The Allegory Of The Brasen Serpent: Traditions

Apostle Grace Lubega

2 Kings 18:1-4 (KJV); Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, [that] Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also [was] Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and BRAKE IN PIECES THE BRASEN SERPENT THAT MOSES HAD MADE: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

When dealing with the things of God, it is important for us to seek the mind of the Spirit and the revelation behind every experience lest we imitate traditions of old that preserve monuments but without life and power.

If we do not do so, we make the Word of God void of power and of no effect because of our traditions (Mark 7:13).

The apostle Paul shares a sobering thought in 1 Corinthians 14:20. He says, “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”

It is required of every child of God to be mature in understanding.

From our theme scripture, it is sad to note that several years after the death of Moses, the brass serpent was still hanging on that pole and had acquired the status of an idol in Israel.

The brasen serpent that had brought healing in the time of Moses (Numbers 21:8-9) had to be destroyed by Hezekiah because the children of Israel had placed their faith in it without the revelation of this experience.

Most times, when God uses some material medium to perform a miracle, the people begin to go after that thing, instead of the one who has the power to perform the miracle, with or without that medium.

Whenever people turn their eyes to the physical things which they can see or touch, they loose sight of God.

God may give a specific instruction concerning using a material thing such as a handkerchief or oil to heal the sick or to demonstrate power. That particular instruction does not sum up how He operates; He does not want us to build a doctrine around it. Rather He wants us to live by faith in His person and not in the forms in which He manifests.
Praise Him!

FURTHER STUDY: Mark 7:13, Hebrews 10:38

GOLDEN NUGGET:

When dealing with the things of God, it is important for us to seek the mind of the Spirit and the revelation behind every experience lest we imitate traditions of old that preserve monuments but without life and power.

PRAYER: My Lord, I am grateful for your wonderful Word. I receive it with understanding and I have the revelation of the experiences of the Spirit. My faith is in you and not the elements that melt away. My experiences in you are fresh and they are an everyday occurrence in my life. In Jesus’ name.