The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Numbers 21:4-9, “They left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt round Edom. On the way the people lost patience.
5 They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in the desert? For there is neither food nor water here; we are sick of this meagre diet.’
6 At this, God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel.
7 The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against Yahweh and against you. Intercede for us with Yahweh to save us from these serpents.’ Moses interceded for the people,
8 and Yahweh replied, ‘Make a fiery serpent and raise it as a standard. Anyone who is bitten and looks at it will survive.’
9 Moses then made a serpent out of bronze and raised it as a standard, and anyone who was bitten by a serpent and looked at the bronze serpent survived.”

It’s an Old Testament account of sin and forgiveness; yet careful assessment shows that it is very close to what the LORD says and does for us today.

It all began when the people lost patience and spoke against the LORD. Impatience occurs when things don’t go the way we want them. It’s a focus on selfish desire and an accusation of blame on anyone other than ourselves.

The people’s immediate focus was upon their diet. They were acting like little children and complaining instead of being thankful for what they had to eat. We’re often like that. Yet, their complaint resulted in a still worse situation that brought about numerous eternal deaths.

Despite the fact that the people deserved to suffer for complaining, the LORD in mercy gave them a reprieve. At His command, Moses constructed a brazen serpent, so that those who looked upon it could be healed.

Who could deny that this brazen serpent typified the crucifixion that the LORD Jesus Christ would later experience on the cross? It was God’s preparation that enabled mankind to be saved from sin and the consequences of eternal Hell?

Have you looked to Christ Jesus for your salvation? Simply confess your sins to Him and ask His forgiveness. If you are sincere, He will forgive you, just as He promises in the Scriptures. No one can blame his sin on God! It is God who provided for salvation through Jesus’ death on the Cross.

Surrender your life to Him today! I have never met anyone who has trusted Christ and who was sorry. Never!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom