Gò0dNews for Everyone
When Obedience Means Death
I
by Brent Goodge
hate snakes. I know they play an important role, but
kind of thinking led Cain to bring a plant-based sacrifice
I hate snakes. The very first promise in the Bible was
and then kill his brother (Genesis 4:3). How many
the promise of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus
Christians through the ages have excused themselves
on Calvary, that He would crush the serpent’s head
from a known duty to God with the reasoning, “I can’t
(Genesis 3:15).
possibly serve God if I’m dead?”
For the most part, America’s pit vipers aren’t as deadly as some other snakes around the world. When Paul was bitten by a viper on Malta, the natives expected him to die immediately (Acts 28:3-6). Thankfully, venomous bite victims here usually survive. Moses spent forty years as Egypt’s crowned prince. Then, through a rash act, he became an alien shepherd. One day, trying to find water and pasture in the barren land, Moses happened to see a bush on fire. This probably wasn’t uncommon, but desert shrubs should burn rapidly, disappearing in a moment. This bush was not burning up (Exodus 3:2). God was calling Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt. Moses began to make excuses. Why would anyone believe he was called of God? God told Moses to throw down his rod. It became a
Jesus said that to trust in human reasoning over God’s commands is to worship Him in vain (Matthew 15:9). As Christians, we are called to “trust in the Lord
snake. This was likely a desert viper similar to the snake
with all our heart, leaning not to our own understanding”
that bit Paul. Being one of the best-educated men on
(Proverbs 3:5).
earth at the time, Moses did the smart thing. He ran away
Revelation tells us a day is coming when there will
(Exodus 4:3). But God told Moses to stop, turn around,
be only two groups. One group will have the faith of
and pick the snake up by the tail. I have never held a
Jesus and keep His commandments (Revelation 14:12).
venomous snake. I never plan to. But I understand that to
The other group will receive the mark of the beast and
pick one up, you must grab it just behind the head.
sentence the first group to death (Revelation 13:15, 16).
For Moses to obey God’s command meant certain
When following God’s commandments will earn the
death. How easy would it have been for Moses to explain
death penalty, will we be faithful to His Word? Or will
to God why He had a really bad idea? That’s what
we reason that we can’t serve God if we’re dead? “If you
Ananias did when God called him to visit Saul after the
love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
it have felt like obedience had Moses bravely gone back to the snake and picked it up from behind its head? That
52 // July 2022
About The Author
road to Damascus (Acts 9:10-16). How much more would Brent Goodge lives in Whitfield County and prays that he will always be faithful to follow the Bible through the power of Jesus Christ.
