When good turns bad

When good turns bad

Bible:2 Kings 18:1-8

He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the
Israelites had been burning incense to it (V.4).

Reading

People often find ways to turn something good into something bad. It even happens in churches and our lives. Like youth group prayer meetings becoming places for gossiping. Or spending time reading the Bible becoming less about knowing God and more about feeling like a good person. When things like this happen, someone needs to be brave enough to say that God is no longer the centre. The people of Judah found out how true that was. In their case, the goodthing turned-bad was the bronze serpent that Moses had made years earlier to help the people when they were in the wilderness. Back then, the people had come under God’s judgement because of their attitude towards Him (NUMBERS 21:5). So God “sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died” (V.6). But because of His love for them, He told Moses to make a bronze snake. Anyone who looked at the snake (and trusted God’s command) would live (VV.8-9). But by King Hezekiah’s time, the bronze snake was being worshipped instead of God! It took bravery and a clear understanding of who God is for Hezekiah to destroy the serpent and to direct people back to God (2 KINGS 18:4). We need to be able to spot when good things in our lives stop being about God. Then we can face up to them, and with God’s help, put Him back at the centre.

THE THINGS IN OUR LIVES ARE GOOD IF THEY HELP
US KEEP GOD AT THE CENTRE.

YouTh Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries