Further Study: Read Ellen G. White, “The Smitten Rock,” pp. 411–421; “The Journey Around Edom,” pp. 422–432; “The Conquest of Bashan,” pp. 433–437, in Patriarchs and Prophets.
“Nicodemus was being drawn to Christ. As the Saviour explained to him concerning the new birth, he longed to have this change wrought in himself. By what means could it be accomplished? Jesus answered the unspoken question: ‘As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.’
“Here was ground with which Nicodemus was familiar. The symbol of the uplifted serpent made plain to him the Saviour’s mission. When the people of Israel were dying from the sting of the fiery serpents, God directed Moses to make a serpent of brass, and place it on high in the midst of the congregation. Then the word was sounded throughout the encampment that all who would look upon the serpent should live. The people well knew that in itself the serpent had no power to help them. It was a symbol of Christ. As the image made in the likeness of the destroying serpents was lifted up for their healing, so One made ‘in the likeness of sinful flesh’ was to be their Redeemer. . . . Whether for the healing of their wounds or the pardon of their sins, they could do nothing for themselves but show their faith in the Gift of God. They were to look and live.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 174, 175.
Discussion Questions: 
Think about the story of the fiery serpents. Talk about having to act on faith. That is, just by looking at the serpents, the Israelites were promised to be spared what would otherwise have been a certain death. There was no natural explanation; their life depended upon a supernatural act on their behalf. How does that reflect the plan of salvation, as well? What should this tell us about just how helpless we are on our own, apart from God, for eternal life? How should this reality keep us humble?
In what ways might we, either as individuals or as a church, be making some of the same mistakes as the children of Israel made? Why is it always so hard to see our own spiritual weak points?
Summary:
| I N S I D E Story | ||
| Poured Out and Running Over: Part 2 by JOANNE W LAFEVER It looked as if our little mission school in Taiwan would close. Most of the missionaries who had sent their children here were gone. Then God showed us that He had other plans for our school. He transformed it into a real mission school-a school for children whose parents wanted an American-and a Christian-education. With God's blessings the school enrollment increased. We have grown from four classrooms to eight, from 50 students to more than 125. We are bursting at the seams. We have remodeled the school and made major improvements to our facility and our academic program. I'm sure that at least some of these blessings have been the result of faithfully tithing our increase. Nearly every student comes from a non-Adventist home, and our teachers take seriously their commission to win souls for Jesus. Every year children make decisions for Jesus as a result of studying at Taipei Adventist American School and coming into contact with God's message of love. Over the years many parents have told us that they wished we had a Christian high school where their children could study when they complete eighth grade. They didn't want their children to have to travel to the United States at such an early age just to continue their international education. Taipei has three high schools that serve foreign students, but they are quite secular. We wanted to see our students who had come to know Jesus continue their education in an Adventist Christian academic environment. So in 2004 we stepped out in faith and established an Adventist high school for foreign students. Starting with just 18 students, the enrollment has grown to more than 100. The school is providing a strong academic program in a Christian setting, and it regularly places its students in Adventist high schools and colleges in the United States. Not one of these children is from an Adventist family, but they are learning about Jesus and His love for them. Our name, Taipei Adventist American School, reflects our mission and our faith. It has been exciting to see how God has opened the "windows of heaven" and poured out blessings on our school as a result of taking Him at His word. We know that as He has led us in the past, He will continue to bless us if we take Him at His word. We have proved Him. He has abundantly fulfilled His promises!
JOANNE W LAFEVER is principal of Taipei Adventist American School in Taipei, Taiwan. | ||
| Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. email: info@adventistmission.org website: www.adventistmission.org |
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