I read an interesting passage of scripture from the Old Testament. It is the story of the complaining Israelites who are unhappy about being in the desert. They wished they were back in Egypt because of the food. It says that God sent snakes to bite them and many died. Moses prays to God for help. He is instructed to construct a golden snake to lift before all the people. Everyone who looks at the golden snake will live.

I sat with this strange story for a day or two. I picture the incredible anger God has for ingratitude. I hate the idea of God as angry. But as a deeply loving, LOVE Himself, must be angry at harm and cruelty. Ingratitude is a poison that kills. Could ingratitude be the most dangerous sin of all leading to all kinds of evil? 

I picture people dying from the venom becoming instantly healed by raising their eyes to look at the golden snake. Perhaps in their will it is a type of confession, an acknowledgement that my words cause death, and I need something strange and supernatural to intervene for the healing to happen. 

How sobering to consider the ungrateful words I unleash from my mouth and the unseen poison killing me and those I love. How can I look up as a form of repentance, as a form of realizing the hidden realm of words and miracles? I step out of the tangible, logical day to day and am confronted with mysterium tremendum – Latin for the mysterious dread leading to humility, repentance, and life.  What is God speaking to you in this story?

“They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.