From Mount Hor they set out by way of the Red Sea, to bypass the land of Edom, but the people’s patience was worn out by the journey; 5 so the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” 6 So the Lord sent among the people seraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of the Israelites died. 7 Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the Lord and you. Pray to the Lord to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, 8 and the Lord said to Moses: Make a seraph and mount it on a pole, and everyone who has been bitten will look at it and recover. 9 Accordingly Moses made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever the serpent bit someone, the person looked at the bronze serpent and recovered.
The Israelites are continuing their journey towards the Promised Land. Edom had refused them passage through their territory (Num. 20:14-21) so they had to take a longer and more arduous route around Edom. Their journey along the way of the Red Sea left the Israelites exhausted and frustrated. The people longed for Egypt and complained about the hardships of the wilderness and the manna (“wretched food”) God had provided. They accused God and Moses of leading them to a desolate place to die from thirst and hunger.
As punishment for their rebellion, God sent poisonous “seraph serpents” (fiery serpents) whose bites caused suffering and death. Realizing their sin in complaining against God, the Israelites went to Moses, acknowledged their wrongdoing, and asked Moses to intercede on their behalf. Moses prayed for the removal of the serpents and, in response to his prayer, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. Those who look upon it, after being bitten, will be healed and live. Moses obeyed God’s command and those who were bitten and looked at the bronze serpent were healed. Repentance leads to God’s healing. Jesus referred to this incident in John’s Gospel (Jn. 3:14-15).
Almighty God, sometimes we lose sight of Your blessings and fall into despair. Help us to repent of our ingratitude and trust in Your loving providence at all times. May we always look to Your Son, lifted up on the cross, for our salvation and strength. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
- McKenzie, John. Dictionary of the Bible. Collier Books, 1965.
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