“Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient along the way, and they began to murmur against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this wretched manna!” So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among them, and many of them were bitten and died. Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to the top of a pole. Those who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to the top of a pole. Whenever those who were bitten looked at the bronze snake, they recovered“ (Numbers 21:4-7 NLT)!
Last night at our MidWeek service we did some snake handling. Well, sort of… it was a rubber snake and I was using it as an object lesson for the children.
Many of us are born with an inate fear of snakes. We know to be careful around them because many of them are venomous. And snake venom can be deadly. There are three distinct types of snake venom that act on the body differently. One, is a hemotoxic venom that acts on the heart and cardiovascular system. Another, is neurotoxic venom that acts on the nervous system and the brain. A third, is cytotoxic venom that has a localized action on the cells at the site of the snake bite. Some snakes have a combination of these venoms. All of these venoms are harmful to the human body.
There is another kind of venom that acts on the spirit. It’s the venom of grumbling and complaining. And it is perhaps more dangerous than we realize. It’s venom is especially destructive to the body of Christ. In fact, grumbling is destructive to any family or fellowship. It’s destructive to a nation. It’s venom breaks down a people.
It’s also destructive to our relationship with God. Grumbling is the opposite of worship and being thankful. Grumbling is the opposite of faith and trust. It is “murmuring against God” himself.
So, how do we “handle” the venomous snake of grumbling? What is the antidote for a complaining spirit?
Gratitude. Be thankful at all times and in all circumstances. Ask Christ to give you a blood transfusion of his antibody against grumbling.
The antidote to snake venom is developed by injecting small amounts of venom into a horse until it develops antibodies against the venom. These antibodies are then purified into a serum for humans.
Jesus has taken all our sins upon His body. Just as the symbol of the Israelite’s suffering was lifted up in the wilderness, so Jesus has been lifted up for us to see and believe. When we place our trust in Christ we can be thankful in all things.
“No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1Thessalonians 5:18 NLT).