Basic HTML Version
Why the Long Journey Around Edom?
267
there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless
bread.’”
Moses faithfully explained their great sin to the people. God’s
power alone had preserved them in “that great and terrible wilder-
ness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land
[211]
where there was no water” (
Deuteronomy 8:15
). In all the journeys
they had found water, bread from heaven, and peace and safety under
the shadowy cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Angels had
cared for them as they climbed rocky heights or threaded the rugged
paths of the wilderness. There was not a weak or sickly person in the
entire camp. Their feet had not swollen in their long journeys, nor
had their clothes worn out. God had subdued before them the fierce
beasts of prey and the poisonous reptiles of the forest and desert.
God’s Protecting Hand Removed
Shielded by divine power, they had not realized the many dangers
that surrounded them. In their unbelief they expected death, and now
the Lord permitted death to come to them. The poisonous snakes that
infested the wilderness were called fiery serpents because their sting
caused violent inflammation and speedy death. As the protecting
hand of God was removed, great numbers of the people were attacked
by these venomous creatures.
In almost every tent were the dying or the dead. Often the silence
of night was broken by piercing cries that told of fresh victims. All
were busy caring for sufferers or trying to protect those not yet
attacked. When compared with their present suffering, the former
difficulties and trials of the people seemed unworthy of a thought.
The people now came to Moses with confessions and pleadings.
“We have sinned,” they said, “for we have spoken against the Lord
and against you.” Only a short time before, they had accused him
of being the cause of all their distress and afflictions. But as soon
as real trouble came, they ran to him as the only one who could
intercede with God for them. “Pray to the Lord that He take away
the serpents from us.”
God commanded Moses to make a serpent of bronze and to lift
it up among the people. All who had been bitten were to look to it
and find relief. The wonderful news was told that all who had been