INTRODUCTION

The Israelites were being snakebitten with no hope of living from these bites. They had sinned against the Lord and suffered the consequences. That is, until the Lord gave Moses a plan. Moses was to make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole. Those who were bitten could look upon that serpent and live. There was nothing special about the serpent on the pole. It was neither supernatural nor sinful by nature. It was merely a brasen serpent fashioned with man’s hands. Years later, although that serpent was not sinful in itself, it became a stumblingblock to the people of God (2 Kings 18:4He 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.
See All...). This story offers us a very important lesson: there are many things in this life that are not sinful in and of themselves, but those things which are misused will usually turn sinful.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): A tree can become a sinful object when man uses it to make an idol (Isaiah 44:14-17 [14] He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. [15] Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. [16] He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: [17] And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.
  See All...). Israel carried the ark (furniture from the tabernacle) into battle thinking it would help them. To show them how wrong they were, God allowed the ark to be captured by the enemy (1 Samuel 4:1-5 [1] And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. [2] And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. [3] And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. [4] So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. [5] And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
  See All...; 10-11).
• (For everyone): What are some things that you can think of that might not be sinful in and of themselves but could become sin when used improperly?
• Have you allowed certain things in this world, although not sinful by themselves, to become stumblingblocks in your walk with God?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to keep you from misusing what He has given.
• Thank God for the wisdom provided in His word.

HYMN

I AM RESOLVED

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