“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV, Passage continued next week)
Former St. John's Catholic Church, Rome NY (now abandoned)
Numbers 21:1-20
Serpent on a pole
•In the first 3 verses we hear of a challenge that the people face and conquer through faith.
•King Arad had been pestering the Hebrews and even took some of them hostage but this time the people decided to use a different approach to a problem- they vowed that if they went to war with Arad they would totally destroy him so Yahweh grants this request.
•After this victory is granted, however, the people quickly forget who gave them this victory and begin the whine. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt and into the wilderness? We can’t even stand that you’ve been sustaining us with Manna for food because it doesn’t taste like steak and lobster…”•In response to the people’s gratitude and humility for totally taking care of them the Lord sends fiery serpents to teach them a lesson.
•Why does Yahweh tell Moses to make a fiery serpent and put it on a pole? In the New Testament we learn that Moses holding up the fiery serpent is supposed to be a pre-cursor to Christ dying on the cross for our sins. Anyone that looked up at the fiery snake would live just like anyone who looks to Christ for redemption will live.
•The serpent was only supposed to be a one time thing for one round of venomous snakes but we learn that this bronze serpent is kept by some Hebrews and becomes an object of worship. Don’t let objects get in the way of the things they are meant to signify.
•In the first 3 verses we hear of a challenge that the people face and conquer through faith.
•King Arad had been pestering the Hebrews and even took some of them hostage but this time the people decided to use a different approach to a problem- they vowed that if they went to war with Arad they would totally destroy him so Yahweh grants this request.
•After this victory is granted, however, the people quickly forget who gave them this victory and begin the whine. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt and into the wilderness? We can’t even stand that you’ve been sustaining us with Manna for food because it doesn’t taste like steak and lobster…”•In response to the people’s gratitude and humility for totally taking care of them the Lord sends fiery serpents to teach them a lesson.
•Why does Yahweh tell Moses to make a fiery serpent and put it on a pole? In the New Testament we learn that Moses holding up the fiery serpent is supposed to be a pre-cursor to Christ dying on the cross for our sins. Anyone that looked up at the fiery snake would live just like anyone who looks to Christ for redemption will live.
•The serpent was only supposed to be a one time thing for one round of venomous snakes but we learn that this bronze serpent is kept by some Hebrews and becomes an object of worship. Don’t let objects get in the way of the things they are meant to signify.
Flashback to Genesis
•The “Book of the Wars of the Lord” no longer exists- it has been lost to history, but the information that we gather from it helps us.
•We are told that the descendants of Jacob’s brother, Esau (the Edomites) have forgotten their connection with the Israelites and refuse to let them pass through their land.
•The song from the “Book” is about a well that springs up- how interesting that they sing a song about a well and water when water has been such a constant problem for them thus far.
•We are told that the descendants of Jacob’s brother, Esau (the Edomites) have forgotten their connection with the Israelites and refuse to let them pass through their land.
•The song from the “Book” is about a well that springs up- how interesting that they sing a song about a well and water when water has been such a constant problem for them thus far.
Numbers 21:21-35
Victory in battle
•Just like they had asked Edom before, Moses asked King Sihon if the Hebrews could be allowed safe passage through his land and King Sihon gathered his warriors and tried to attack the Israelites.
•This attack by King Sihon and the Amorites was fruitless as the Israelites claimed victory over the Amorites and then proceeded to live in their territory.
•After the Israelites started to possess the land of the Amorites another king in the area, King Og, decided that he would take his turn trying to attack the Israelite people.
•King Og’s attack was just as productive as King Sihon’s because Yahweh tells Moses that Og’s people were being given into Israel’s hand.
•Just like they had asked Edom before, Moses asked King Sihon if the Hebrews could be allowed safe passage through his land and King Sihon gathered his warriors and tried to attack the Israelites.
•This attack by King Sihon and the Amorites was fruitless as the Israelites claimed victory over the Amorites and then proceeded to live in their territory.
•After the Israelites started to possess the land of the Amorites another king in the area, King Og, decided that he would take his turn trying to attack the Israelite people.
•King Og’s attack was just as productive as King Sihon’s because Yahweh tells Moses that Og’s people were being given into Israel’s hand.
Numbers 22:1-21
Balak summons Balaam
•The picture we have here is actually an inscription done by Balaam where he names himself, “Balaam bar (son of) Beor”.
•King Balak of the Moabites sees the multitude of Israelites and becomes worried about them attacking although the Israelites never had intentions of attacking Moab.
•Balak summons a pagan seer named Balaam to curse the Israelites. When the messengers are sent they arrive and Balaam tells them to wait over night so that the Lord can give him an answer.
•Do not be mistaken, Balaam is not a believer in Yahweh- he claims to be a seer of all gods, not just ours. Our God, however tells Balaam that he must not go with them.
•The picture we have here is actually an inscription done by Balaam where he names himself, “Balaam bar (son of) Beor”.
•King Balak of the Moabites sees the multitude of Israelites and becomes worried about them attacking although the Israelites never had intentions of attacking Moab.
•Balak summons a pagan seer named Balaam to curse the Israelites. When the messengers are sent they arrive and Balaam tells them to wait over night so that the Lord can give him an answer.
•Do not be mistaken, Balaam is not a believer in Yahweh- he claims to be a seer of all gods, not just ours. Our God, however tells Balaam that he must not go with them.
Numbers 22:22-41
Balaam travels to Balak
•It may sound like a contradiction but after telling Balaam that he could not travel back to Balak Yahweh permits Balaam to go, but tells him he has to listen to what the Lord tells him to do. The Lord’s anger was kindled because he knew that Balaam had no intention of obeying this command.
•One of the qualifications of being a pagan seer was claiming to channel and speak through animals. The sad thing was that Balaam could not see the Angel of the Lord standing in the way, but the donkey could. Maybe Balaam should have used his donkey talk to find out why the donkey wouldn’t move.•After beating the donkey for not continuing down the path the Lord opens the donkey’s mouth and she asks why she’s being beaten. What would it sound like if a donkey could talk?
•The ironic part about Balaam wishing he had a sword to strike the donkey was that there was a sword nearby, but it was the Lord’s.
•Next the Lord opens Balaam’s eyes and he sees the Angel of the Lord. Yahweh wanted to teach Balaam a lesson about the seriousness of his mission and for a man that claimed to speak to the gods, not being able to see the Angel of the Lord is a major fault.
•On a minor note the King James Bible refers to the donkey as an “ass” and I saw a funny sermon title about this once called, “Balaam and his amazing talking ass.”
•It may sound like a contradiction but after telling Balaam that he could not travel back to Balak Yahweh permits Balaam to go, but tells him he has to listen to what the Lord tells him to do. The Lord’s anger was kindled because he knew that Balaam had no intention of obeying this command.
•One of the qualifications of being a pagan seer was claiming to channel and speak through animals. The sad thing was that Balaam could not see the Angel of the Lord standing in the way, but the donkey could. Maybe Balaam should have used his donkey talk to find out why the donkey wouldn’t move.•After beating the donkey for not continuing down the path the Lord opens the donkey’s mouth and she asks why she’s being beaten. What would it sound like if a donkey could talk?
•The ironic part about Balaam wishing he had a sword to strike the donkey was that there was a sword nearby, but it was the Lord’s.
•Next the Lord opens Balaam’s eyes and he sees the Angel of the Lord. Yahweh wanted to teach Balaam a lesson about the seriousness of his mission and for a man that claimed to speak to the gods, not being able to see the Angel of the Lord is a major fault.
•On a minor note the King James Bible refers to the donkey as an “ass” and I saw a funny sermon title about this once called, “Balaam and his amazing talking ass.”