RECOGNIZE YOUR FEARS

A Response to "Recognize Your Fears"

The Discouragement of the Wilderness

The people of Israel were very discouraged. They had been wandering in the wilderness, and their patience had worn thin. They began to murmur against God and complain against Moses, asking why they had been brought out of Egypt to die in the wilderness. They complained about the lack of food and water, and they despised the manna that God had provided. Their discouragement turned into grumbling, and their grumbling turned into rebellion. They forgot the deliverance from Egypt. They forgot the provision of manna. They forgot the pillar of cloud and fire. They were focused on their discomfort, and their hearts grew bitter.

The Fiery Serpents

So the Lord sent poisonous snakes to punish them, and many were bitten and died. These snakes were fiery serpents, and their venom was deadly. The people’s murmuring and complaining had opened a door. God withdrew His protection, and the serpents came. This was not a random attack; it was a consequence of their rebellion. When we murmur and complain, we expose ourselves to danger. We open the door for the enemy to strike. We invite the fiery serpents into our lives. The remedy is not to blame others but to examine our own hearts and repent.

The Repentance of the People

When the people realized that they had sinned, they repented. They came to Moses and confessed, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us." Their repentance was not just regret for the consequences; it was a turning back to God. They acknowledged their sin. They asked for intercession. They humbled themselves. And Moses prayed for them. Repentance is the first step to healing. When we recognize our sin and turn back to God, He hears us and responds with mercy.

The Bronze Serpent

The Lord told Moses to make a bronze replica of one of the snakes and attach it to the top of a pole. Anyone who was bitten would live if he simply looked at it. Moses made the bronze snake, and whenever anyone who had been bitten looked at it, he recovered. This was not a magical object; it was a point of contact for faith. The bronze snake was lifted up so that those who looked at it would be healed. Jesus later referred to this event when He said, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life." The bronze serpent was a foreshadowing of the cross. Just as the Israelites looked at the serpent and lived, we look at Jesus and receive eternal life.

Lessons to Be Learned

There are several lessons we can learn from this story. First, never murmur and complain, especially against God's anointed servants. Even if you disagree with them, you may save yourself from any snakes that are lurking for such opportunities. Let God handle His anointed ones. Second, the snakes are fiery serpents. When you murmur and complain, you open up for them to come to you. God just withdraws His protection from the fiery serpents so that you may realize the real issue and take remedial actions. Third, reconcile and make peace with everyone. This is the safest way to evade the schemes of the enemy. Unresolved conflict and grumbling give the enemy a foothold. Fourth, recognize your fears. Have faith in God, just as the people of Israel who had been bitten looked at the bronze snake and recovered.

The Antidote to Fear

The antidote to fear is faith. The people of Israel were afraid of the snakes, but they were healed when they looked at the bronze snake. We are afraid of many things—death, failure, rejection, uncertainty. But when we look to Jesus, we find healing. When we fix our eyes on Him, our fears lose their power. Faith does not mean the absence of fear; it means trusting God in the presence of fear. It means looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. It means believing that He is able to save, heal, and deliver.

Final Reflection

Recognize your fears. Do not let them control you. Do not let them lead you into murmuring and complaining. Instead, turn to God in repentance and faith. Look to Jesus, the One who was lifted up on the cross for your healing. He is the antidote to every fear, the answer to every need, and the source of every blessing. When you look to Him, you will live.

Prayer for Faith Over Fear

Lord, I recognize my fears, and I bring them to You. Forgive me for the times I have murmured and complained instead of trusting You. Help me to look to Jesus, the One who was lifted up for my healing. Remove the fiery serpents of fear, doubt, and discouragement from my life. Help me to have faith in You and to live in peace. I trust that You are able to deliver me from every danger. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.