14 September 2020

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.
From Numbers 21: 4-9 NRSV

At first glance, this seems almost superstition – especially given God’s commandments about not having graven images.  It is a reminder that, at this stage, the Hebrews are still being formed as God’s people and probably look back to the practices of their ancestors – totem images and so on. God’s instruction helps Moses to meet their need for something they can see and touch to know that God’s power is real. The Reading is chosen to complement the image of Jesus being raised up on the cross – an image we see in churches and in many homes. It is not just a graven image but a reminder of just what God’s love in action looks like.

• • Why does God respect “where the people are” and meet their need for signs?
  • How do you feel when you look at a crucifix?

Spend some time praying with a crucifix or image of Jesus being raised up as a sign of God’ love and healing for the sin fof the world.