There is a beautiful story depicted in this artists work. The children of Isreal were being plagued by “fiery flying serpents” (1 Nephi 17:41;Numbers 21:6–9). The reason to the Israelites’ trouble was speaking evil of God and His prophet (see Numbers 21:5), a sad reality that exists today. In the story the people are bitten by the serpents. Moses is to raise up a brass serpent on his pole and then the congregation was invited to look and be healed or to not and perish.
So where do you see yourself in this picture? Are you in the foreground looking and living? or are you too confused by the simpleness of the story and refuse something so simple could heal and change you?
I know for a long time I thought I was front row being healed. But as a looked deeply into myself, as I examined my life I realized too often I would not look and be healed.
I think being healed means feeling sadness but not dwelling there. I think it means being hurt but not choosing to hurt over and over again from the same experience… to be victim who surmounts their problems.
As I learned to act with faith in a loving, kind, merciful and caring Father. I slowly started to recognize areas in my life where my heart was hardened. I had more sympathy for the people in the story who were not being healed. I realized I related to them more than I did the ones who believed.
What changed?
I realized that this story is a type for what would happen to Jesus. He too would be lifted up and if we look to him we can be healed of any illness.
So I would ask you what way are you facing? What could you change to really look to God that you might live? In the words of an ancient prophet I would say “Oh my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes that ye might perish?“
I know that God loves all His children. I know which way he wants us to face. I know He can gently show us how to cast our burdens at His feet and leave them there.
May your life be filled with the joy and peace that only to looking to the true Source can bring.
