Wishing the snakes would quit biting.
Mar 10th by Jon- Tagged in:
- serious wed,
- serious wednesdays
“What we’re really doing is turning him into a drug addict.”
That is my favorite sentence from a recent article about an escaped monkey loose in Tampa, Florida. Apparently, every time animal control hits this monkey with tranquilizer darts he just shrugs them off and keeps running around down town. He’s become a bit of a local celebrity and has his own facebook page, which lists one of his hobbies as “Messin’ with the popo.”
I love that about Florida. My brother lives there and is constantly telling me weird and wonderful facts about that state. For instance, did you know they have “exotic pet amnesty days?” What’s that you ask? I would love to tell you.
Florida has an issue with giant pythons. They now have tens of thousands of the large snakes in their ecosystem. One of the ways they get in the wild is that when they get too large, some pet owners simply release them into the swamps. There, in the perfect conditions, they grow to 15 feet and threaten all sorts of wildlife. So Florida started amnesty days where pet owners can turn in their exotic pets with no questions asked.
They should sell tickets to those events.
How great would it be to hear those conversations:
“Ahhh yeah, this is a little awkward, but I’ve got a Bengal tiger in back seat of my Kia and I’ll be darned, but the little guy doesn’t want to get out.”
Those interactions would be fantastic. I’m waiting for those events to become a reality show. Until they do though, I’ll just have to rely on my imagination and the odd one off stories I hear about giant pythons in Florida.
I tend to love snake stories and was actually a little surprised to find one in the Bible. It’s in the Old Testament, Numbers 21.
The Israelites are up to no good, continuing a 40-year grumble tour in the desert. And they are an interesting example of complaining because they pull out all the stops. I realized recently that their very first complaint after being saved from slavery was sarcasm. In Exodus 14:11, when the Egyptians are marching toward them, the Israelites ask Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die?” Ha! I love that, such a dumb, mocking thing to say. “What, were there not enough graves in Egypt?”
But in Numbers, they’re complaining about the food, actually saying “We detest this miserable food!” That is stunning if you think about it. Imagine if a hostage from North Korea was freed and the first thing they said at the press conference was, “I’m glad to be freed, but the meal on the flight over here was really not up to my standards. Chicken was stringy and the peppercorn sauce lacked pizzazz. It was kind of gross.”
That would be ridiculous, but it’s what the Israelites do, so in verse 6 God says, “Oh yeah, how about some venomous snakes then?” That’s not a direct quote, but you get the gist. Suddenly, it’s like Snakes on a Plane up in that mug. (I’m not sure what that last sentence meant but it felt right.) A bunch of folks start dying, things get crazy and in the midst of that the people pray “that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.”
But God doesn’t, instead he has Moses create a bronze snake on a pole. Whenever the Israelites get bitten, they can look at it and be healed.
Let’s repeat that key idea, God doesn’t take the snakes away.
The biting continues.
The pain proceeds.
Has that ever happened to you?
Has there ever been a situation in your life that you prayed God would remove or fix or solve? He wanted a divorce, you didn’t. Your job is miserable. Your family is fractured. You can’t stop looking at porn over and over again. There are snakes in your bed.
And so you pray to God that he will remove them.
But he doesn’t.
Why?
I’m not sure. In all honesty, I’m just some blogger prone to wander, prone to leave the God I love. But I have an idea. I think God doesn’t remove the snakes because:
God doesn’t give us solutions, he gives us a savior.
A lot of the time, I wish it was the other way around. To be honest with you, sometimes a solution feels more manageable. I can control and understand a solution. I can bend and tweak a formula to my own needs. Christ on the other hand, our savior, isn’t like that at all.
He’s messy. And counterintuitive and uncontrollable. Grace and mercy are two of the most puzzling things on the planet. They’re raw and unbridled and out of control and intertwined with love we can’t possibly understand or earn.
The Israelites wanted a solution. A solution that would remove their snakes. Instead they got a savior in God, the great healer, and the snakes kept biting.
The snakes will come for you. I wish they wouldn’t but they will. My hope for you and for me, is that in moments of poison and pain, hope and happiness, we’ll look for a savior, not a solution.
We're ultimately responsible...
Comments
Some interesting thoughts. There are some big differences in the relationship dynamic that the unredeemed OT Israelites had with God and the one that those who have been Sanctified through Christ have. So, while there are situational events (job, finances, sickness, etc…) that are difficult, those are not sent by God and while, often times, God can bring redemption in the midst of difficulty… it seems that more often than not He asks us to rely on Him and grow in the midst of these challenges. The challenges that we bring into our own lives (addiction, lying, lust, etc.. ) ar at least welcome, are ones that we also often times ask God to take away from us… the truth is though, that He has already taken them away from us.. that was the cross and ressurection.. it is now our job to trust in our own salvation through Christ and have our eyes opened to believe that we can live the life Christ says we can. So when we ask god to take away the 'snakes" we allow to rule over our lives, all He can do is look back at us and say "I have already taken them… remember my Son?" What a deep blessing we have received that we have been made free to live under His grace.
"I have already taken them… remember my Son?"
FANTASTIC comment.
"… we also often times ask God to take away from us… the truth is though, that He has already taken them away from us… it is now our job to trust in our own salvation through Christ and have our eyes opened to believe that we can live the life Christ says we can."
Well said. I wish it were easier to remember.
Nehushtan, that is my favorite part of the story. That the Israelites actually worship the snake Moses gave them as an idol. Good thing we're not that stu… um, well, never mind. We are the stupid.
So, I don't feel like looking thru all the comments to see if this has been mentioned, but did you hear about this yet? http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/10/1...
Wow. Just wow.
This makes my top 5 list. Great message!
God gave the Israelites the solution–He just didn't wave a magic wand. The snakes represent evil in this world, and the bronze serpent that Moses lifted up represents deliverance from evil. Jesus Christ likened himself to that bronze serpent (John 3:14), and it is what Christ accomplished on his cross that enables us to overcome evil. Christ destroyed the force of evil and sin (Hebrews 2:14, II Corinthians 5:21). Again, God does not wave a magic wand and cause all our problems to melt away, but He does give us His knowledge, understanding, and wisdom which empowers us to defeat those things that seek to destroy us.
This was exactly what I needed today. I’m in tears, in a good way, thanks for serving God. Today it has been a huge blessing to me.
"…sometimes a solution feels more manageable. I can control and understand a solution. I can bend and tweak a formula to my own needs. Christ on the other hand, our savior, isn’t like that at all." This is me. I try to create a solution I can control, bend, manipulate, and tried them all already in 2010. Finally started noticing 2 reoccurring themes I believe God was trying to get me to focus on and live by. Humility and Patience. In those 2 I can deal with the recovery of the snake bites.
Really enjoyed this blog. It was just what I needed…a Savior.
…and, might I add, a savior isn't something we can earn, or one day turn around and decide we worked it our ourselves. i.e:
Uh, yeah, actually that whole 'guy on the cross thing' was my gig. The Ho'Spo' totally locked up my jam and cut my lunch. But that's okay. As long as the world gets a savior, Ima happy krumpster.
Admit it. You know what I mean.
I'm always amazed…this blog was brought to my attention by someone I follow on twitter. They didn't even make it directly to me or mention it to me per say but non the less that's what got me to read it. One more way I feel that HE is guiding me, which is why I'm amazed. (even though I shouldn't be)
I just went through a divorce & long story short, it's not what I wanted. I've been trying to "figure" out why & what/where it went wrong & the thought(s) will probably always cross my mind; however, I know God knows the answer. Apparently it's not for me to know the answer at this time, if ever, but I'm satisfied with knowing that HE knows all.
Thank you for the reminder, which apparently I need daily, that I need to have more faith & I need to put that faith & trust in HIM.
[...] in Uncategorized with 0 CommentsHave been quite encouraged by this article written by Jon Acuffhttp://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/03/2443/“God doesn’t give us solutions, he gives us a savior.” About admin: All Posts by [...]
Really enjoyed today's post. What a great challenge to look to Jesus for forgiveness rather than waiting for "Whacking Day" a la The Simpsons. It's when I try to overcome the snakes on my own that I fall short and fail. When I let the Holy Spirit deal with the snakes and let Jesus deal with my sin, I can rest and know that He loves me and forgives me and heals me and helps me start again. Thanks, Jon!
Jon, What a piercing and articulate post. Solutions not a savior. Exactement. I like that that phrase is succinct enough to use daily as I confess my sins to the Lord without adding too much time to the whole ordeal. It will fit in nicely after my usual 'loving the gifts more than the Giver' sentence which similarly captures the yawning chasm of my black heart in a nefficient manner. Arggggh. Who will rescue me from this body of death? Rhetorical question, btw. Hey, I would totally pick up an SCL bumpersticker when I purchase my SCL greeting cards. I like the irony of 'Solutions not a Savior' but that might capture the hearts and minds of the Darwin fish crowd (read: plenty of cabbage for YOU but surrendering vital ground to the enemy) so best to change it to "Look to the Savior for Solutions" with Hobbes bandaging Calvin's snakebite.You're welcome!
It is so very true that I have in the past few days in particular asked God, "will you just take the pain away or make this all go away?" He doesnt. It hurts and will hurt for a long time. I love the statement that we are looking for a solution not a saviour. I really needed to read this this morning, I needed a reminder to fun after the my Saviour not some solution. (I am a results driven person so this is particularity hard for me) Thank you!
Wow! I never thought about it like that, but I can see you are right.
Excellent post. Thanks for the encouragement.
I especially enjoyed your nod to come thou found of every blessing… nice
This is a great post. I love how you went from the monkey in Florida to the Israelites in the desert whining about being rescued from slavery. I never understood how they could do that, complain to God like that. I would never do that! Ha. This post brings home the fact that I grumble and gripe every day, many times — but I always think my complaints are legitimate….
And the part about God not taking away the snakes, but sending a Savior, so true! Great images in this post.
"… sometimes a solution feels more manageable. I can control and understand a solution. I can bend and tweak a formula to my own needs. Christ on the other hand, our savior, isn’t like that at all… The snakes will come for you. I wish they wouldn’t but they will. My hope for you and for me, is that in moments of poison and pain, hope and happiness, we’ll look for a savior, not a solution."
Thanks for the reminder.
But isn't the solution the savior? After all, can't we "bend and tweak a formula" in the savior too? I think everyone tries at some point to tame him and that is why we are commanded to follow the 1st commandment so that we don't.
Wow, what a great message. I'm also a very logical, solution oriented person, so this was like a (polite) slap in the face for me to realize that God is waiting for me to be content with a savior. I have many snakes in my life. They crop up at different times, when I'm going through different things, but they're always there. Its easy to recognize that the snakes are always there. What I have to remember is that God is always there too, waiting in the wings to save me.
i love how you threw in a "Come Thou Fount" verse in there (actually one of my favorite verses of any worship song). I actually just led a "worship study" in which we read into the words of some worship songs rather than just singing them, and I chose "Come Thou Fount" as one of the songs. then I just read this blog.
It's easy to ignore God when "all is well."
Sometimes I wonder if the snakes keep coming so that I will keep looking to my Savior.
That makes Him sound kinda mean.
But I think that letting me pretend I don't need him would be even worse.
[...] Wishing the snakes would quit biting (Stuff Christians Like – Jon Acuff – @prodigaljohn) [...]
Ok, this may be my favorite post ever. Darn you and your poignant analogies! My life would be so much easier/better if not for this ONE thing…. but now you're saying that maybe God has something better for me than a conflict-free life because He loves me so much? Or that I may not know what the best thing for me is? I think this is one of those lessons you have to hear a million times before you actually get it. Thanks for pushing me in the right direction!
[...] on Mar 10, 2010 by micah.woodard I came across this a few minutes ago…it’s awesome because it seems to fit where I am [...]
"God doesn’t give us solutions, he gives us a savior." Beautifully put.
If we had needed solutions, Jesus would have been a mathematician, engineer, or scientist. But we need saving. Thanks for posting this.