Lord of deliverance,
the people grew impatient on the way,
their tongues sharp with complaint:
“We loathe this worthless food!”
Though manna fell like mercy each morning,
they despised the gift that sustained them.
And fiery serpents came,
venom burning in their veins,
death spreading through the camp.
O God, I see myself in them.
How often I call Your provision small,
how quickly I despise what I once begged for.
Forgive me for scorning Your daily bread.
Forgive me for treating grace as common.
Turn my complaints into gratitude,
my bitterness into praise.
And then You told Moses to lift a serpent of bronze,
raised high on a pole,
so that all who looked
would live.
Not by medicine,
not by striving,
but by looking
by trusting Your promise.
Lord Jesus, I see the shadow here.
For You, too, were lifted up,
made sin for us,
that whoever looks to You will not perish
but have eternal life.
Fix my gaze on You, O Christ.
When sin’s venom courses through me,
when death hisses at my heels,
let me look and live.
From there, You led them on,
providing water in the wilderness,
songs rising at the well
“Spring up, O well!”
O Lord, let songs rise in my wilderness too.
Where I feel barren,
let living water flow.
Where my soul feels dry,
let joy spring up again.
Make me sing in places of thirst,
praising the One who provides streams in the desert.
You gave Israel victory over their enemies
Arad defeated,
Sihon overthrown,
Og destroyed.
Giants fell, kings crumbled,
because the Lord fought for His people.
So fight for me, Lord.
When the enemy surrounds me,
when fear towers tall,
be my defender,
my warrior,
my victory.
Let me not trust in my strength,
but in Yours alone.
So today, Lord,
I lift my eyes to the cross,
to the greater serpent raised up,
to the Savior lifted high.
I drink from the living well,
singing Your praise in the desert.
I march in Your victory,
knowing the battle belongs to You.
And I rest in this promise
that whoever looks to Christ will live,
forever.
In His mighty name I pray,
Amen.