Numbers 21:4 - 22:20
I heard someone talking about this passage on the radio the other day, and I've been anxious to get to this part so I can share it with you. They were specifically speaking about 21:4-9, the section about the bronze snake.
Not wanting to expound too much and lose readers, this story can be compared to what Jesus did for us on the cross. Just as they looked to the bronze snake on the tree (stick) and were healed, we too can look to our savior on the tree and be healed and saved. It's a neat parallel!! When the things of this life are starting to eat away at us and kill us, we need to focus hard on the Lord and look to Him for answers, healing and deliverance.
I also want to take a moment to look at Balaam. This story, which is continued on into the next couple of days, always baffles me. Maybe all of you can bring some clarity to me. Rich and I have had discussions concerning this, and I'll share with you my thoughts.
We see Balak's men come ask Balaam to come curse the Israelites and he says 'no' because God told him to. When Balak's men came back and asked again, this time, God said to go with this proviso, "but do only what I tell you." To me, it seems God is telling him to go, but after discussing this with others, this could be a good example of God's perfect will versus His permissive will. God's perfect will was for Balaam to leave the Israelites alone, but because Balaam kept asking on behalf of Balak's men, God allowed him to go under His permissive will. What say you?
Luke 6:12-36
This is a tough portion of scripture, too! Verses 27 - 36 are very challenging and go against the way our society operates today. We are to love those people who hate us, pray for those who curse us, forgive when someone attacks us, give above and beyond even when they don't deserve it, and then give some more. Talk about a challenge! I like how Jesus goes on to clarify even more by saying that even 'sinners' take the easy route of this, by loving those that love them, etc. We, as Christians, are to go the extra mile and be an example for those around us.
Psalm 37:21-31
I think it's interesting how the first verses here (21 and 22) seem to just be a continuation of our Luke passage. It's like God is saying to us, "No, seriously, give. Give your time, your treasure and your talent." And in saying that, God continues on in the rest of the passage and promises some amazing things in return. It's all based on "if the Lord delights in a man's way", though. Let's live a life that the Lord can delight in. Not a perfect life, by any means, but a life set on Him and His pleasure!
I heard someone talking about this passage on the radio the other day, and I've been anxious to get to this part so I can share it with you. They were specifically speaking about 21:4-9, the section about the bronze snake.
Not wanting to expound too much and lose readers, this story can be compared to what Jesus did for us on the cross. Just as they looked to the bronze snake on the tree (stick) and were healed, we too can look to our savior on the tree and be healed and saved. It's a neat parallel!! When the things of this life are starting to eat away at us and kill us, we need to focus hard on the Lord and look to Him for answers, healing and deliverance.
I also want to take a moment to look at Balaam. This story, which is continued on into the next couple of days, always baffles me. Maybe all of you can bring some clarity to me. Rich and I have had discussions concerning this, and I'll share with you my thoughts.
We see Balak's men come ask Balaam to come curse the Israelites and he says 'no' because God told him to. When Balak's men came back and asked again, this time, God said to go with this proviso, "but do only what I tell you." To me, it seems God is telling him to go, but after discussing this with others, this could be a good example of God's perfect will versus His permissive will. God's perfect will was for Balaam to leave the Israelites alone, but because Balaam kept asking on behalf of Balak's men, God allowed him to go under His permissive will. What say you?
Luke 6:12-36
This is a tough portion of scripture, too! Verses 27 - 36 are very challenging and go against the way our society operates today. We are to love those people who hate us, pray for those who curse us, forgive when someone attacks us, give above and beyond even when they don't deserve it, and then give some more. Talk about a challenge! I like how Jesus goes on to clarify even more by saying that even 'sinners' take the easy route of this, by loving those that love them, etc. We, as Christians, are to go the extra mile and be an example for those around us.
Psalm 37:21-31
I think it's interesting how the first verses here (21 and 22) seem to just be a continuation of our Luke passage. It's like God is saying to us, "No, seriously, give. Give your time, your treasure and your talent." And in saying that, God continues on in the rest of the passage and promises some amazing things in return. It's all based on "if the Lord delights in a man's way", though. Let's live a life that the Lord can delight in. Not a perfect life, by any means, but a life set on Him and His pleasure!
2 comments:
Here is another portion of the N.T. where Jesus tells us to love our enemies.
If we truly want to stand out in a crowd and not be just an average Christian (rather we should strive to be a normal Christian), then we need to listen to and do what Jesus teaches us about handling our enemies.
- Rich
2Pe 2:15-16 "Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness."
Jud 1:11 "Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion."
This is one of those very tough places of the Bible to understand exactly why God brought judgment upon Balaam via his donkey (sounds like my life sometimes!).
I think as we look into these NT passages, we see Balaam might have persisted on pursuing the venture these messengers where "tempting" him with, inside his heart.
God had clearly revealed His will to Balaam... vs.12 "But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed." God did not intend for Him to create any alliance with this wicked plot to curse Israel. However, what we may see happening here is that Balaam continued allowing the offer to be entertained in his heart, even though he said with his lips... 18 But Balaam answered them, vs.18 "Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God."
It could be that vs.19 "Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the LORD will tell me."... shows something still in Balaam's heart is seeking this worldly reward.
Like us all... Mark 7 Jesus rebuked the Pharisees that they "honor me with their lips... but their hearts are far from me".
It just may be that through the story we see Balaam's lips... but God sees deeper into Balaam's heart. As Peter and Jude write... "for the sake of gain", "abandoned themselves for the sake of gain". This is another story like that of Simon the Sorcerer... Act 8:20 "But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!
So now God decides to take Balaam on a teaching journey (ever had one of those!). One in which God's permissive will (well put Katie)... is going to refine Balaam, turn tables on the enemies plans, and bless Israel. Even alongside man's frailty and disobedience, He accomplishes His divine providence and will and in the end... everyone comes out where God wants them.
He wins!
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