Moralism
Numbers 21:5-9
The second generation of wilderness Hebrews have looked on their circumstances and decided it does not meet their expectations. They look at their redemption from Egypt and see a rouse that will lead them to a death by starvation and thirst. While it is easy in hindsight to look at the attitude of the Hebrews and see an error, it is valuable to note that the problems are very real and critically important to them.
The wilderness journey has not been easy, and it is too easy to call the Israelites obtuse. In this narrative we can see that from their perspective, there is an acute and critical problem with their current circumstances. It is interesting to note that their perspective on the circumstances is conflicted. We see in their grumbling, first they indicate they have no food, but we also see that it is more accurate to say they do not like the food God provided. It is not the absence of provision they are truly complaining about, it is that Gods provision is insufficient from their perspective. Life is not playing out in a way their sensibilities can reconcile. If God is good, then why manna? If we are His people, why are we so miserable?
A point of application is we see the difference between complaining to God and complaining about God. Scripture is loaded with instances when believers complain to God about circumstances. Indeed, entire books of the Old Testament are dedicated to the exploration of tough questions related to God's sovereignty in the valleys of life. Yet here in Numbers we see the people complain about God in a way that inaccurately reflects His character. From this we can deduce the simple application that bringing struggles to God in prayer and petition is a prescribed task, but accusing God of malfeasance is a different matter. One perspective trusts and knocks at the door and asks. The other perspective doubts, accuses and blames. Here we see the people in doubt, accusing God and Moses of lying and misleading - which is ill advised and only goes to reinforce their sin diagnosis.
When God sends serpents, it is difficult to understand. From casual glance it appears in the Numbers narrative that God was upset about being accused and lashed out on his people in retribution for their error. If we are not careful, it is tempting to think dualistically about God’s sovereignty. In that belief we end up sounding like Job’s friends, that the serpents represent penalty.
Perhaps it would be better to say that in God’s sovereignty over all things, life occurred and serpents showed up as they sometimes do, and God is sovereign over it when it happens at the right time and when it feels like the wrong time. It is the mystery of His wisdom that decides when trial occurs and not dualistic moralism. We want God to bite the wicked, but this is not always how it works, now or frequently in the Old Testament.