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The Brazen Serpant
This week I studied to book of Numbers in the Old
Testament. Numbers recorded the wanderings in the wilderness
by the people of Israel. They faced many trials, suffered because of
murmuring and disobedience, repented and were blessed, while they wondered in
the wilderness for nearly 40 years. In Numbers 21, I learned about the brazen serpent,
which is commonly seen as a medical symbol today.
The people of Israel once again murmured against the
Lord and his chosen prophet. To help Israel turn to the Lord again, he cursed
them with "fiery serpents" (Numbers 21:6). Those who were bitten
died. Once Israel began to repent, the Lord commanded Moses to place a serpent
made of brass upon a pole and raise it up before the people. If a person looked
upon the serpent on the pole when bitten, they would be cured from the poison.
Many were saved from this simple act of looking, while others refused to look
and perished.
The brazen serpent is a symbol of Jesus Christ. When
he lived upon the earth, he was raised upon a cross and died to redeem mankind.
To be saved from death Israel needed to look upon the brazen serpent. To be
saved from sin and death, we must look to Jesus Christ.
A person can "look to" Jesus Christ for
healing by turning to the priesthood for blessings. I know that through the
priesthood, a person can be healed from physical sickness and injury. I have
seen myself become healed through blessings, but I have also seen healing
denied. We must look to Him in faith and know that if we are not healed, it is
for a purpose that we may not understand yet.
We can also be healed of mortal turmoil and suffering
by looking to Jesus Christ. A person can look to Jesus Christ by trying to
become like him, and by studying his life. I have had pain and suffering in my
life. I "looked" to Jesus Christ by focusing on serving others. I
have found solace and peace by trying to live like Him. This act is simple, but
takes a lot of effort. During times of depression and pain, the simple act of
serving others seems ineffective. But I have seem in my own life, how losing
myself in the service of others helped me lose the pain too. I must make clear
that when it comes to serious matters such a depression or other mental
difficulties, merely serving others may not be enough. I believe strongly that
to turn to Jesus Christ for healing also means accepting the medical help that is
available in our day. By accepting the advice of an inspired doctor with an eye
focused on the Lord, I believe that all mental turmoil can be overcome.
During a specific trying time in my life, I felt
the oppressive suffering that I know others have faced too. During
that time, I turned to the advice of good friends, family, and a caring bishop
who knew how to help me. My bishop at the time taught me to lose myself in
serving others. He advised me to focus on helping others instead of the pain I
was feeling. The changes in myself did not happen right away, but slowly I
began to notice that peace was coming to me more often. I began to forgive
myself for my mistakes, and develop a deeper desire to follow Jesus Christ.
While the road was long, I have seen myself healed by "looking to"
Jesus Christ.
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