The People Complained
(Numbers 16; 20-21)
July 6, 2025
Sunday Recap
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Sunday Recap •
Hey Fams!
Today in Elevate Kids we talked about when we reflect on the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land, nothing seems to more greatly characterize the posture of their hearts than their complaints. Despite the signs, miracles, protection, and provision they experienced, they remained reluctant to trust the Lord. Today’s passage highlights the Israelites’ inclination to disobey and disbelieve God.
What led the Israelites to sin against God and Moses in today’s reading? How does the passage of the bronze snake foreshadow Christ’s once-and-for-all sacrifice?
Korah’s goal in the rebellion was to raise his own status by lowering the God-given calling of Moses. He believed that the people were holy enough and that God was near enough, deeming Moses’ leadership unnecessary and unfruitful. Continuing to blame Moses, the people’s same old complaints resurfaced: the Israelites expressed envy toward generations past and discontentment regarding their current state of wandering.
The people trusted in their own perceptions of their circumstances rather than persevering by faith in God’s Word and in their leader’s guidance. Their distrust and disobedience led them to be more characterized by complaints than by confidence in God.
Despite these complaints, God extended grace by miraculously intervening. He allowed Moses and Aaron to supply water to the Israelites from the rock. Yet time passed, and the people’s impatience came back into play. They persisted in complaining toward both God and Moses, expressing discontentment toward the provision they thought they lacked. Because of this, the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many people died.
Moses interceded for the people, and God miraculously provided them rescue. By looking at the bronze snake mounted on a pole, the people would recover. This was a glimmer of the eternal salvation that would one day come through the Son of God lifted up on the cross to bear the consequences of sin. Though the Israelites did not deserve this rescue, God saved them by His grace. Likewise, the Son of Man lifted up on the cross provided a once-and-for-all sacrifice for those who look to Him for salvation. Pray for the kids in your family to sees God’s gracious provision, that they would put their confidence in Christ for salvation.
** Next week: Moses’ Farewell (Deuteronomy 31-34)
Family Discipleship Plan
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Family Discipleship Plan •
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Read Numbers 16:1-3; 20:1-12; 21:4-9 from the Bible.
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In the early 1900s, there was no treatment for bacterial diseases that were killing millions of people. In 1928, Penicillin was accidentally discovered and found to be the treatment needed to save lives. It saved thousands of soldiers in World War II. Penicillin continues to be used as treatment for bacterial infections, and there is no way to count the number of lives saved by this medicine.
It probably sounds strange for people to use mold as a medicine, but not as strange as how God brought healing through a bronze snake. The Israelites continued to grumble and complain, even after all God did for them. Finally, God had enough of their disobedience, so He sent judgment in the form of venomous snakes. Many of the people were bitten and died from the snakes.
The Israelites knew they had sinned and deserved God’s judgment, but they pleaded with Him to remove the snakes. God told Moses to make a bronze snake and mount it to a pole. If anyone looked at the snake, they would recover from the venomous snake’s bite. God showed mercy to the Israelites by providing a way—as strange as it may sound—for them to be healed.
We all deserve to be punished for sin, and the ultimate punishment is death. God shows us mercy in an unexpected way by sending His own Son to suffer and die for our sin. God offers us a way to be healed through the sacrifice of Jesus. Anyone who looks to Him for salvation will be saved. That’s the good news of the gospel!
Like the Israelites, we sin when we complain and do not trust God. The Israelites faced death for their sin, but when they looked to the bronze snake they were healed. The consequence for our sin is also death, but when we look to Jesus and trust in Him, we will be saved.
Pray:
Lord, You are merciful and good. We thank You for sending Jesus to die in our place. Help us look to Him for our salvation and keep our eyes on Him as we live for Your glory.
Amen. -
We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. He appointed them to be saved in keeping with his purpose.
Romans 8:28 NIrV
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Mornings
Thank God for the mercy He has shown by providing doctors and medicine to us. How is sickness and death a consequence of sin? How are doctors and medicine a part of God’s goodness and grace to us?
Evenings
Ask God to forgive the sins you committed today, and ask for His help to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus tomorrow. How can looking to Jesus help us obey Him?
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For Fun
Visit the zoo and study the differences between venomous and non-venomous snakes. If you don’t have a zoo in your area, look up nature videos on the internet or check out books from your local library. Talk with kids about the fear and chaos that might have come when God sent the venomous snakes to the Israelite camp. Remind kids that God showed mercy by giving the people a way to be healed, and ultimately saved, from the punishment of their sin. He did the same for us through Jesus!
To Serve
Go around your family and ask each person to confess something they recently complained about. Then, have each family member turn that complaint into praise of thankfulness to God for what He has provided. For example, if you’ve complained about eating peas, you can praise God for providing food!