Musing - Are People “Whistling Through the Graveyard”?

Hebraic Musing - Are People “Whistling Through the Graveyard”?

While the world undergoes a “Pandemic Time Out” from Father God, we find ourselves fearing future outcomes and trying to buoy up our spirits.  As our Pastor described it – “We are whistling through the graveyard” pretending we are not afraid.  People are searching for positive things to think about while being bombarded with negativity in the news media, job losses and grocery shortages! 

And yet in the back of our head we remember Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” NIV   The hearts of the people are not cheerful.  Where is the Great Physician, the Divine Healer when we need Him?  What are we missing?

Our situation is reminiscent of “The Bronze Snake” account in Numbers 21:4-9.  “They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way;  5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”  6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.  7 The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.  8 The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”  9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.” NIV  What lessons can we learn?

·      In v.5  “They spoke against God and against Moses”  Do we see ungodly behaviors and disrespect of leaders?

·      In v.6  “the LORD sent venomous snakes among them” Sounds similar the pandemic that gets full attention!

·      The resolution opportunity begins with repentance.  “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD…”.

·      The leader did what?  “Moses prayed for the people”  And what happened…

·      The LORD provides the solution/cure.  “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”  This cure is a foreshadowing of the ultimate cure available to all peoples – Look upon Jesus lifted up on the cross for the cure for our problem, our sin nature.

This is not the only Biblical passage telling us to look up to Jesus, not down at the problem.

John remembered that Jesus confirmed the significance of the Bronze Snake account when He said “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”  And Jesus continued with v.16  “For God so loved the world…”  John 3:14-16

And John remembers Jesus saying “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.  But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” Jn 12:31-32

Even the OT was telling us to look to our coming Savior.  “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.  By myself I have sworn, … a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.” Isaiah 45:22-23  

When will all people be willing to recognize their sinfulness?  When will the whole world see Jesus on the cross representing all their sins?  “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21    

Points to ponder   or   RSVP

Unfortunately, some people refuse to look up!  Why?

Could our response to this pandemic lead to the “Third Great Awakening”?
Not just for our nation, but for the entire World?

How can we use this pandemic to let the world know – “Jesus is the answer”?

♫ Jesus loved, died and rose for all the children of the world,R,Y,Bl,Br,W, they are precious in His sight ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      April 7, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   

Note – Inspired and excerpted from Pastor Tom Hatley’s message “Whistling through the graveyard”, April 5, 2020