Nehushtan

2Kings 18: 1-6 speaks of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

And he (Hezekiah) did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

Numbers 21 records the incident in which the LORD told Moses to…

‘Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.’ And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Without question, the Lord used the brazen serpent to do a mighty work for the children of Israel. Unfortunately, as people typically do, the children of Israel turned the vessel the Lord used into an idol – exalting it above the Lord. Hezekiah had the insight to call it what it was… Nehushtan – just something made of copper.

What Nehushtans are in your life? Tough question, but important to explore. Things that begin right – even things of God – can easily, as in the case of the children of Israel, turn into idols.

Ps 86: 9-10…

All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou are God alone.