For once, Israel’s instinct was to turn to the Lord. And how great a response they received! It is refreshing to see Israel take their troubles to God and vow to obey Him. I love the Bible verse that says, "We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on You." (2 Chronicles 20:12b) God already told Israel that they would have to totally annihilate the Canaanites or their idols would ensnare the people. The Hebrews knew what was required and vowed to obey God if he would give them victory over Arad.
In Exodus 23, God said HE would wipe out the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites before Israel. God’s angel would go ahead of Israel and guide them to the place God has for them and God Himself would eradicate these people. God also said at the beginning of the journey that He would not drive out the current inhabitants of Cannan in one year or the land would become desolate and an overpopulation of wild animals would result. The current residents are idolators who are bent on evil and need to leave the land God promised to Abraham.
Just as God’s people were not to live with the inhabitants of Canaan, believers are not to be yoked to unbelievers. Our closest relationships which we choose to be a part of (not family) should not be with unbelievers, lest they lead us from our devotion to the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:14-17). The Great Commission tells us to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). We must be in the world but not of it. Jesus went to sinners’ homes. He hung out with tax collectors and other sinners. He set an example for us to be in the world. However, Jesus was not like unbelievers at all! He stood out as an example of love and wisdom. When Jesus prayed for us in John 17, He prayed not that we would be taken out of the world, but that we would be protected from the evil one. He said we are not of the world just as He is not of the world.
In John 17, Jesus said to be in the world but not of it. We are sanctified and set apart for service to God, but the main service is reaching others with the gospel of Jesus Christ. The verse about being unequally yoked has to do with intimate relationships. We cannot have very intimate relationships with unbelievers because the very essence of our being is the Holy Spirit and it has its association with the Spirit. We can love unbelievers and have compassion for them and lead them to the One who can save them, but we dare not spend our time exclusively with them. Dating and marriage relationships should never be unequally yoked. We cannot be devoted to our Lord and devoted to a spouse who doesn’t love the same Jesus. “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) That is why!
The Bronze Snake
As Israel is walking around Edom because of their refusal of entry, they are getting tired. Some of the kids are asking, “Are we there yet?” Fuses are getting short. Ever been there? I can remember when my children were babies. I do not function well on interrupted sleep. I would be so cranky at times, I don’t know how my family could stand me! Think of a time you felt tired and cranky. Were you walking in the heat? That in itself would have made me grouchy! I don’t think God would have been angry at the Israelites if they had just been fussy. No, they took it right back to where they always did, “Why did you take us out of Egypt?” They complained about lack of bread and water and then they said they hated manna. Well, that was the last straw as far as God was concerned.
Jesus says He is the Bread of Life in John 6:35. Because of the people’s rejection of the Lord and His grace, the Lord sent venomous snakes among the people. Many Israelites died from snake bites. God judged the people for their disrespect, discontent and distrust. Of course, now that there was a consequence, the people ran to Moses, admitting their sin and asking for intervention. Moses prayed and God provided a solution: Moses was told to make a snake on a pole for the people to look at when bitten. Moses made a bronze snake to serve just this purpose, according to the Lord's directions. Jesus said that He would be lifted up on the cross just as Moses lifted the snake in the desert. The 2 verses that come before the most-quoted Bible verse (John 3:16) are as follows: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” So Israel looked to the Lord for healing by looking at the bronze snake set up for this purpose. We also must look to the Lord and seek His face constantly to experience close relationship and all of the fruit of the Spirit God promised us. (see Galatians 5:22)
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