In Numbers, 21-29, God couldn’t have made it more obvious that Israel was a blessed nation. Everyone that encountered them in battle was defeated and wiped out. They defeated the King of Arad, King Sihon and the Amorites and King Og of Bashan. Through Balaam, God showed Balak, the Moabites and the Midians that Israel was a chosen people, blessed by Him. God is making it known to the world that they are His chosen people.
“Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” Numbers 21-34 ESV
Passage:
Numbers 21-29
Discovered:
- King of Arad attacked Israel and took some captive. Israel attacked with the Lord and they were destroyed.
- Israel became inpatient with their travels, lack of food and water, so the Lord sent venomous snakes to bite the people. They begged for forgiveness and the Lord told them to create a bronze serpent. Those who looked at the snake would live.
- Israel asked King Sihon of Amorites to pass through their land and were denied. King Sihon attacked the Israelites and was defeated, taking possession of the entire kingdom.
- King Og of Bashan went to war with the Israelites. Bashan was defeated with no survivors.
- Israel reaches Moab. Balak of Moab is fearful and allied themselves with Midian. King Balak sent for Balaam asking him to curse the Israelites.
- God spoke to Balaam during the Moabites first visit: “Do not go with”, so he refused go when they left.
- Balak sent more important messengers, princes, to fetch Balaam. God allows him to go only if he says exactly what God tells him to. Balaam gets on his donkey the next morning and leaves to go to Balak.
- The Lord is angry with Balaam for going and puts an angel with a sword in the path of his donkey in the middle of the road. His donkey avoids the angel by going into the field and out of anger Balaam hits her. The second time she steers clear of the angel while on a narrow path next to a wall in a vineyard, Balaam hits her again. Third time, the angels surround her so she lays down. She is hit again and finally speaks to Balaam: “Why do you mistreat me?”. The angel reveals himself to Balaam saying God is displeased with Balaam’s motives (money and the possibility of cursing Israel)
- Balaam and Balak go up to Bamoth-Baal. Balaam asks Balak to build 7 altars and sacrifice 7 bulls and 7 rams.
- First oracle: Israel cannot be cursed, they are a special nation, uncountable. Balak is angry at the blessing.
- They then go up to Zophim at Pisgah, build another 7 altars and sacrifice 7 bulls and 7 rams.
- Second oracle: blessing cannot be revoked, the Lord is with them, others are powerless
- Went to Peor, built 7 more altars, and sacrificed 7 bulls and 7 rams.
- Third oracle: Israel was blessed by God and Balak was very angry
- Final oracle: predicts the Messiah, victory over Moab, capture of Israel by Assur
- At Peor, Israel strayed with the daughters of Moab, worshipped Baal. Chiefs were killed, plus 24,000 others.
- New census was taken: 601,730 men that were 20 years and older. The land inheritance will be based proportionally on each tribe.
- Daughters of Zelophehad: their father had died as a result of his own sin-argued that since there were no sons, they (daughters) should be able to inherit their father’s portion. Moses agreed establishing the inheritance statues.
- Moses was allowed to see the promised land, but not enter so he asked the Lord to appoint a successor: Joshua.
- The Lord reviews the offerings: daily, Sabbaths, monthly, Passover, Weeks, Trumpets, Atonement and Booths.
Help me to remember:
the Lord was with Israel and when Israel was with God, they could not be harmed or stopped. They were a blessed people.
Lord, I ask that . . .
my heart is one of obedience, one out of love for you and not for my selfish reasons like Balaam was in his obedience (hoping for wealth).
Heavenly Father, I am thankful for . . .
the prophecy of Christ, that he eventually came to destroy death and provide us with Your grace.
“Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it. He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The Lord their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them.” Numbers 23:20-21
