Numbers 21

Looking up when it feels hard

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” ~ Numbers 21:8

What do you do when the journey feels longer than expected and discouragement starts to shape your attitude more than faith? As God’s people today, it is easy to begin well and still struggle when progress feels slow, prayers seem unanswered, or familiar challenges keep coming along the road. Today’s scripture shows us that even after many victories, God’s people faced moments of impatience, complaint, and renewed dependence on Him.

This chapter reminds us that God remains faithful in seasons of weariness and suffering.  It also reminds us that where we choose to look determines our breakthroughs.

Below are three takeaways from Numbers 21:

1. Discouragement can distort perspective.

The Israelites grew impatient and focused on what they lacked rather than what God had already done. Their words revealed hearts weighed down by frustration instead of trust that God would get them through.

When you feel discouragement because life feels repetitive or heavy, intentionally name what God has already provided. Start your day by thanking Him for specific provisions, even small ones, and ask Him to guard your words so they strengthen your faith instead of draining it.

2. God provides a way of healing that requires obedience.

When the people were bitten by serpents, God made a way for healing that seemed simple but required trust. They had to look at what God provided in order to live.

When you feel wounded by disappointment, failure, or fear, choose obedience even when it feels basic or uncomfortable. Open your God’s Word, pray honestly, and turn your attention toward the Lord Jesus instead of replaying the pain of your problems. Healing begins with a simple act of trust.

3. Where you focus determines your outcome.

Those who looked at the bronze serpent lived, those who refused did not. Life or death depended on their focus.

When your circumstances feel overwhelming, shift your focus intentionally. Instead of fixing your attention on the problem, lift your eyes to God’s promises. Write down one truth from Scripture and return to it throughout the day whenever anxiety or frustration tries to take over.

I have experienced this personally in my life when I felt worn down by repeated challenges and slow progress. There were times I knew the right answers but still felt discouraged because the journey was taking longer than I expected. I remember that my peace returned when I stopped staring at what was not changing and intentionally turned my attention back to God’s faithfulness. In those moments, choosing to look to Him did not remove every challenge immediately, but it restored His empowering grace and my strength to remember that He was still working, even when the road felt long.

Today I want to encourage you to lift your eyes when discouragement sets in and the journey feels difficult. Just as God provided healing and hope for His people in Numbers 21, He continues to offer life, restoration, and direction to those who choose to look to Him. Let your focus remain on His provision, His promises, and His faithfulness, knowing that where you look will shape how you live and how you move forward.

Today’s scripture reading: Numbers 21

1 The king of Arad, the Canaanite, who dwelt in the South, heard that Israel was coming on the road to Atharim. Then he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoners. 

2 So Israel made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.” 

3 And the Lord listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of that place was called Hormah.

4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 

5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.” 

6 So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.

7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” 

9 So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

From Mount Hor to Moab

10 Now the children of Israel moved on and camped in Oboth. 

11 And they journeyed from Oboth and camped at Ije Abarim, in the wilderness which is east of Moab, toward the sunrise. 

12 From there they moved and camped in the Valley of Zered. 

13 From there they moved and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites; for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 

14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord: “Waheb in Suphah, the brooks of the Arnon,

15 And the slope of the brooks that reaches to the dwelling of Ar, and lies on the border of Moab.”

16 From there they went to Beer, which is the well where the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, and I will give them water.” 

17 Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well! All of you sing to it—

18 The well the leaders sank, dug by the nation’s nobles, by the lawgiver, with their staves.” and from the wilderness they went to Mattanah, 

19 from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth, 

20 and from Bamoth, in the valley that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah which looks down on the wasteland.

21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, 

22 “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into fields or vineyards; we will not drink water from wells. We will go by the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.” 

23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. 

24 Then Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the people of Ammon; for the border of the people of Ammon was fortified. 

25 So Israel took all these cities, and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and in all its villages. 

26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and had taken all his land from his hand as far as the Arnon. 

27 Therefore those who speak in proverbs say: “Come to Heshbon, let it be built; Let the city of Sihon be repaired.

28 “For fire went out from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon; It consumed Ar of Moab, the lords of the heights of the Arnon.

29 Woe to you, Moab! You have perished, O people of Chemosh! He has given his sons as fugitives, And his daughters into captivity, to Sihon king of the Amorites.

30 “But we have shot at them; Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon. Then we laid waste as far as Nophah, which reaches to Medeba.”

31 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. 

32 Then Moses sent to spy out Jazer; and they took its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.

King Og Defeated

33 And they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. So Og king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. 

34 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.” 

35 So they defeated him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left him; and they took possession of his land.

Journal:

• Where has discouragement been shaping my attitude lately?
• What am I focusing on more than God’s promises right now?
• What simple act of obedience is God inviting me to take today?
• How can I intentionally lift my eyes toward Him when challenges come?