I do not like snakes! Perhaps you feel the same way.
One summer I was sitting comfortably and safely inside my home reading my Bible for my morning devotions. My chair was turned towards the window so that I could face the lovely woods just past the back deck of our home. Something caught my eye! It was a snake!! On my DECK!!
I got up and locked the already closed door to the back deck. I knew a snake could not open a closed door, but locking it somehow made me feel safer. I had no plans of opening a door or a window to get a better view of that snake. I did keep my eye on the snake. He hung out for a few hours and disappeared. I did not go on my deck for a week.
In 1 Corinthians, among those who lusted after evil things, yielded to idolatry, committed fornication, or murmured against God are those who tempted Christ and were destroyed by fiery serpents. (I Corinthians 10: 6-10) That does not sound like a good way to die!!
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 1 Corinthians 10:9
This example for us is recorded in Numbers 21:5-9. By this passage in Numbers in my Bible, I have this thought written down:
Dissatisfaction began with a serpent in the Garden.
I often wonder, and maybe you have as well…How could Eve not be satisfied in a perfect Garden, with a perfect husband and in perfect communion with God? The answer is simple, Satan convinced her that she did not have everything she deserved to have.
And this is exactly where we find the children of Israel in Numbers 21. Dissatisfied and believing that they did not have everything they needed and/or deserved.
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. Numbers 21:5
Yielding to one lie often opens the door for us to believe more lies. Unlocking and opening the door to dissatisfaction caused by the lies we believe can bring a fallout of “fiery serpent” loss and destruction.
We have a warning in 1 Corinthians 10 to take heed lest we fall into temptation.
Thankfully, we are also given the promise of a way of escape.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. I Corinthians 10:13
How can this example of the fiery serpents help you and I today?
Understand that Satan is a liar and the father of lies. Our discontentment and dissatisfaction will begin with a lie. (John 8:44)
Look to our faithful Savior and meditate on what He has done for us on the cross of Calvary. (John 3:14-15, Hebrews 12:1-2)
Claim the promises of deliverance and the way of escape that we find in the Word of God. (Psalm 37:39-40)
By doing these things, we can close the door on the loss and destruction brought on by dissatisfaction.
Loser Bible Study Series Theme Verse:
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:35
“Lose” from the Greek word “Apollymi” means “to destroy fully.” It is translated destroyed in I Corinthians 10:9, our verse for today.
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