He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan). (II Kings 18:4 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Cut Out the Middleman
In Numbers 21:9, Moses formed a bronze serpent as a tool to bring healing to the Israelites suffering from poison, brought on them by their disobedience to God.
But hundreds of years later, the people of God had begun to focus on the means of God’s healing, rather than on God, Himself. They remembered God’s merciful healing, but their eyes and hearts focused on the MEANS, rather than the SOURCE of blessing.
We do this, too.
God blesses us by providing jobs so our families can be fed, and we take pride in our position and income.
God blesses us by placing us in communities, and we forget our community is intended to draw us to Jesus, to draw others to Jesus, and to better live for Jesus.
God blesses us by building a nation founded on wisdom, and we act like America somehow IS God’s blessing.
God blesses us with health, and that health has become our number one priority.
King Hezekiah had the courage and sense to get rid of the popular thing that distracted from God, the sentimental thing that distracted from God, the memorable thing that distracted from God, the very symbol of blessing that distracted from God.
It is no accident that it looked like a snake.
As our faith grows, and we can fear less… what snakes are distracting us from God?
Fear not, and cut out the middleman.