Numbers 22:21-23:30
Numbers
22:21-41
Vs. 21-30 This
section has given rise to lots of jokes because of the talking donkey. On the
other hand, Balaam, from this point on, becomes infamous in the Bible. He's a
bad guy. The images he brings up are of a false believer, someone who has
infiltrated the company of faith. He actually does "believing" stuff,
prays out loud, and is someone whom God actually speaks to and uses. But,
here's the thing, it affects the people of God to be useless for God, or it
leads them to bring God's judgment on themselves. We'll read what Peter says
about Balaam, but Paul talked about people like this who infiltrated churches
and actually had a following in the church. Gain and position was always the
motivation of these people. He told Timothy these errant teachers made their
way into households by capturing people easily swayed; they thought
"godliness" was a means to gain. To the Philippians Paul warned them
of brothers whose god was their belly. And in a very strong warning at the end
of Romans, Paul said that people like this "do not serve our Lord Christ,
but their own appetites."
To get a better
idea before you read about Balaam, read 2 Peter 2, Revelation 2:14 and Numbers
31:8 and 16. I'd recommend this because it gives insight into what is happening
with Balaam and the events immediately following his return to Mari.
V. 22 Here is a
case in point where knowing what is going on with Balaam helps. You would
eventually figure all of this out by reading your one-year Bible every year.
God is mad at Balaam because he went,
but God told him to go. The issue is what is brewing in Balaam's heart. He's
looking for a loophole, and God knows it.
V. 30 I suppose
one application here is that if an animal you own ever begins talking and wins
the argument, you are in trouble.
Vs. 31-35 Verse
32 expresses what God has seen. Balaam is going with the intent of finding a
way to get rich. He wants to find a way to be paid. Notice that the angel's
warning to Balaam in v. 35 is only to speak the word He tells him. Balaam will obey until he is off the clock and on his
way home. Then he finds the loophole.
In observing,
one question will be, “Who is the angel
of the Lord?” What clues do you
have in vs. 31-35 that this is actually God, the pre-incarnate Son of God? This
also helps explain Numbers 23:4 & 16.
Vs. 36-41
Notice that Balaam tells Balak that he must speak the word that God puts into
his mouth. This will be like a refrain, and knowing Balaam, you wonder if there
was something sinister even in him saying this.
V. 40 The
sacrifices are interesting, because, though pagan, they were similar to what
God told Israel to do. Since the Fall it is probably built into the conscience
of man that God must be appeased somehow. Also, God apparently told Adam how to
sacrifice to cover his sin and come before Him. Abel must have had some
instruction. This probably passed down through mankind.
V. 41 The place
Balak took Balaam was for Baal worship. Not only were these "holy"
places, but Balak was hoping to find a part of Israel that God didn't like and
would curse.
Numbers 23
Vs. 1-6 Don't
vs. 4-5 amaze you? It appears that God gave Balaam a prescribed way to come
before Him. For Balaam it was probably more like a rite to get God to do something.
I don't think Balaam really worshiped God. But notice, God not only speaks with
Balaam, but it also appears He meets with him. If so, this would be the angel
of the Lord.
Vs. 7-10 This
is Balaam's first blessing of Israel.
Vs. 11-17 Balak
was upset, but Balaam was holding to the rules, and Balak believed in the need
of spiritual warfare against Israel so deeply that he begged Balaam to try
again.
V. 14 Pisgah is
also the ridge from which Moses would look over the Promised Land and take his
last breath.
V. 21 This is
interesting. Balak keeps taking Balaam to a different spot to find some part of
the people that God is displeased with and will curse, but here it says that
God doesn't find anything about them that displeases Him. God certainly has His
own issues with the people, but for the sake of His promise to Abraham, they
are beloved. He says this through Paul also, As regards the gospel, they are enemies
for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers.
(Romans 11:28)
That's the same
with us. God may have an issue, for the moment, with our behavior; but in
Christ, we are absolutely and completely loved and accepted at every moment.
V. 23 God says
He will not only protect Israel spiritually; but their success, like in Egypt,
will be seen as His work.
Vs. 24- 30 I
guess three times is a "charm" when you're trying to curse someone. Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor.
That word, Peor, will become a bad
word among Israel, but not because Balaam curses them. In fact Balaam can only
bless Israel. But this will be the place where Balak uses a little trick Balaam
will give him, and Israel will bring God's judgment upon themselves. At the
foot of this mountain, 24,000 people will die, not because of a curse, but
because Balaam knew God well enough to know what the people would have to do to
get God to judge them.
Luke 1:57-80
V. 63 This
gives you the idea that Zechariah was not only unable to speak, but that he was
also deaf. I think that when the angel told him he would be silent, he meant
that Zechariah would live in silence and be unable to speak. That's why they
had to make signs to him; and that's why, when he writes John, they are amazed. He couldn't have heard that conversation.
Vs. 64-66 God
used this entire situation. Now, with this amazing situation He had built
(Elizabeth's barrenness all those years, Zechariah's deafness and dumbness, the
unexpected "miracle" pregnancy), suddenly Zechariah's mouth is opened
and tongue loosed. The people go out and spread the word, not extremely far,
but far enough. The seeds are planted, and in 30 years John will come forth.
So, what was the news that the neighbors pondered in their hearts and spread
far and wide? It was what they recounted, not only the physical events of John's
birth, but also what they heard in vs. 67-79.
Vs. 67-79
Notice that the focus is salvation and the forgiveness of sins. Who did Luke
find who remembered that prophecy? If I had to guess, I would say Luke heard it
from Mary, Jesus' mother, who was still there and heard it.
Notice how the
promise to Abraham brings deliverance to Israel and salvation to those who sit
in darkness and in the shadow of death.
V. 80 We have
no clue where John grew up. He might or might not have been raised in a very
separate Essene community. It says that he lived in a remote place, which might
have been east of Hebron, toward the Dead Sea. He would still have gone to
Jerusalem three times a year as all Jewish males were required, and he would
have known his cousin Jesus, and maybe his cousins James and John, who later
became his disciples and then Jesus' disciples.
I know this
might seem like "Christmas in March," but it should still be
inspiring for us to hear how God patiently worked to bring salvation to the
world. As disciples in the harvest, we have received this salvation. We are the
fruit of God's love and patient working. We are the fruit of the travail of His
(Jesus') soul, (Isa. 53:11, KJV) and
Jesus is pleased at His work. What an incredible message to take into the harvest
as we follow Him, making disciples, who make disciples.
Psalm 58
We're not that
"into" judgment, so this psalm, and its very graphic pictures, might
leave us cold. Verse 11 is the point of this. There is a reward for being close
to God on this planet and God does, and will, judge mankind. This morning I was
reading some of the parables of Jesus regarding the Kingdom, and along with the
images we like, there is also the warning of the close of the age when the
angels will come out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them
into the furnace of fire where men will weep and gnash their teeth.
We work in the
harvest now, while there is still time for people to respond to God. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears
my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into
judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24)
It's a good
exercise to put things into sections to understand the flow of what the
psalmist is saying.
Vs. 1-2 David
is addressing those individuals who are making themselves judges over him and
the people, spreading lies and mistreating the people. David is running from
these individuals who are working for King Saul.
Vs. 3-5 David
is declaring what they are like.
Vs. 6-9 David
is asking God to judge them. If you read 1 Samuel 22, you'll see that these
people deserved to have their teeth broken out.
Vs. 10-11 This
is the hope of those who are oppressed for their faith and trust in God. I was
reading today of Jesus saying that the day of the Son of Man would bring
judgment on the earth. When you see Jesus sitting on the throne in Revelation
and opening the seals, you understand that this will be a day of rejoicing for
those who love God.
Proverbs 11:12-13
This is a good
word for anyone trying to reach his neighbors or the people close to him. The
closer you get, the more you learn. Knowing the love of God, and the grace we
have been shown, gives us the spiritual wisdom to be silent, patient and
forbearing, so we can build trust and keep showing them the love of Christ.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One
Year Bible, click on this link http://oneyearbibleonline.com/weekly-one-year-readings/?version=47&startmmdd=0101. This version is set to the ESV but you can reset this to a different
version or different language.I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to print.
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