Our Forgiving Lord

March 11, 2015

Opening Hymns:
381 Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh381.sht

Scripture Reading:
Numbers 21:4-9
21:4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way.

21:5 The people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food."

21:6 Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died.

21:7 The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people.

21:8 And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live."

21:9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Message:
In the Old Testament we often see a God that is more harsh and angry than we do in the New Testament. He floods the world, and destroys entire cities. Here, He sends poisonous serpents after His chosen people! I’m sure glad that I wasn’t living back then.

However, along with the punishments, we can see the forgiveness that has been there since the creation of the world. In the flood he spared Noah and his family, as Noah was a righteous man (Genesis 6). God would have spared Sodom if even 10 righteous people lived there (Genesis 18). And in today’s scripture God offers forgiveness as well.

If the Israelites trusted God and Moses, and looked at the bronze serpent they would live. Even through their sin of talking against God and Moses, God offers them forgiveness. He listens to them when repent, and grants them a way to be spared from the punishment that was to befall them.

For us forgiveness comes through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through faith in Him we are cleansed from our sins as well. If we look to Jesus our lives can be saved.

 
Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for offering us forgiveness. Grant that we too can forgive others of their transgressions as You have forgiven ours. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
576 Rise up Oh Men of God http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh576.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God