A Blessing Turns To A Curse

Hezekiah son of Ahaz began to rule over Judah in the third year of King Hoshea’s reign in Israel. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done. He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan. [2 Kings 18.1-4]

This is very interesting and important bit of history. The fact that Hezekiah destroyed the bronze serpent should cause Bible students to pay extra close attention. why? Because that bronze serpent was the timely, wonderful and merciful 'will of God' in another time and place!

Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed! [Numbers 21.8-9]

So, we first have God instructing Moses to construct the bronze serpent for the healing of Israel then, Hezekiah is "pleasing in the LORD's sight..." and destroys it!

The story here is simple: when God provides a tool, use it, don't worship it! God does not provide us anything that He intends for us to worship. Our worship is to be reserved for God alone. Just because God provides something does not mean that something is God!

In no current situation is this principle more profound than in the case of God providing money to a person. Although God is the One Who Provides (Jehovah Jireh), the provision is NOT to be worshiped! And yet, that is precisely what happens more times than not in the case of money.

The responsibility of maintaining our pure devotion to God rests entirely upon us. God's blessings, if not properly kept in their place, can turn to curses upon us with a simple shift in our devotion from God Who gave the blessings to the blessings themselves!

This is serious!

Father, thank You for the lesson found in the bronze serpent.