Month: January 2023

Numbers 25:1-3 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down unto their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal-Peor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.

After all the Lord had done for the people, their egregious response was to commit the gross sin against the First Commandment, Idolatry. They sacrificed to and worshipped the pagan gods of Moab, joining with Baal. Sin brings God’s anger; Jesus brings God’s mercy. One wonders: How can the people of God commit such horrible sin and bold iniquity against the God who loves them? The answer is: we do not fully comprehend the depths of our own depravity. Faith believes I also am such a sinner; faith also believes Jesus is such a Savior. The Son pleases the righteous anger of the Father.

This story also reveals the close connection between adultery and idolatry. Trusting any other god is likened to whoredom and marital unfaithfulness. God is jealous of our love, trust, and worship; so strong is His love.

Another lesson for us is to beware of the daughters of Moab. They lead us astray. The daughters are the the world, with its ways, thoughts, ideas, lusts and temptations. The world is revealed as The Harlot. I John 2:15: “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” The graphic picture of adultery helps us keep our focus on God as our only source of life and good.

Numbers 24:13, 16

If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind, but what the Lord said, that will I speak?….For he hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open.

Balaam had three times already blessed, and not cursed, the people of God, despite the insistence and bribery of King Balak. Now he is about to take up another oracle, speak a parable, which is going to be his strongest blessing yet: he predicts the Messiah!

Balaam’s response to Balak’s temptation is full of faith, and he faithfully speaks God’s Word. He figured: if God can put words in mouth of a donkey, surely I can speak the words He puts in my mouth. He resolves not to go beyond God’s Word and speak from his own mind. What a lesson for us! We, too, are called by the Lord to speak His words of blessing, to give a blessing when we talk to people.

Balaam had heard God, knew God’s Word, and saw God’s works. How could he respond in faith any other way than to say what the Lord wanted him to say? The Lord made him a prophet, speaking God’s words of blessing. We also have heard, known, and seen God by faith. Our fitting response is to tell everyone what great things God has done, and always give a blessing.

The tongue is more powerful than we realize. James 3:9: “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.” We respond to God’s grace and salvation speaking words of blessing, and not the words that come from our own minds and emotions.

Numbers 23:8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? Or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?

Balaam was firm in his new resolve to speak only what God told him to say. King Balak tried three times to build altars and make sacrifices in order to get Balaam to curse God’s people. Yet each time he blessed and did not curse. In spite of the temptation and the bribe money he had received, he responded to God’s Word; he did what the Lord said.

Who am I to think I can pronounce my own words of cursing? If God has not done so or said thus, I neither can nor will pass off as God’s Word what comes from man’s mind. If God said it, I will believe it and preach it; if God did not say it, I will not say it. I cannot take it upon myself to curse or defy if God has not done so.

For this reason, the Christian believer asks the Lord to set an angel at the door of his lips, so that he speaks the blessings God wants out loud, and not what comes from his own angry emotions. In this way, cursing or damning someone is restrained. Misusing God’s Name to curse or swear is making ourselves God. Therefore the New Man in us does not curse or defy what God has not.

Numbers 22:38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say anything? The word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.

God relented and let Balaam go, with the proviso that he speak only what God puts in his mouth. The miraculous experience of seeing the angel and hearing the donkey speak changed Balaam into a dutiful, obedient man of God. He admits he has no power of his own to prophesy what the world wants him to say. He will speak what God tells him to.

Balak paid him to curse Israel, but Balaam, the new man, blessed them instead; he spoke what God told him to say. Balaam’s response was dead on track as a faithful prophet. In spite of Balak’s insistence and the world’s temptations he remained faithful to the Lord and spoke His Word. God told him to prophesy blessing and promise, and so he did.

God has changed us through the miracle of baptism and belief. We now speak words of blessing, words that make others feel better. Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as it fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” We pray, “as we forgive…” God forgives when we speak words that curse, and creates a new heart that wants to bless.

And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me; now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

Balaam repented (“I have sinned”) and changed his mind (“I will get me back”). But to get him to do the right thing it took the miracles of an angelic appearance and a talking donkey. The angel of the Lord stood in the path; the donkey saw it and tried to turn aside three times; Balaam beat the donkey three times; the donkey spoke; Balaam saw and heard the angel; then he repented.

As it turned out, the Lord let him go, but only if he speaks the words God speaks. By God’s Active Love, he was a changed man and would say what God said. He had to despise the money and the world’s temptations, and love God and do what He says instead. It’s not easy to change the mind of a greedy, selfish sinner. God had to miraculously intervene and open his eyes to see and his ears to hear. This changed man blessed God’s people and prophesied Christ.

It may be hard to admit, but we are like Balaam, and our loving Lord has to go to extreme lengths and perform a miracle to bring about repentance and change. Miraculously, the Spirit opens our eyes to see Jesus clearly and opens ours ears to hear the gospel convincingly. We respond with repentance and faith and enter the kingdom. Then the Spirit inspires us to speak words of blessing.

Numbers 22:20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, if the men come to thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.

Balaam was bribed by Balak to come and curse Israel. But God spoke to him that night: “Do only the word I tell you.” In other words, bless them because I say so, instead of cursing them as the world tells you. Balaam responded to God’s Word in obedience by blessing instead of cursing. Of course, it took the miracle of a talking donkey to convince him, but he did do what God said.

Not only did Balaam speak a blessing, but he also gave a Messianic Prophecy about a Star out of Jacob and a Scepter out of Israel, which is Jesus Christ. Good things happen when we listen to the Lord and say words that bless instead of curse. God spoke this promise to Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” Bad things happen to those that curse God or use His name to curse others. Good things happen to those who say good things to and about God (praise Him), and speak a blessing to and about His people (be kind), and by extension, to those who could potentially become His children through our blessing. Our response is simple: say what God says.

Numbers 22:3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.

The response of the pagan unbelievers to God’s children in the world is to be exceedingly afraid and sick with dread. Unbelief causes an unreasonable fear of Christians which brings forth hostility. Unbelief leads to fear leads to anger leads to persecution against the faithful believers in Christ. So it has always been through history: the Egyptians, the Canaanites, the Babylonians, the Romans, the Jews, the Muslims, and the Atheists have all feared and fought the people of God.

The Moabites could have lived peaceably side by side with Israel, but because they were afraid of them they fought them. In this case, Balak, king of Moab, sent for Balaam to come and curse the Israelites. But the Lord intervened and Balaam ended up blessing them. Moab continued to be a “thorn in the side.”

Why is fear and anger a response? “Why do the nations rage and the people’s plot in vain?…against the Lord and against His Anointed (Christ) [Psalm 2:1-2].” Why indeed? Satan stirs up fear and hostility. The world fans the flame. The flesh agrees and acts. The earthly reason is that people are afraid of something or someone different. But it is more than just “that’s not what I’m used to.” It is the sinful human nature that rebels against God and His authority that fears judgment for our thoughts, beliefs, and behavior.

I must admit and repent of unreasonable fear and misplaced anger in me. Then I admit and confess that Jesus loves, forgives, and accepts me. I fear, love, and trust in God above things.

Numbers 21:34-35 And the Lord said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amoritrs, which dwelt at Heshbon. So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was not one left him alive: and they possessed his land.

After Israel defeated King Sihon of the Amorites, they turned their attention to Bashan and its king, Og. This giant enemy was a formidable foe, who would prevent the people of God from possessing the Land He promised. Fear is a natural reaction to a powerful force. Israel was inexperienced in war, even though they had just won victory over Sihon. Moses speaks God’s word of Promise: Fear not! Commonly, the words, “for I am with you,” follow this exhortation, and this assurance is implied here. This command is a Promise used many times by God or His angel.

The believing response is strength and courage resulting from God’s word and Promise. Fear not = Trust Me! Believe Me! Fearing God means faith in God. Fearing not our spiritual enemies requires faith in God. Faith is the response called forth by the Word of Promise, the Gospel.

Fearing not (trusting) is not as easy as it first appears. It is more than just saying ,”I believe.” It is being given strength to stand firm in the face of spiritual assaults from an army of enemies against us. It is overcoming fears, doubts, worry, anxiety, stress, frustration, threats, and whatever flaming darts the Enemy throws at us. Sin, death and the devil are relentless enemies that continue to try to keep us out of the Kingdom, from enjoying God, and from the full enjoyment of life. But Christ has overcome. Therefore, we can Fear not.

Numbers 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it icon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Jesus refers to this classic story to introduce and illustrate the central gospel message of John 3:16. This visual symbol strikes the mind’s eye and paints a clear picture of a spiritual truth: Believe in Jesus and live! The symbolism is easy to grasp: the serpent is sin; its poison brings death; God responds with a plan of salvation, a serpent on a pole; our sin (the serpent) was laid on Him (the brass serpent); the pole is the cross; look upon Him and live. There is no way any human would have ever thought about this as a remedy; it is God’s idea.

The key human response to the event is: Behold the serpent of brass. Jesus defines the word behold, in John 3:16: it means believe. “Whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved [Acts 16:31].” The Gospel calls us to look upon Jesus on the cross. Faith looks. Faith saves. Faith lives. 2 Corinthians 4:18: “We look…to the things that are unseen. For…the things that are unseen are eternal.” Colossians 3:1: “Seek the things that are above.”

The vital question for us is this: To whom, or to what, will we look for help, for good, for answers, for life and salvation?

Numbers 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

God had sent poisonous serpents among the people, and many died. This experience led them to confess their sin. The serpent punishment worked as God intended. They asked Moses to pray for them that He would take away the serpents. And Moses responded to the penitence of the people by praying for them. Moses became the intercessor, the mediator, that we all need.

Presumably, Moses prayed what they asked him to: to take away the serpents. The Lord did not take away the serpents. Serpents represent Sin; the deadly poison is the effect of sin. So it is in our lives: God does not take away the presence of sin from among us. Instead, He gives us His Son on the cross (the serpent on a pole): so that whoever believes in Him (looks upon Him) will not perish, but have eternal life. The lesson is clear: Believe in Jesus and live! (John 3).

The Lord will not take us away from the presence of sin until we die and live with Him. But He will take away the penalty of sin now: eternal life today. The bronze serpent takes our sin upon himself. “The Lord has laid on the iniquity of us all.” “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God [1 Corinthians 5:21].”

See in this story what mighty things prayer will do.