"Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live.
But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.
O 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?"
Alma 33:19-21
This is an interesting reference to a story where Moses made a brass serpent that healed the people from bites by the "fiery serpents" that God had sent among them. In the Bible the story is in Numbers 21:6-9, but we know that the Nephites had a similar but not identical record in the brass plates, so they may have had more detail.
It seems almost crazy to not look at something that will heal you... even if you aren't quite sure, you could hope enough to try it, you know? And yet, I feel like we do this in our lives every day in a way. We try to reconcile or justify things that just aren't going to work. We ignore God when we know he could help. We trust in ourselves rather than relying on the Lord. ... I'm not saying that all of those things are as easy as looking, but the beginning of each of them is. Looking to God rather than looking to ourselves or the world begins with that first look, that first change-of-attention and adjustment-of-focus, and that is really what keeps us focused on God... that reminder to look, because no matter what is wrong, God can help.
Today, let's remember this story, and not be one of those people who refuse to shift our attention even to save our lives. Instead, let's look to God and keep practicing that refocusing in our lives, so that we stay firmly focused on Christ's healing power (which the snake symbolized), and maintain that connection so that we can receive his help in our lives.
As Alma says a couple of verses after this:
"And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen." (Alma 33:23).
I think so many things could be easier, and our burdens could be so much lighter, if we would remember to look to Christ. :) Let's do it. :)
But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.
O 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?"
Alma 33:19-21
This is an interesting reference to a story where Moses made a brass serpent that healed the people from bites by the "fiery serpents" that God had sent among them. In the Bible the story is in Numbers 21:6-9, but we know that the Nephites had a similar but not identical record in the brass plates, so they may have had more detail.It seems almost crazy to not look at something that will heal you... even if you aren't quite sure, you could hope enough to try it, you know? And yet, I feel like we do this in our lives every day in a way. We try to reconcile or justify things that just aren't going to work. We ignore God when we know he could help. We trust in ourselves rather than relying on the Lord. ... I'm not saying that all of those things are as easy as looking, but the beginning of each of them is. Looking to God rather than looking to ourselves or the world begins with that first look, that first change-of-attention and adjustment-of-focus, and that is really what keeps us focused on God... that reminder to look, because no matter what is wrong, God can help.
Today, let's remember this story, and not be one of those people who refuse to shift our attention even to save our lives. Instead, let's look to God and keep practicing that refocusing in our lives, so that we stay firmly focused on Christ's healing power (which the snake symbolized), and maintain that connection so that we can receive his help in our lives.
As Alma says a couple of verses after this:
"And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen." (Alma 33:23).
I think so many things could be easier, and our burdens could be so much lighter, if we would remember to look to Christ. :) Let's do it. :)
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