From today's reading: 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. Numbers 21:9
This is an interesting little story from the Old Testament operating somewhat on the idea of cause and effect. The people sinned so snakes appeared in their midst and bit them and they died. But then Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on a pole in the middle of the camp so that all could see it and those who looked at the serpent would be healed.
There is a difference between the people of the Old Testament and the people of today. In the time of Moses, our God, Yahweh, was the god of the Isarelites. Other people had other gods and often multiple gods. When people found themselves in any kind of trouble, they asked themselves, what have I done to anger God (or the gods?) They took responsibility for their culpablilty and looked for ways to repair the damage, whether it was by offering sacrifice or cleaning up their act. Many of today's generation, when in an unpleasant situation, instead of taking responsibility for their own actions, look around for someone to blame - often to sue - because they don't want to admit that they may have done something wrong or foolish, or that situations might just be without cause and effect.
So in our gospel reading for today, Jesus says, "Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." (John 3:15) So just as the people in the desert looked up at the serpent and lived even though they had sinned, so we who look up at the cross of Jesus will also live regardless of our sin. That is the gift that God has given us, that inspite of our sin, God has given a sign by which we may all be saved, if we only look up.
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