While I was studying the word of God today, I believe God led me to a
particular part of the scripture that I had NEVER come in contact with in my
life. This was the very first time I was ever seeing this passage nor thinking
of it, so I’ve decided to share it with you:
2 Kings 18:4 ''He (King Hezekiah) removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it 'NEHUSHTAN'.''
Coming across this scripture really surprised me because until now, I never knew what became of the bronze serpent that God commanded Moses to mold in Numbers 21:5-9. Be reminded that in Numbers 21:5-9, something astonishing happened to the people of Israel, they grumbled and sinned greatly against God and against Moses the servant of God. So God punished them by sending deadly serpents into the camp which bit and killed many in an instant, then the people cried out to Moses and after Moses prayed to God on their behalf, God asked Moses to make a bronze image of a serpent on a pole and lift it up, that whoever gets bitten by a serpent should look up at the bronze image which Moses had made and the person would be healed.
I'm sure a lot of us know this story so well. However, here’s the part of the story that most of us including myself may not have known until today.
2 Kings 18:4 says that the people of Israel then began to worship that symbol which God used to deliver them from the deadly poison of the serpent. From the time God used Moses and the bronze serpent to perform the healing miracle for His people; until when Hezekiah destroyed that same bronze image, this was several hundred years! Could you imagine that for several hundred years the Israelites were worshiping the idol, the worthless symbol of deliverance God used to save them? Wow! When I saw this scripture, I marveled! Interestingly, the word NEHUSHTAN appears to simply mean “piece of brass”. Perhaps Hezekiah named it “Nehushtan” to remind the people that this was only a piece of brass. It had no power in it. Besides, the healing that occurred in Numbers 21 was performed by God and not NEHUSHTAN.
NEHUSHTAN should be a powerful reminder to us all that GOOD THINGS—and GOOD PEOPLE— can easily become idols in our lives. Oh how most of us have become like the people of Israel today and we magnify the instruments God used to save us more than God Himself who is the ultimate SAVIOR! We praise and worship the gifts, the miracles, the vessels more than the GIVER. This reminds me of an event which took place in the life of the Apostles in Acts 4:11-13 “When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting, “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.” The Apostles were not at all carried away by the praises and accolades, No! Instead, they quickly pointed the people to God through His Son Jesus. Unfortunately these days the reverse seems to be the case in some or most churches.
This is a call to repentance to all of us. Our praise, worship, and adoration are to be directed to GOD ALONE. Nothing else, regardless of its amazing history, is worthy. REMEMBER GOD CANNOT SHARE HIS PRAISE AND GLORY WITH ANYONE NO MATTER WHAT OR WHOM. “My name is the LORD! I won't let idols or humans share my glory and praise.” - Isaiah 42:8
Selah!
2 Kings 18:4 ''He (King Hezekiah) removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it 'NEHUSHTAN'.''
Coming across this scripture really surprised me because until now, I never knew what became of the bronze serpent that God commanded Moses to mold in Numbers 21:5-9. Be reminded that in Numbers 21:5-9, something astonishing happened to the people of Israel, they grumbled and sinned greatly against God and against Moses the servant of God. So God punished them by sending deadly serpents into the camp which bit and killed many in an instant, then the people cried out to Moses and after Moses prayed to God on their behalf, God asked Moses to make a bronze image of a serpent on a pole and lift it up, that whoever gets bitten by a serpent should look up at the bronze image which Moses had made and the person would be healed.
I'm sure a lot of us know this story so well. However, here’s the part of the story that most of us including myself may not have known until today.
2 Kings 18:4 says that the people of Israel then began to worship that symbol which God used to deliver them from the deadly poison of the serpent. From the time God used Moses and the bronze serpent to perform the healing miracle for His people; until when Hezekiah destroyed that same bronze image, this was several hundred years! Could you imagine that for several hundred years the Israelites were worshiping the idol, the worthless symbol of deliverance God used to save them? Wow! When I saw this scripture, I marveled! Interestingly, the word NEHUSHTAN appears to simply mean “piece of brass”. Perhaps Hezekiah named it “Nehushtan” to remind the people that this was only a piece of brass. It had no power in it. Besides, the healing that occurred in Numbers 21 was performed by God and not NEHUSHTAN.
NEHUSHTAN should be a powerful reminder to us all that GOOD THINGS—and GOOD PEOPLE— can easily become idols in our lives. Oh how most of us have become like the people of Israel today and we magnify the instruments God used to save us more than God Himself who is the ultimate SAVIOR! We praise and worship the gifts, the miracles, the vessels more than the GIVER. This reminds me of an event which took place in the life of the Apostles in Acts 4:11-13 “When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices in the Lycaonian language: “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting, “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.” The Apostles were not at all carried away by the praises and accolades, No! Instead, they quickly pointed the people to God through His Son Jesus. Unfortunately these days the reverse seems to be the case in some or most churches.
This is a call to repentance to all of us. Our praise, worship, and adoration are to be directed to GOD ALONE. Nothing else, regardless of its amazing history, is worthy. REMEMBER GOD CANNOT SHARE HIS PRAISE AND GLORY WITH ANYONE NO MATTER WHAT OR WHOM. “My name is the LORD! I won't let idols or humans share my glory and praise.” - Isaiah 42:8
Selah!
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