Bronze Serpent of the Modern Day
In Num 21:8-9 God instructed Moses to "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. It was an image that facilitated worship and led to salvation.
However, before long the image that facilitated worship became the object of worship. The Bible says that the Israelites were burning incense to it. (2 Kings 18:4) At least until Hezekiah came along. “He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles.” And if that wasn’t enough to tick off an entire nation look at what he did next: “He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it.” 2 Kings 18:1-5
Hummmm . . . I wonder . . . have we aloud any image or practice intended to facilitate worship to become the object of worship?
Hezekiah refused to let a nation become distracted by such objects. 2 Kings18:5 says, “Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.”
What’s he known for? Following God and tearing down the distractions. I wonder if people in the Israelite community hated him. I wonder if leaders in the community slandered him. I wonder what kind of opposition he went against to make such radical change.
How about you? Are you willing to do the same? For me . . . I’m still waffling on the edge. Some have said, “Let it go Bret, it’s not worth it.” But I think it is.
What about you? What idols need to come down? What will it take? What do you think?
However, before long the image that facilitated worship became the object of worship. The Bible says that the Israelites were burning incense to it. (2 Kings 18:4) At least until Hezekiah came along. “He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles.” And if that wasn’t enough to tick off an entire nation look at what he did next: “He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it.” 2 Kings 18:1-5
Hummmm . . . I wonder . . . have we aloud any image or practice intended to facilitate worship to become the object of worship?
Hezekiah refused to let a nation become distracted by such objects. 2 Kings18:5 says, “Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.”
What’s he known for? Following God and tearing down the distractions. I wonder if people in the Israelite community hated him. I wonder if leaders in the community slandered him. I wonder what kind of opposition he went against to make such radical change.
How about you? Are you willing to do the same? For me . . . I’m still waffling on the edge. Some have said, “Let it go Bret, it’s not worth it.” But I think it is.
What about you? What idols need to come down? What will it take? What do you think?
posted by Bret at
7:59 PM
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