The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10 ESV)
Skyline Baptist Church, Rome NY
Numbers 23
Balaam's First two Oracles
We see the number seven occur frequently in the Bible when it relates to the Hebrew people (seven days in a week, seven days of creation, etc.) but here we see the number seven held in high regard by a pagan Canaanite. Seven altars, seven bulls, and seven rams.
This reminds us that sometimes something may look like it comes from the Bible but it only mimics our Scriptures and is pagan.
The very fact that Balaam’s pronouncements are called “oracles” sums up exactly who he is- a true prophet of God Almighty pronounces prophecies, a pagan pronounces oracles.
We see the number seven occur frequently in the Bible when it relates to the Hebrew people (seven days in a week, seven days of creation, etc.) but here we see the number seven held in high regard by a pagan Canaanite. Seven altars, seven bulls, and seven rams.
This reminds us that sometimes something may look like it comes from the Bible but it only mimics our Scriptures and is pagan.
The very fact that Balaam’s pronouncements are called “oracles” sums up exactly who he is- a true prophet of God Almighty pronounces prophecies, a pagan pronounces oracles.
Balaam's First two oracles continued...
—How can I curse? In the beginning of this entire sequence Balaam is told he would not be able to curse Israel and he is not allowed to do so.
—Balaam sees that Israel is set apart (a people dwelling alone) and wants to live and die honorably like them.
—Balak takes Balaam to a different location and hopes that the change allows Balaam to curse Israel (but it does not).
—“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” What a truthful statement.
—How can I curse? In the beginning of this entire sequence Balaam is told he would not be able to curse Israel and he is not allowed to do so.
—Balaam sees that Israel is set apart (a people dwelling alone) and wants to live and die honorably like them.
—Balak takes Balaam to a different location and hopes that the change allows Balaam to curse Israel (but it does not).
—“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” What a truthful statement.
Balaam's First two finale
—“The Lord their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them.” This is the first regal pronouncement of God Almighty in the Old Testament. How fitting that it’s made by Balaam the pagan seer because that truly shows Yahweh’s kingship over everyone.
—The wild Ox was a traditional image of power in the middle East and Balaam rightfully ascribes this power to Israel.
—Finally, after wandering for 40 years in the wilderness Israel was coming into the Promised Land and getting ready to take it, like a lioness on the hunt.
—“The Lord their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them.” This is the first regal pronouncement of God Almighty in the Old Testament. How fitting that it’s made by Balaam the pagan seer because that truly shows Yahweh’s kingship over everyone.
—The wild Ox was a traditional image of power in the middle East and Balaam rightfully ascribes this power to Israel.
—Finally, after wandering for 40 years in the wilderness Israel was coming into the Promised Land and getting ready to take it, like a lioness on the hunt.
Numbers 24
Future Blessings
In the first few verses we read that Balaam liked being given blessings to speak by Yahweh so instead of looking for ways to practice his divination he stayed true to his task at hand.
What should be pointed out is that Balaam had plenty of opportunity to practice divination because of all of the animal entrails that were left over from the burnt offerings (“deciphering” entrails was a common form of divination).
Verses 5-7 (how lovely are your tents) is a generalization of Israel settling Canaan, but how awesome it sounds and so much so like a new Garden of Eden!
The continued blessings of Israel have irritated Balak (who had initially hired Balaam to curse his enemies) and so he tells Balaam to leave.
“The Lord has held you back from honor” means that because the Lord made it so Balaam could not curse Israel, Balak will not honor him with any pay.
In the final oracle, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not here” is the beginning of a future prophecy. The star and scepter that Balaam talks about is at first fulfilled in King David but is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.
Through the rest of the passage it keeps speaking of nations that rise but ultimately fall while Israel remains.
In the first few verses we read that Balaam liked being given blessings to speak by Yahweh so instead of looking for ways to practice his divination he stayed true to his task at hand.
What should be pointed out is that Balaam had plenty of opportunity to practice divination because of all of the animal entrails that were left over from the burnt offerings (“deciphering” entrails was a common form of divination).
Verses 5-7 (how lovely are your tents) is a generalization of Israel settling Canaan, but how awesome it sounds and so much so like a new Garden of Eden!
The continued blessings of Israel have irritated Balak (who had initially hired Balaam to curse his enemies) and so he tells Balaam to leave.
“The Lord has held you back from honor” means that because the Lord made it so Balaam could not curse Israel, Balak will not honor him with any pay.
In the final oracle, “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not here” is the beginning of a future prophecy. The star and scepter that Balaam talks about is at first fulfilled in King David but is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.
Through the rest of the passage it keeps speaking of nations that rise but ultimately fall while Israel remains.
Numbers 25
Baal worship at Peor
Shittim was located near Jericho and was the place that Israel was camping at before they launched their assault into the Promised Land.
In Numbers 31 we learn who brought Baal worship to Israel and who was the instigator of this “whoring” but until then it remains a mystery.
As had happened in the past when the Israelites sinned, the people have to be punished for their sin and this time the people who were engaging in the sexual sins of the Canaanites had to be hanged in broad daylight so that everyone else could see the consequences of their sins.An Israelite man named Zimri takes a Midianite woman named Cozbi to be his wife and instead of showing her the ways of Yahweh he takes her into the Tabernacle, which defiles the holy things.
Shittim was located near Jericho and was the place that Israel was camping at before they launched their assault into the Promised Land.
In Numbers 31 we learn who brought Baal worship to Israel and who was the instigator of this “whoring” but until then it remains a mystery.
As had happened in the past when the Israelites sinned, the people have to be punished for their sin and this time the people who were engaging in the sexual sins of the Canaanites had to be hanged in broad daylight so that everyone else could see the consequences of their sins.An Israelite man named Zimri takes a Midianite woman named Cozbi to be his wife and instead of showing her the ways of Yahweh he takes her into the Tabernacle, which defiles the holy things.
This is not the Phineas that the Bible is talking about...
Baal Worship at Peor continued
—Phinehas was the grandson of Aaron and he was zealous for the Lord. He didn’t like Cozbi and Zimri’s defiling of the Tabernacle so he takes matters into his own hands. Phinehas takes a spear and runs it through the two defiling lovers which stops the Lord’s wrath. At the end of the day roughly 24,000 Israelites are killed because of the Baal worship.
—Phinehas was the grandson of Aaron and he was zealous for the Lord. He didn’t like Cozbi and Zimri’s defiling of the Tabernacle so he takes matters into his own hands. Phinehas takes a spear and runs it through the two defiling lovers which stops the Lord’s wrath. At the end of the day roughly 24,000 Israelites are killed because of the Baal worship.