Lectionary Preaching Workbook
The people of Israel are fed up with the hardships of
wilderness wandering. They grumble and complain about their food.
This constitutes rebellion against God's and Moses' leadership.
Their disobedience results in their being bitten by poisonous
snakes. Realizing their sin, they ask Moses to pray that God will
remove the serpents. He does not remove them, but he provides a
cure -- a mere look at a raised bronze serpent. God provides a
means of healing from the consequences of their sin.