Therefore, the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that he take away the serpents from us." (v. 7)
ASK, AND HE WILL FORGIVE
The story of Moses never fails to amaze me. Moses, coming back from a virtual death by banishment, showed up in Egypt and – backed by the power of God – performed miracle after miracle. He brought the Pharaoh down low, he led the Jews out of Egypt and headed for the Promised Land. And people still doubted him.
The Egyptians were one thing. They had to be skeptical of this man who was once held in esteem, then found to be not one of their own, but a Hebrew! One of the very people they were enslaving! But for Moses’ own people to doubt him? After all, he was there at the behest of the God they prayed to for a deliverer. But whenever there was a bump in the road – trapped by the Red Sea, without food in the desert – they turned on him.
Sometimes maybe it was even too much for God to listen to. Perhaps that was why he sent snakes when the Jews complained about being in the desert. But God is nothing if not compassionate and forgiving. When the people went to Moses and asked his help in seeking God’s forgiveness, God gave it.
That’s one of the great things about God. He’s a loving and forgiving parent. When we stumble, when we wander from the path, when we don’t follow the rules he gave us, he’s still willing to forgive and love us. He loved us so much that, ages after Moses, he sent his only son to die for us and take away our sins. We should keep our eyes open to the miracles God has done for us and be satisfied every day for those blessings.
Dear Lord, you have done so much for us. You are always there, even when we act foolish and turn away. Thank you for giving us more than we deserve.
Ken Hobart
