Israelites Engage in Worship to Baal; Absorbing the Wise Word

Today's Reading:

• Numbers 24:1 - 25:18
  
• Proverbs 11:14

Read Bible Passages Online

Numbers 24:1 - 25:18

Balaam was set to converse with the Lord for a third time regarding the people of Israel.  We are told that Balaam realized instead that the Lord was not changing his mind -- the Israelites were blessed.  Balaam spoke to Balak in the Holy Spirit.  Balaam blessed the Israelites and cursed everyone who curses them.

Balak was extremely angry and ordered Balaam to leave.  Before Balaam left, he prophesied the destruction of Moab, Edom, Amalek, and the Kenites.  As far as I can tell right now, Balaam obeyed the Lord's commands.  My study bible, however, suggests that the story of Balaam is not yet over.

In Chapter 25 we learn of a serious offense that many Israelites partcipated in.  Many men of Israel took the Moabite and Midianite women to their beds, and began to worship the women's god -- Baal of Peor.  Of course this angered the Lord, and a plague began to spread throughout the people.

Moses conversed with the Lord, and the Lord commanded him to execute those men who had started this rebellion.  We are told that while all this was happening, and while people were weeping in front of the Tabernacle, an Israelite man brought a Midianite woman into his tent, presumably to have sex with her.

The son of Eleazar immediately grabbed a spear and ran into the tent.  He thrust the spear through the man, which also traveled through to the stomach of the woman.  The Lord was instantly appeased with the action, and the plague stopped -- but not before 24,000 had died.

The reading ends by ordering Moses to attack Moab for tricking the Israelites into worshiping Baal.  This suggests to me that the plot was hatched by Moab itself, since Balak had been unsuccessful at getting Balaam to curse the people, perhaps the Israelites could manage to curse themselves by worshiping another god.

Proverbs 11:14

Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.

This verse also applies to those of us who are leaders of a nation.  We are still leaders of our lives, leaders of our ministry to others, leaders of our interactions, leaders of our flesh, leaders of our families. 

Be wise, and take heed from your advisers.  Don't shrug off the advice of others, the wise person takes it to heart.  And don't forget to consult the best source of wisdom ever written -- the Word. 

The Word is available at our fingertips.  We are blessed in that way.  Many people have multiple bibles in their houses.  We have bibles on the internet, bibles on our phones, bibles on our tablets -- bibles everywhere.  Copies of the New Testament can be had for a dollar.  There are people willing to provide bibles for those who don't have one.  In our nation, we truly have the wisdom of God available at our fingertips -- here for the taking.  Open your eyes and open your heart -- be a wise leader of those around you and absorb the Word of God.

When a Donkey Speaks, You Better Listen!

Today's Reading:

• Numbers 22:21 - 23:30
  
• Proverbs 11:12 - 13

Read Bible Passages Online

Numbers 22:21 - 23:30
Our last reading left off with Balaam ready to journey to meet the Moab king.  Balaam road a donkey for the journey, but God was angry that Balaam was going and wanted to remind him of that fact.  Therefore, he sent an angel of God to block the road. 

Balaam did not see the angel of God, but his donkey did.  The donkey refused three times, and each time the donkey refused, Balaam got angry and beat the donkey.  I laughed when I read what happened next in verse 22:28 -- the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak!  Can you image if an animal suddenly started to speak to you? 

The donkey spoke to Balaam and asked why Balaam had beat it three times.  I would imagine that Balaam would have been shocked to have it speak, but instead Balaam simply replied that the donkey had made him seem a fool.  The donkey and Balaam continued to converse, until Balaam finally saw the angel of God that was blocking the way.

When Balaam saw the angel, he fell to the ground and announced his sin.  Balaam told the angel he would return home then if that was God's will.  Instead, Balaam was told to go to Moab but only to speak the words that the Lord would give to him.

Balaam met with Balak, and Balak was angry that Balaam had not come sooner.  Balaam told Balak that he has come, but he did not have the power to just send a curse onto those people.  He would only speak what the Lord told him to say.

Balak took Balaam to oversee some of the people and send down a curse.  Balaam ordered for seven alters to be built and called for animals to be sacrificed at those alters.  Then Balaam went to converse with the Lord.  Balaam returned with a message to Balak, a message that stated that these people were sons of Jacob, and they were blessed, not cursed.

Balak was angry, and took Balaam to a second spot.  Once again, Balaam ordered the alters and the sacrifices.  Once again, the Lord told Balaam that the people were not to be cursed.  Balak then decided to take Balaam to a third place to see if it pleased the Lord more to curse the people from there.  The reading ends as the alters are being built.

Balak apparently didn't understand the Lord very well.  When the Lord tells us not to do something, that instruction is final.  The Lord is not going to change his mind if we approach from a different direction, or if we try another line of reasoning.

I wonder if Balaam will stay strong against Balak, or if he will give into temptation. 

Proverbs 11:12 - 13

12  It is foolish to belittle one's neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.

13  A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

 The message here is quite simple -- don't gossip against people.  Don't belittle them behind their backs.  Be sensible.  And if you can't be sensible with your mouth open, then just be quiet.

Balak Sends for Balaam; What Do Our Words Say About Us?

Today's Reading:

• Numbers 21:1 - 22:20
  
• Proverbs 11:9 - 11

Read Bible Passages Online

Numbers 21:1 - 22:20
The Israelites continued their journey to the promised land.  Along the way they defeated the Canaanites and the Amorites.  Next, the people of Israel were up against the Moabites.

Balak, the king of the Moabites, was afraid when he knew the Israelites were headed for the lands of Moab.  So he sent for a man named Balaam to curse the Israelites.  Balaam would see visions in the night, and so when the king's messengers came to ask his help (with a very large sum of money as payment), Balaam told them to stay overnight so that he could receive a message.

Night came, and Balaam was told by God that the Israelite people were blessed and should not be cursed.  Balaam was not to return with the Moabites.  Upon hearing this message, Balak would not relent.  Instead he gathered an even larger payment and sent to Balaam, begging him to come.

Once again Balaam told the messengers to stay overnight while Balaam received his message.  This time, God told Balaam to go with them -- but only do what God tells him to do.

That is where the reading ends today.  I am anxious to find out what becomes of Balaam.  Will he stay true to God's word, I wonder?  Or will he give into temptation and face the consequences?

Proverbs 11:9 - 11

9   With their words, the godless destroy their friends, but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

10  The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy with the wicked die.

11  Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.

Words, words, words words -- Proverbs reminds us many times over that words destroy.  You should be able to tell the difference between the godly and everyone else by the words they use.  The words of the godly person should not be filled with deceit, lies, bitterness and gossip. 

So I have to wonder, am I distinguishing myself with my words?  Are my words godly?  Are the wise and filled with love?  Or are they full of bitterness, are they used to attack others -- either to their face or behind their backs? 

Words, words, words words ... your words say so much about you.  So -- what are you really about?  Do your words show you to be godly, or do your words show you to be godless?