The new, new Facebook is really awful, but without it, discussion threads like this might never happen.
Thanks to all my friends who have been so very helpful in pulling together my thoughts for Sunday.
Steve Pankey hopes E-Fel can help me understand Numbers 21.4-9
ooo--am I E-Fel?
yes you are!
Help us, o help us all, E-Fel!
yes, do tell!!!
Oh man. That's a weird one. I have our contemporary service this week which means a kids' sermon as well. Perhaps I do some snakehandling?
I am in love with my new nickname!
I am in love with my new nickname!
Hey, do you guys have the Olson Numbers commentary? Claims the Israelites only confessed in Numbers once before, in the spy story in 13-14. But then they revealed the shallowness of their confession because they set out to attack the Canaanites despite Moses' warning, thinking they could fulfill the promises on their own. So Olson thinks this background of Israel's earlier confession in Numbers helps explain why God doesn't get rid of the serpents immediately...
Anyway, that has Lenten possibilities, with confession?
But I am not going to be able to delve into it until at least Thursday! Still, this has potential, right? So don't wimp out and go with John!! Although you can tie it in since Jesus refers to the bronze serpent, and here's what Olsen says about that: "Thus, the cross in John's Gospel, like the pole with the bronze serpent, signifies both the posion of death as well as the life-giving power of God for all those who believe and look to God for healing and new life"
Anyway, that has Lenten possibilities, with confession?
But I am not going to be able to delve into it until at least Thursday! Still, this has potential, right? So don't wimp out and go with John!! Although you can tie it in since Jesus refers to the bronze serpent, and here's what Olsen says about that: "Thus, the cross in John's Gospel, like the pole with the bronze serpent, signifies both the posion of death as well as the life-giving power of God for all those who believe and look to God for healing and new life"
Would you prefer E-Fel to QE1? ;-)
David,you may alternate.
Also, pn Textweek, there's a link to a 1994 Christian Century article (via ATLA which we all get as VTS alums) that I think has preaching possibilites!!
ok E-Fel, master of all things, how do i get into ATLA?
As a VTS alum, the log in is ATL0996A, and the password is alumni.
I've been working on the John/Numbers interlinking there and am having trouble because later in Numbers the bronze snake is used as an idol so Moses destroys it. (Right, E-Fel?) So what does that do with John's comparison? We've turned the cross into an idol?? More like we've de-scandalized it, made it too palatable - covered it with roses as Moltmann would say.
i think you are right in pointing out the part later on in Numbers, thanks for that. In my view, some have made the cross an idol, others the altar, the rails, the vestments, the clergy, even the Bible. All the stuff we use to worship God can easily become a god, the trick is stopping short, looking at the serpent, being healed, and thanking God for the healing.
just to be clear - King Hezekiah destroys it in 2 Kings 18.4 because it had become an object of worship - but it is directly stated that it was the bronze serpent which Moses made
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