What Happens to One Doesn’t Happen to All, But All Are Impacted

An Epidemic of Mass Proportions – Part 2

Before you begin make sure you’ve completed the previous prayer-workout, click this link:
“Part 1 – Did This Really Just Happen?”

Many were bitten, not all. We know Moses wasn’t bitten if you continue reading this history. While I can’t say why those bitten, were bitten and those who were not, weren’t, all I know is this, everyone was impacted.

The nation of Israel under Moses’ leadership experienced a phenomenon. Can you imagine one day a report rang out of a member of one of the 12 tribes or districts of Israel has died due to a snake bite? Let’s say it’s the Asher district. I bet many blew it off. We’re in the wilderness, a strange territory; it’s possible that a person could encounter a snake, be poisoned, and die. There’s nothing strange about that. 

Over time another report arose, then another, until the people in the district of Asher became worried about the territory they were camped in. So a representative visited the district of Naphtali to only find out no one there had experienced a snake bit. But hold on, just a few days later, as the numbers grew in Asher, a report reached Naphtali. What’s going on, people thought? We tried killing the snakes and we killed many. Yet more came. We’d found them in places snakes don’t go. We’d awaken to snakes in our tents. All of Asher is now in a panic. The snake epidemic, just like the coronavirus, spread until it reached all 12 districts and no one was left un-impacted by the news of this threat. CNN and Fox News doesn’t come close to getting the news spread as quickly as it spread throughout the nation of Israel.

[Pray This]
Lord, while I’m uncertain about what’s happening around me, I remind myself of what You told Your people, be strong and courageous and don’t be afraid. This pandemic may have taken us by surprise, but it hasn’t taken You by surprise. 

Let’s step back in history before the snake-epidemic and see what happened leading up to it.

“and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!”” – bible.com/116/num.21.5.nlt

What happened to cause these snakes to appear? The what was found in this preceding verse. The people did what normal, ordinary, average people are good at doing. They became complacent, familiar, and neglecting. They became a bunch of complaining, ungrateful people who’d forgotten what God had done for them. 

Here’s a good place to pray.
[Pray This]
Lord, help me see the areas where I become complacent, familiar, and even neglecting. Help me to never become ungrateful and forgetful of the things You have done. I put measures in place to remind me. I have special days dedicated just to say thank you. I make it a practice several times, daily, to say “thank You.” 

Listen to the nation of Israel. They’d prayed to be freed of their captors and God did it. They went hungry and God provided food. They didn’t have to work for it nor wait on it. They had fast food from Heaven. They had no good drinking water and God turned contaminated water into the best drinking water. Yet the people spoke against God and God’s representative. It appears that it was the people’s actions that led to the epidemic. Could it be possible that it’s the people’s actions that have led to your pandemic?

If you’d like to continue with the next prayer-workout, click this link:
“Part 3 – It’s Time to Alter Our Course”