Open, Lord, my eyes that I may see.

Open, Lord, my ears that I may hear.

Open, Lord, my heart and my mind

that I may understand.

So shall I turn to you and be healed.

—traditional prayer

Each year around Easter, my wife and I choose something for the other to give up. Last year, Miska surrendered chocolate, but for me she chose . . . fear. That was a difficult one—it’s not like you can clean fear out of the cupboard. I discovered, however, that my fear is one way (among many) that I obsess over myself, getting lost in my inner world, deciphering all my valid (or invalid) feelings. All my inner-gazing keeps me from looking up to Jesus, the only One able to heal my distress.

During Israel’s wandering years, the people complained against God, believing they would “die . . . in the wilderness” (Numbers 21:5). Their temptation, as usual, was to take matters in their own hands, to forge a forbidden alliance or construct a false god or concoct plans for a return to Egypt.

But God, in righteous wrath, used poisonous snakes to bring His people to their senses. God had Moses construct a bronze serpent and raise it high on a pole. After being bitten by snakes, the people simply had to “look at the bronze snake and be healed!” (v.9). If they looked to themselves or to their neighbor—even to Moses—they would die. But if the people would look upward to the gift from their God, they would gain life.

The temptation to look inward offers quite an allure. It makes us feel as if we’re in control. This seductive path sabotages our humble posture of coming—broken and in need of mercy—to our Redeemer. Jesus has come because we are bankrupt, not because we are managing nicely on our own.