life that is not worthy of your fixed attention and praise? Too often we elevate things, even good things, above God. How can we lift Him up above everything else?

Today in the Word Devotional

The Bronze Snake

Do you think Moses sometimes felt like a parent trying to herd a pack of squabbling children (the Israelites)? One of parenting’s greatest challenges is to lead and discipline without giving in to frustration or anger. Children do not always respond to parental authority in reasonable or obedient ways. Being a good mother or father, teacher or leader, requires God’s help! Moses failed in this area in today’s reading. Israel’s habitual complaining became a matter of pride. If he took their grumbling personally, he was stepping into the place of God and essentially taking the credit or glory for himself. Normally, he recognized that the people were in fact complaining against God and resisted this temptation. But not this time. The people were irritable about a lack of water (vv. 2–5). Their constant complaint was, essentially: “Why did you bring us here to die?” Moses and Aaron inquired of the Lord, and He told them to speak to a rock and it would pour forth water. Moses, however, spoke and acted in anger, striking the rock instead of speaking to it. Perhaps Moses was depressed about the nation’s failure at the border. Perhaps he was upset over the recent death of his sister (v. 1). Whatever the reason, there was no excuse for this sin of pride. “Must we bring you water?” was both a complaint and a boast (v. 10; see Ps. 106:32–33). That’s what made his sin of striking the rock so heinous. Though the punishment of not being permitted to enter the promised land seems severe, it fit the sin (Num. 20:12). Moses had publicly disobeyed the Lord. It was a failure of faith—"you did not trust in me enough"—as well as a failure of obedience and worship. He had failed to honor God as holy. >> To us, complaining or grumbling might seem like a mild sin. But Scripture doesn’t agree! Let us ask God to help us fight this temptation and “become blameless and pure” (Phil. 2:14–16).

Moses Fails

When the chips are down and you need to make a decision, who do you go to for advice? Hopefully, it’s a wise friend or family member whose words are rooted in Scripture and faith. But sometimes we listen to people speaking from peer pressure, cultural trends, or just plain foolishness. Camped at the border of the Promised Land, on the verge of claiming everything God had promised, the people of Israel chose to listen to the fearful majority report of ten spies rather than the faith-filled minority report of Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 13). Both groups agreed that the land was beautiful and fruitful, but they were alarmed and frightened by the fortified cities and fearsome warriors. Joshua and Caleb, on the other hand, knew that the Lord would win the victory. Their attitude was, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). Moses and Aaron supported their report (Num. 14:5–9), but the people didn’t listen. There was more talk of going back to Egypt (vv. 2–4). The bottom line: Israel refused to trust the Lord and obey His command to enter the promised land. They forsook their covenant obligations. They failed to live up to their identity as His “treasured possession . . . a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex. 19:5–6). God was righteously angry (Num. 14:10–12), but once again, Moses interceded, defending them not because they deserved it but on the basis of God’s name and glory (vv. 13–19). God mercifully granted Moses’ petition, but He enacted justice as well. With the exception of Joshua and Caleb, that generation would be condemned to wander and die in the wilderness (vv. 20–35). >> How often have we stood at the border of God’s promised provision, and yet lacked the faith and courage to take the next step? Pray today that God will give you the courage needed to follow Him, and consider what next step He might be asking you to take.

Failure at the Border

Before he was stoned to death as the first martyr for Christ, Stephen gave an eloquent summary of Jewish history. Here’s how he described the people’s attitude toward Moses, their most revered leader: “Our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt” (Acts 7:39). During the Exodus, Moses faced frequent opposition from his own people. In today’s reading, he was challenged by his siblings Aaron, the high priest, and Miriam, a prophet (Ex. 15:20) and likely the top female leader in Israel. What spurred the conflict? A combination of racism, jealousy, and pride. Miriam and Aaron disapproved of Moses’s Cushite wife. It’s unclear if this was Zipporah or another wife, but she was ethnically different—Cush was in Arabia or North Africa—and most likely darker-skinned. Some scholars think this reason was merely a pretense, but there’s no indication of that in the passage. The siblings’ racial prejudice turned into hostile gossip (v. 1). Miriam and Aaron were also jealous of Moses’ special relationship with God (v. 2). Why should he be the only one to speak for God? they wondered. There may be a connection here to the commissioning of the 70 elders that had just taken place (Num. 11:24–30), but through their lens of pride, they saw pride in others. For the record, their accusation wasn’t true—”Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth” (v. 3). God defended Moses, serving as both advocate and judge. Aaron was quick to repent—while Miriam was punished with a skin disease. Amazingly, Moses interceded on her behalf and God granted a lesser punishment (vv. 13–15). This merciful response showed that Moses shared God’s heart for sinners. >> Are pride or jealousy evident in your life? Consider how you act in relation to others and to God. Humble yourself today and ask God to help you show others His grace and love.

Opposed from Within

Does God value creativity and art? Today’s reading clearly shows that He does! Led by Moses, the Israelites’ most talented artisans did their very best creative work to honor God with the building of the tabernacle. While our imagination can be used for sinful purposes, as the people displayed when they created a golden calf idol, it can also be used for righteous purposes, as was done here. Among his other leadership gifts, Moses was a skilled administrator who learned from his father-in-law (Exodus 18). The tabernacle project, however, required a different skill set. For the construction of Israel’s national worship center, God gave specific directions and specially gifted two men, Bezalel and Oholiab, with the artistic skills needed to lead the work (Ex. 35:30–36:7). Moses, Aaron, the priests, and Levites supervised the work in general, but these two artists and their team handled turning God’s instructions into physical reality. Quite a few forms of art were involved: The artists and craftspeople sewed the priestly garments, including pieces that held precious jewels, one for each tribe. They built the altar of burnt offering, the altar of incense, the basin for washing, the lampstand, the table for the showbread, all the curtains, and of course the Ark of the Covenant. Moses inspected the completed items in today’s reading. The key here is the people’s total obedience: “The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses” (vv. 32, 42, 43). Our impressions of the Israelites might be negative, but they did have bright moments of faith and obedience as well. Many scholars see in verse 32 an echo of Genesis 2:1. The basic idea is that the events of Exodus represent a new beginning in God’s plan to redeem creation. >> Your artistic skills can be used by God! Think today about the ways you can use your skills in writing, painting, drawing, cooking, or singing. How can you honor Him with these gifts?

Creating the Tabernacle

Michelangelo’s Moses sculpture and other classical artworks often show Moses with horns. Why? Because the Hebrew words for “radiant” and “horn” look similar. The Vulgate, a fourth-century Latin translation of the Bible, rendered this word in today’s verse as “horns.” Instead of picturing Moses with a radiant face, centuries of puzzled readers pictured him with horns on his head! Moses was unaware that his face was radiant because he’d been in God’s presence (v. 29). What the Israelites saw was essentially the afterglow of God’s glory. It was so bright that they couldn’t look steadily at him, as if he were a miniature sun. God was the sun, while Moses was only the moon, reflecting God’s light. Even so, the people responded to the brightness of Moses’ face with reverent fear, as often happens in Scripture when God reveals His glory (v. 30). They were afraid even to come near. Moses wore a veil to hide the radiance when he was interacting with them but then removed it when talking to the Lord (vv. 33–35). He also wore the veil so they wouldn’t see the light fading from his face and perhaps lose respect for him or God (2 Cor. 3:13). Paul used Moses’ veil as a symbol of the Jews not understanding the purpose and spirit of the Law (2 Cor. 3:7–18). “To this day the same veil remains . . . It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.” But in the new covenant, this veil has been removed. The difference is Christ (see October 31)! Because of Christ, while Moses’ experience was temporary, we have the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. >> Because of Christ, our relationship with God is different from that of Moses. Daily we “are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory” (2 Cor. 3:18). Rejoice in this truth!

A Radian Face

Some of the most beautiful, memorable, and alarming pictures in Scripture are the visions of God experienced by His people. When Isaiah saw the Lord “high and exalted, seated on a throne,” he cried out, “Woe to me! I am ruined!” (Isaiah 6). Ezekiel saw a figure like a man but who was glowing like hot metal, full of fire, surrounded by brilliant light, and with a rainbow’s radiance. The prophet fell face down on the ground (Ezekiel 1). The apostle John saw the risen Christ in similarly stunning imagery and fell at His feet as though dead (Revelation 1). How amazing, then, that God met with Moses and spoke with him many times “as one speaks to a friend” (v. 11). Moses set up a “tent of meeting” outside the camp for inquiring of the Lord (vv. 7–10). Anyone could do so, though Joshua was probably guarding it against wrong-hearted intrusions. Only when Moses met with the Lord did the pillar of cloud signifying God’s special Presence descend. At those times, the Israelites would stand in the doorways of their tents and worship. What did God and Moses talk about? One topic was leadership (vv. 12–13). Keenly aware of his responsibility to lead God’s people, Moses asked God to be his teacher. Only by drawing near to the Lord could Moses fulfill his calling. A second topic was guidance (vv. 15– 16). Moses asked God to be present and faithful as they journeyed to the promised land. To both requests, God said, “yes” (vv. 14, 17). In light of the visions cited above, Moses’ request to “show me your glory” was bold indeed (v. 18)! God graciously granted it as far as it was possible to do so (vv. 19–23). >> Meeting with God is precious to us as well, even if it doesn’t happen in such a dramatic way. One way you can spend time with God is by praying back Scripture to Him. Why not pray using verse 13 from today’s reading?

Seeing God

“We must spend much time in prayer,” argued R. A. Torrey in How to Pray. “We must give ourselves to earnest, constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer . . . I have asked the Father whatever else He may make me, to make me at all events an intercessor, to make me a man who knows how to pray, and who spends much time in prayer.” Moses is known throughout Scripture as a powerful man of prayer (Jer. 15:1). During the golden calf incident, God righteously condemned the Israelites and proposed to end them, turning Moses into a great nation instead (Deut. 9:14). We don’t know if that offer tempted Moses, but he interceded for Israel based on the patriarchal covenant and God’s reputation and glory (see Ex. 32:9–14; Num. 14:13–19). God granted Moses’ prayer and relented. After the idolatry had been halted, Moses returned to Sinai and asked God to forgive the people or “blot me out of the book you have written” (Ex. 32:30–32). Moses’ heart for intercession was clear: he fell with his face on the ground, indicating extreme humility, the length of time—40 days and 40 nights—and his fasting (Deut. 9:18–20). He was passionately grieved because of all the sin the people had committed, and he “feared the anger and wrath of the LORD.” He also interceded for Aaron, a detail not mentioned in the original story. When he revisited this episode in Deuteronomy, Moses didn’t sugarcoat the memory. He said bluntly that during his leadership one of the nation’s main qualities had been rebelliousness (vv. 7, 24). He wasn’t trying to send them on a guilt trip. Rather, this was intended as an instructive reminder to help the people be more spiritually vigilant. >> Scripture pictures Moses’ intercession as “standing in the breach” or gap (Ps. 106:23). For whom do you need to stand in the gap today? One thing we can learn from the life of Moses is how to be a man or woman of prayer.

The Power of Prayer

Greed, sex, arrogance, power. These are all examples of idolatry that are as true today as they were in biblical times, said Christopher J. H. Wright. The author of “Here Are Your Gods”: Faithful Discipleship in Idolatrous Times added: “Idolatry often involves the perversion of something good in itself, like family, work, beauty, or sex.” Moses confronted idolatry and other sins many times during the Exodus, but the golden calf episode was the most significant. The covenant had just been affirmed by the nation (Exodus 19). Moses had communicated the Law, including the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). The initial instructions for the tabernacle had even been given. Nonetheless, the people made and worshiped an idol, including the “revelry” of sexual immorality (Ex. 32:6). Moses was on top of Mount Sinai for 40 days. The people had grown impatient, and their already weak faith dried up. Instead of standing his ground, Aaron, the new high priest (Exodus 29), went along with their idolatry. When Moses confronted him later, he offered the ridiculous excuse seen in Exodus 32:24. The golden calf may have represented the Egyptian bull god Apis. In any case, the people had flagrantly broken the second commandment. Moses conveyed God’s righteous anger by literally breaking the two tablets of the Law (v. 19). He also enacted a beautiful piece of poetic justice by grinding up the idol into powder, sprinkling it in the water, and forcing the Israelites to drink it (v. 20). Yet the sin continued and the people were “running wild” (v. 25). So Moses called out, “Whoever is for the Lord, come to me” (v. 26). The Levites answered and went through the camp, killing the idolaters. Their zeal helped consecrate or set them apart for special service (v. 29). >> While we may not bow down to a golden calf, the temptation to idolatry is very much alive in our day! Do we serve the three Ps—personal freedom, political power, and prosperity—or the Lord?

No Other Gods

You’ve probably experienced a “gaper’s delay” on the expressway. An accident happens on one side of a divided highway, but vehicles slow to a crawl on both sides. On one side it’s due to the crash, but on the other side, the traffic jam is caused by people slowing down to take a look. Calamity or the unusual attracts our attention. Something like this is behind the rules God gave Moses for the Israelites as the covenant was affirmed by the nation in today’s reading (vv. 10–13). Human nature being what it is, the people might have crowded forward to “get a look” or otherwise dishonored the sacredness of the occasion. They were also told to purify themselves beforehand by washing their clothes and abstaining from sex. The latter may have been intended to contrast with pagan religious rituals, which often included sexually immoral activities. In the presence of the people, God met Moses on the top of Mount Sinai (v. 20). This clearly showed that Moses was God’s chosen leader and the people should follow and obey him as God’s representative (v. 9). Obedience to the Lord was their covenant obligation. Though they vowed to do it (v. 8), God knew they would fail . . . and He still promised in advance to remain faithful! Think about that: God established a covenant, which was normally mutual or two-way, and promised that He would remain faithful even knowing ahead of time that Israel would not hold up their end. Why? Because He’s God. He chose and loved His people (vv. 4–6). They were His “treasured possession,” “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” He’d delivered them from bondage in Egypt and “carried [them] on eagles’ wings,” that is, they were weak in themselves but He was their strength (see Deut. 32:10–12). >> Even when we are weak, we can be certain of God’s strength: “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles” (Isa. 40:31).

Meeting on the Mountain

Did you know brown rice can help protect you from high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries? Researchers in Japan found that a component in brown rice (but not white rice) works against a protein that contributes to these medical conditions. Brown rice is recommended as part of a healthy, nutritious diet. We can only wonder about the nutrient qualities of manna, but they must have been positive, given that this heavenly bread sustained the Israelites for 40 years in the wilderness (v. 35)! God provided food and water for the Israelites, under Moses’ leadership and often in response to his prayers. As it often did, today’s episode began with their complaining. Their memories of slavery seem rather dramatic and inaccurate—it’s hard to believe they “sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted” (v. 3). God’s provision was plentiful. He promised to “rain down bread from heaven” for the entire nation (v. 4). The manna would arrive daily. The people were to gather enough for just one day and double before the Sabbath. This was a test, which they initially failed. God’s provision was therefore intended not only to meet their needs but to strengthen their faith, for His glory (vv. 7–8). He would show the people “that I am the LORD your God” (v. 11). In the Gospels, whenever Jesus talked about “bread” the Jews would automatically have thought of their history. When He said it was not Moses but God who provided “true bread from heaven,” they squirmed (John 6:32–33). When He said, “I am the bread of life,” they perked up their ears (John 6:35). When He claimed to be “the living bread that came down from heaven,” their jaws dropped in amazement (John 6:48–51). >> How quickly we turn from thankfulness to complaining! Just one chapter after the Red Sea deliverance, the Israelites were grumbling again. Are we any better? How often do we come to God asking, “What have you done for me lately?”

Bread from Heaven

There are hundreds of college fight songs. One of the oldest is Boston College’s “For Boston” which was written in 1885. These songs are memorized by generations of loyal alumni and sung at sporting events or college reunions, claiming victory for their alma mater. After their victorious deliverance from Egypt, Moses, Miriam, and the people of Israel celebrated with a song, giving God glory for the victory! They had time to stop and rejoice because there were literally no Egyptian soldiers left to stop them. Until now, we didn’t know Moses had a musical side, but he led the people in singing (v. 1). His sister Miriam led the women in dancing and singing the chorus (v. 21) Their song, punctuated by statements of God’s supreme greatness (vv. 11, 18), has at least three main themes. First, God is a Divine Warrior who singlehandedly won the victory. He had fought for His people and demonstrated His majesty, power, and righteous anger (vv. 3–8; see Ps. 18:6–19). Second, God’s enemies severely miscalculate. They presumptuously boast that the prize is already in their hands, but they’re wrong. In the end, they will tremble with the fear of the Lord. The song mocks not only the Egyptians (v. 9) but also future enemies (vv. 14–16) in this regard. Third, God is relational. He once again saved His chosen people. He is “my father’s God” (v. 2). He will continue to lead and guide because of His unfailing covenant love (v. 13). The Red Sea deliverance is just the beginning: He is bringing His people— the people He Himself “bought” or “created”—to the promised land, where he will “plant them” securely (vv. 16–17). >> It’s always a good day to sing to the Lord! Why not put on a favorite praise album and worship the Lord in music today? Or, check out our TITW Spotify playlist.

Song of Deliverance

Earlier this year, the home of Harriet Tubman was located by archaeologists after decades of searching. Tubman became known as the “Moses of her people” because she helped many slaves escape to freedom. State officials planned to put artifacts from the dig on display at the nearby Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center. In Exodus 13, Moses, leading the Israelites out of Egypt, thought the hard part was done. Not quite yet! In their story, as so often in ours, there is always “one more crisis” that calls for God to act and for us to respond in faith and obedience. In this case, the crisis came when they found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. Actually, God directed them to step into the trap in order to provide another opportunity to display His glory and to teach everyone that “I am the LORD” (14:1–4). God Himself led them in a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day (13:20–22). When the people realized the trap they’d stepped into, they complained (14:11–12), while Moses’ faith remained exemplary (14:13–14). Matters unfolded just as God said they would: The Israelites walked through the divided waters on dry ground, while the Egyptian soldiers were swept away and drowned. The nation was once again miraculously delivered, and the people’s faith in God and Moses was strengthened (14:31). The people carried with them the bones of Joseph (13:19). Centuries before, Joseph had prophesied the Exodus and made his descendants vow to take his body with them (Gen. 50:24–25; Heb. 11:22). Later, his remains would be buried at Shechem, on land originally purchased by his father Jacob and allotted to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, his sons (Josh. 24:32). >> Is waiting on the Lord something that’s easy or hard for you? How can you take steps to practice an attitude of godly waiting? The book On Waiting Well discusses this topic and is written by this month’s author!

Crossing the Red Sea

Before the American Civil War, The Liberator was an influential weekly newspaper that campaigned for abolition. For 35 years, founder William Lloyd Garrison demanded the immediate emancipation of all American slaves. Though controversial, he stood his ground. As he wrote in the very first issue: “I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice.” The paper ceased publication at the end of 1865, its goal accomplished. Moses was chosen by God to accomplish the liberation of the Israelites from slavery. On October 3rd, he looked like a somewhat pathetic choice, but with God on his side, the slaves’ freedom was won, and decisively so. Everything happened just as the Lord decreed: The firstborn of Egypt were struck down, but Israelites with the lamb’s blood on their doorposts were spared (vv. 29–30). Egypt’s defeat was total and humiliating (vv. 31–32). Pharaoh who had said he would never see Moses again, on pain of death, was forced to summon him to the palace and set the Israelites free. He even requested that Moses bless him! The former slaves’ departure was rushed, just as God had said it would be (vv. 33–36). The Egyptians were somehow both afraid—please leave or we’ll all die—and “favorably disposed” toward the Israelites, showering them with gold, silver, and clothing: “So they plundered the Egyptians” (v. 36). The Israelites numbered 600,000 men, or in total probably about two million people. “Many other people” left with them, perhaps other slaves or even some converted Egyptians (vv. 37–39). There was no doubt who had won the victory: “The Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt” (v. 42). Four hundred and thirty years of slavery came to a dramatic end! >> Though they take some artistic license, movies such as The Ten Commandments and The Prince of Egypt can help the life of Moses come alive for you and your family. Why not plan to watch one together?

A New Nation

Have you ever wondered why we set off fireworks on the Fourth of July? The tradition goes back to the start of America’s nationhood. In 1777, one year after the Declaration of Independence was signed, the anniversary was celebrated in Philadelphia with a parade, speeches, and fireworks. Boston was the first city to declare July 4th an official holiday in 1783. Congress finally made it a national holiday in 1870. Even before it took place, the Passover was declared by God to be Month One Year One on Israel’s calendar (vv. 2, 14). The tenth day would be their Independence Day! Passover was the flip side of the tenth plague: The Egyptian firstborn would die—”judgment on all the gods of Egypt” (v. 12)—but God had determined that the Israelites would live. Because they sacrificed a lamb and put its blood on their doorposts, the angel of death would “pass over” that house and spare the family inside (vv. 7, 13). The lamb would then be roasted and served as the main dish of the Passover meal. Bread without yeast was another symbolic part of that meal (v. 15). No yeast indicated haste or hurry, that is, how quickly the Egyptians wanted them gone! The absence of yeast also came to signify holiness, purity, or consecration. Moses proclaimed Passover as a national holiday, to be celebrated in the future in the Promised Land (vv. 24–27). This declaration was an act of faith—Moses trusted completely that what God said would happen. And his obedience matched his faith. He told the elders of Israel to “go at once” to carry out the instructions (vv. 21–23). The Israelites would remember, through the ages, the mighty work of God on their behalf. That’s why Jewish people still celebrate Passover today! >> Just as the Israelites were saved by a lamb’s blood, so we are saved by the blood of Christ (1 Cor. 5:7). If you’ve never done so, we urge you to trust Him for your salvation!

The First Passover

Today in the Word is a daily audio devotional available via podcast. Today in the Word features solid biblical content and study that models the mission and values of Moody Bible Institute.

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Today in the Word Devotional

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