God’s Cure for Grumbling (Numbers 13-21)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

Have you ever grown impatient with God and started to grumble?

If so, Numbers 21 offers a word of caution and shows us there is a line we shouldn’t cross. Numbers 13-20 chronicles more of the same patterns of Israel. They’re on their way to the land God has promised them, and despite all God has done, they continue to doubt. When Moses sends twelve men to spy out the land, ten return with negative reports. In Chapter 14, the people grumble again, and we see this constant tension unfold. God does something extraordinary that causes his people to repent of their sins and turn to him. But then they forget everything he has done, and the same crazy cycle starts again.

However, in Numbers 21, everything comes to a head. Numbers 21:5 says, “The people spoke against God and Moses: ‘Why have you led us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!’” In other words, they despise God’s means of provision for their lives.

With prior complaints, God was angry but also responded to the people’s grumbling by providing food and water. This time, he has a very different response and sends poisonous snakes that bite the people, causing many of them to die and turn to Moses for help.

Verse 8 says, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a snake image and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will recover.’” This snake was likely made out of copper,^[1] and the whole imagery of snakes can’t help but take us back to Genesis 3. While we’re not sure of all the symbolism at play, Gordon Wenham notes that “It may be that copper was chosen not only because its hue matched the inflammation caused by the bites,¹⁵ but because red is the colour that symbolizes atonement and purification.”^[2]

It’s important to note that the act of looking at the snake didn’t save anyone from their sins. God had already established his covenant with his people.

Ronald Allen writes,

“In this plague there is something that is truly different: there is a symbol of hope that is disgusting in nature but has healing properties that are most surprising. Here we find an amazing sense of God’s presence in the most unlikely of places, the symbol of evil—a snake.”[3]

It's significant to note this is the last recorded instance of grumbling by God’s people before they enter the Promised Land. While God’s response was devastating, it appears it left a lasting imprint on his people. This teaches us an invaluable lesson about God’s character. Yes, God is a God of second chances, and yes, God is a God of mercy. But there is also a point where he says enough is enough. This is why Deuteronomy 6:16 says, “Do not test the Lord your God.”

Talk to him, voice your concerns, and even scream to him for help. But do not grumble and do not despise his provisions—however insufficient you think they might be.

A Meditation to PRAY

Praise | You are a God who provides exactly what I need. Thank you for taking care of me.

Release | I give you my desire to be discontent and complain. I commit to being thankful for all you have given me.