In the Book of Numbers, chapter 21 we read that the people complained against God and Moses. I think of this as the “what have you done for me lately” chapter. The people had escaped slavery, been led through the Red Sea, been fed with manna from the heavens, had flocks of quail provide dinner and had their thirst slaked by water from the rock. But it was not enough. The people wanted more. Contrast that attitude with Jesus who did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself. Instead of grasping after Jesus gave away. The symbolism of the cross with Jesus arms outstretched suggests the willingness he had not to hold onto things but to give of himself.
