Numbers 23 – 25 and My Island Arrives

Numbers 23 – 25

Balak was persistent and he must have really believed in Balaam’s power to curse or bless, despite the fact that Balaam told him he could only do as the Lord told him. Three times, he builds seven altars and sacrifices seven young bulls and seven rams, hoping that Balaam will curse Israel and bless the Moabites. It doesn’t work.

Don’t you wonder about what Balaam was thinking? From Numbers 24:1, we know he used divination, but the Spirit of God came upon him the third time. Once again, he blessed Israel. He also talked about how God brought Israel out of Egypt and how he devours all nations that oppose him. What really ticks off Balak, however, is when he says (in verse 9), “Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you.”

After Balak sends him away, Balak talks about “a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel.” Do you suppose this is a reference to Jesus? It sure sounds like it.

While the Israelites were camped near the Moabites, some of the men “defiled themselves” with Moabite women. This led to worshiping other gods, and not just any god, but Baal. What were they thinking?

God orders Moses to execute those who were involved in this. The men were quite blatant about their sin. One of them took a Midianite woman into his tent right in front of Moses and the people. Aaron’s grandson, Phinehas, without being told to, took his spear and killed the man and the Midianite woman. This stopped a plague that had already killed 24,000 people. God ordered Moses to destroy the Midianites.

If you will recall, Moses married the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian, and Moses asked his brother-in-law, Hobab, (a Midianite) to travel with them. The messengers sent to Balak were elders from Moab and Midian. We’ll see the Israelites plagued by the Midianites in the future.

Tomorrow, it’s Numbers 26 – 27.

My Island Arrives

Last week, I ordered a kitchen island from Home Depot. I arrived today via UPS. I currently have it unpacked from the boxes amd inventoried. Parts of it are all round my living room, kitchen, and dining room (yes, I know they are all one room). I’m hoping to gain a lot more storage space and counter space. It is huge.

I had breakfast with my brother Jeff and his friend Jerry at Cracker Barrel this morning. They were on their way home from visiting friends here in Florida.

Until next time…