QT 30 Apr 12, There is always a lesson to be learned if we are listening

Num 33:1-2 (NIV) Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2 At the Lord's command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages: . . .

NOTE: Forty two locations are mentioned and apparently four (Constable, 2010) are not mentioned. The locations are most likely synonymous with significant events that served as a reminder to Israel. Since a number of the moves occur in the first two or last two years, it would appear that the bulk of the forty years were spent with little movement, quite possibly a year or two at a single place before moving again. I'm sure lessons of contentment and lessons of complacency were learned during that time. Too much movement is wearing and too little movement is boring. God knew what he was doing and he was preparing a people for a large work. Sometimes, we don't realize that the chaos in our lives is something God can use to teach us new things. While God is not always the cause, we do know that he is always working to bring good out of a situation, whatever the reason for the event (Rom 11:28). Lord, help me to be patient and open to your instruction during the chaotic times of my life.

QT 27 Apr 2012, We must walk by faith and not sight

Num 32:14-22 (NIV) "And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the Lord even more angry with Israel. 15 If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the desert, and you will be the cause of their destruction."

16 Then they came up to him and said, "We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children. 17 But we are ready to arm ourselves and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has received his inheritance. 19 We will not receive any inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan."

20 Then Moses said to them, "If you will do this — if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle, 21 and if all of you will go armed over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven his enemies out before him —  22 then when the land is subdued before the Lord, you may return and be free from your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the Lord.

NOTE: The above recorded passage catches Moses in the middle of an angry response to the desire of the Gadites, Reubenites and half of the tribe of Manasseh to stay on the east side of the Jordan. They satisfy his concern by promising to fight until the complete land is conquered. I've always wondered if these three tribes made a mistake. Their argument is sound but it is based on sight and not faith. If the Transjordanic area was better, would not God have chosen that land for them. As a result, they are outside the promised land and remind one of Lot who chose his dwelling place based on sight. By the time of Jesus, there is little left of the Northern tribes anyway, so maybe it would not have mattered. But still, faith is believing that God has your best interests at heart, and that he will provide for you. I think they failed and it will be interesting as history unfolds to correlate the actions of these three tribes with their early choice.

QT 24 Apr 12, Don't try to deal with sin in a half-hearted manner

Num 31:1-6, 13-15 (NIV ) The Lord said to Moses, 2 "Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people."

3 So Moses said to the people, "Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites and to carry out the Lord's vengeance on them. 4 Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel." 5 So twelve thousand men armed for battle, a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel. 6 Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.

. . .

13 Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army — the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds — who returned from the battle.

15 "Have you allowed all the women to live?" he asked them. 16 "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the Lord in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the Lord's people. 17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

NOTE: The Midianites, a nomadic tribe occupying the Arabian desert and the area south of Israel, had participated with Moab in seducing Israel to worship Baal, and to engage in sexual immorality. Additionally, Balaam is a Midianite, and he does not escape God's judgment for his participation in the plan to seduce Israel. Surprisingly, Moab is not judged here and will continue for many centuries, which also says that Moab's fear of Israel was unjustified. The Midianites are not large and it takes only 12,000 men to destroy the 5 clans. Balaam is killed in this battle.  At this point, Israel does not understand the danger of half measures and  spares the women and children.

It seems unfair to kill the women and boys. But actually, it is a misunderstanding of holiness. No one can stand before God without faith, we are all undeserving. If he is merciful to some, who are we to judge the creator? He has the right to do as he pleases with his creation. But God also understands what we do not, and that is, half-measures toward sin inevitably fail. We need to be serious with sin in our life and not play at the edges, because in the end, we will be burned.

QT 23 Apr 12, Husband's role is to esteem and protect his wife

Num 30:1-5 (NIV) Moses said to the heads of the tribes of Israel: "This is what the Lord commands: 2 When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

3 "When a young woman still living in her father's house makes a vow to the Lord or obligates herself by a pledge 4 and her father hears about her vow or pledge but says nothing to her, then all her vows and every pledge by which she obligated herself will stand. 5 But if her father forbids her when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; the Lord will release her because her father has forbidden her. . . .

NOTE: There is one verse for a man concerning a vow or oath, and then 13 verses follow for a woman concerning a vow or oath. The man is given freedom to take a vow or oath without any second guessing or review. Except for the case of a widow or divorced woman (vs. 9), the woman's vow or oath can be nullified by various persons depending upon her situation (Father or husband). So is that unfair? Actually it would seem that the woman is given a better deal. She is protected from a rash vow or oath. Also, the husband bears the guilt if he waits too long before nullify a vow or oath of his wife. On the other hand, the man must be very careful with his words because he has no one to protect him from rashness. Nor does he have an advocate to release him from his words. One principle that comes out of this section is the role of a Husband as the protector of his wife. He protects her from rashness and he bears her guilt of rash statements that he is slow to nullify. The husband's wife is not a servant to be abused. She is a precious gem to be protected and loved. The husband is to be interested in all aspects of her life and he is to seek to present her to God in the radiant beauty that God designed her to be.

QT 18 Apr 12, Spiritual success in life depends upon our seeking God

Num 28:3, 9, 11, 16, 26, 29:1, 7, 12

Say to them: 'This is the offering made by fire that you are to present to the Lord: two lambs a year old without defect, as a regular burnt offering each day.

. . .

9 "'On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil.

. . .

11 "'On the first of every month, present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.

. . .

16 "'On the fourteenth day of the first month the Lord's Passover is to be held.

. . .
26 "'On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the Lord an offering of new grain during the Feast of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.

. . .
29:1 "'On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets.

. . .
7 "'On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work.

. . .
12 "'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days.

NOTE: As the people prepare to enter the land, God reminds them of their obligations to him, and the importance of the relationship.  He reiterates the sacrificial and feast requirements. The list is organized by frequency and date. The first requirements are daily, then weekly, then monthly, and then each of the seven main feasts that occur once per year in the order of their appearance. The unleavened bread feast is not shown above but is recorded in verses 17-25. Later on, the Jews will add additional holidays (Purim and Hanukkah). The seven feasts have eschatological significance with Jesus death and Pentecost fulfilling the first four. The final three feasts all occur in the seventh month of the Jewish calendar (October / November of ours).

Still, the real importance of the list was the protection of the people so that they could maintain a relationship with God. In the New Covenant, Jesus satisfies all of these sacrificial demands. But the importance of relationship is still key. The children of the Exodus are not about to enter the land, and their success in life will depend upon them seeking God. So too, our success in life (as witnesses for Christ) is dependent upon our relationship with God. If we seek Him regularly, He will use us for His name's sake and glory. If we ignore him, we lose our salt and are best thrown onto the garbage pile of life.

QT 16 Apr 12, Certain aspects of leadership are best shared

Num 27:12-23 (NIV) Then the Lord said to Moses, "Go up this mountain in the Abarim range and see the land I have given the Israelites. 13 After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, 14 for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes." (These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)

15 Moses said to the Lord, 16 "May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd."

18 So the Lord said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in."

22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.

NOTE: Moses is about to die and God repeats the reason -- that being his disobedience to a command to honor God as holy before the eyes of the people. Moses' actions took the honor upon himself. But while Moses' actions were unusually prideful, his concern for the nation remains a strength of his character. Before dying, he suggests that a replacement is needed, as if God had not thought that through already. God appoints Joshua to command the nation's forces and Eleazar to inquire of God through the Urim, thereby dividing Moses authority (which while shared with Aaron, it all dwelt in Moses) among two people. In this area of leadership, scripture has a multifaceted view. For the most part, spiritual leadership and secular leadership is separated. During the time of Judges it seems to meld back, but from the period of Kings forward, it remains separated. In the NT, we are called a royal priesthood, but we seldom see "elder" in charge of a church, but more commonly "elders." And even in this case of plurality of leadership, it is primary spiritual and not at all secular. The temptations of power are great and dividing authority among men of character is a protection for them and for the people.

QT 13 Apr 12, Blessings are a principle of life not a promise

Num 26:1-4 (NIV) After the plague the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, 2 "Take a census of the whole Israelite community by families — all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army of Israel." 3 So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said, 4 "Take a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the Lord commanded Moses."

NOTE: Below is a list of the percent changes in size of each tribe during the previous 38 years.

Tribe	Beginning	End	Change	Remark
Reuben	46,500	43,730	-6%	Part of Korah rebellion
Simeon	59,300	22,200	-63%	Balaam strategy
Gad	45,650	40,500	-11%	Near Simeon
Judah	74,600	76,500	+3%
Issachar	54,400	64,300	+18%
Zebulun	57,400	60,500	+5%
Ephraim	40,500	32,500	-20%	?
Manasseh	32,200	52,700	+64%
Benjamin	35,400	45,600	+29%
Dan	62,700	64,400	+3%
Asher	41,500	53,400	+29%
Naphtali	53,400	45,400	-15%	?

Surprisingly, there is a lot of variation in the numbers. The first three are easily understood by the Korah rebellion and their Southern flank setting that exposed them to Midian's temptations (Balaam's counsel of sexual perversion and worship perversion). It is not clear what Ephraim or Naphtali did, but given the evidence above, they were obviously more involved in the grumblings over the last 38 years than were some other groups. On the other side of the coin, Manasseh, Benjamin, Asher, and Issachar show large increases in their population, with Manasseh almost doubling in size. While some might contend that this supports the "Health and Wealth" gospel, I would argue that it supports statements in Proverbs, which are general principles and not promises. One of the general principles of life is that God does bless the obedient, but that is not a promise, especially in the New Covenant. We do have a promise of a future inheritance, but we do not have any right to a healthy and wealthy lifestyle on earth.

QT 12 Apr 12, Sin weakens our spiritual strength

Num 25:6-9, 14-15 (NIV) Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand 8 and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them — through the Israelite and into the woman's body. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; 9 but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.

. . .

14 The name of the Israelite who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family. 15 And the name of the Midianite woman who was put to death was Cozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.

NOTE: The brazenness of the action is unbelievable-- the man walks right by the tent of meeting. The plague killed 24,000 (Paul says 23K but that is easily understood as he says "in one day" or possible does not include the additional leaders who were killed as a result of God's command). The name of two participants are listed and this gives us more insight. One was a leader from the tribe of Simeon, a "prince" in one sense. The other was a "princess" from a Midianite family. Clearly, some sort of diplomatic maneuvering was working as well. There are hints that the tribe of Simeon probably camped closest to the Midianites. Not only is a Simeon leader identified, but the survey at the beginning of Numbers lists 59K in Simeon, but by the end of Numbers, there are only 22K left. Most tribes saw only small growths or decline. Simeon is unusual in that it declined by 60 percent. Simeon was camped on the south side of the main force with Gad and Reuben. Both Gad and Reuben are ten percent smaller than their original size. The original southern flank numbered 151K and prior to entering the land numbers 107K. Their loss of strength is directly attributable to their sin. There is a message here for us as well. Sin cuts into our spiritual strength and makes us weaker. If we want to be mighty men and women of God, we must deal with those persistent sins that attack our spiritual life.

QT 11 Apr 12, The most effective weapon to destroy a culture

Num 24:9b-11, 25-25:3 (NIV) … "May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!"

10 Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. 11 Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded."

. . .

25 Then Balaam got up and returned home and Balak went his own way.

25:1 While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. 3 So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the Lord's anger burned against them.

NOTE: From the passage we learn that Balaam blessed Israel each of the three times that Balak had asked for a curse. In one of the blessings we read verse 24:9b of a blessing to those who bless Israel and a curse to those who curse Israel. I believe that prophecy is still valid today. Balak says that Balaam will not get the reward he had promised him, and then Balaam gives one more prophecy and apparently leaves. But there is more to the story than what we are told. Jesus himself told John in Revelation, "Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality (Rev 2:14)." Apparently, Balaam did get his reward. The very next verses of Numbers tell a story that seems to appear out of nowhere, a story of sexual indulgence and forsaking God for Baal. Numbers does not give us any insight on what happened, but Jesus's words in Revelation tell us the "rest of the story." Balaam's sin was to offer to Balak an idea hatched in the mind of Satan and exploited against believers  throughout time: sexual immorality and the worship of things (pleasure) other than God. It is a common story that Paul explains in Rom 1:18 and the following verses, that time and again has lead people from truth. People loved their sin more than God. It is the single greatest issue of our culture and while most people will deny it, it is what is destroying the United States. God have mercy on us that we might recognize our sin before it is too late.

QT 10 Apr 12, If I wouldn't do it if there was no money involved, then quite probably my motives are wrong

Num 22:36-38 (NIV) When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?"

38 "Well, I have come to you now," Balaam replied. "But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth."

NOTE: The reaction of the king and the conversation gives us insight in Balaam's error. First of all, the king is upset that Balaam didn't move more quickly (jump when he called). Balak is used to that treatment as a king, and Balaam in the past has responded according. Secondly his question, "Am I really not able to reward you?" gets at the heart of the issue. Balak paid handsomely for his services. Balaam liked the money he made off of his "gift." Balaam doesn't really respond to Balak, probably because he had been rebuked by God, other than, "I'm here now" and "remember, I can only say what God gives me" (both paraphrased). Balaam is one in a long line of men (and women) who grew rich for their spirituality. They may have started off right, with sincere hearts and unquestioned motives, but the lure of money and the love it caused them to fall into a trap. As Paul writes to his disciple Timothy "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." Peter also wrote of some so-called spiritual leaders, "They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey — a beast without speech — who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness." Peter recognized that it was a madness, this love of money, that causes us to consider evils and even to justify ourselves that it is okay.

When  money is involved, we need to reconsider our motives. Would I still take the action if I was not paid? Would I still take the action if I received only a living wage? By living wage, I am thinking of an amount that is not unreasonable and provides food and shelter but no more. If the answer is yes, then the action, whatever it might be, would seem to be safe. But if the answer is no, then there is a good chance that we may be falling into Balaam's error. Balaam would not even had considered Balak's proposition if it had not been for the money involved.

QT 9 Apr 12, Take roadblocks to God in prayer to make sure our hearts are right

Num 22:21-27, 31-35 (NIV) Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat her to get her back on the road.

24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between two vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it. So he beat her again.

26 Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. 

. . .

31 Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.

32 The angel of the Lord asked him, "Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.  33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared her."

34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back."

35 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

NOTE: This is a fascinating passage, primarily because Balaam's donkey speaks to him. While the serpent spoke to Eve, we know that the serpent was controlled by Satan. In this case,  God allows the donkey to speak, obviously giving him a temporary ability. Animals do have some reasoning ability and the choices the donkey made and the argument of the donkey would not be unreasonable, except for the higher order speech capabilities. Whatever are the facts, the donkey has saved Balaam's life three times. So the first question then is should Balaam have recognized something was amiss because of the difficulty in traveling. He had God's permission to go, but apparently Balaam had other thoughts in his mind. Other scriptures suggest his motive was greed. The scripture says that God was very angry with Balaam, so something had changed from the previous night when God gave him permission to go. Balaam offers to discontinue the trip, and forfeit the riches. That is apparently the right response, because God once again tells him to go. What is the lesson? Certainly, difficulties are not always a sign that our path is the wrong path, otherwise Israel would have been right in fearing the Giants or crossing the desert. But roadblocks should send us to God in prayer to confirm God's will. There may be a reason for the difficulties.

QT 6 Apr 12, Worldy goods are not a determinant of God's will

Num 22:1-3, 8, 12-13, 15-19 (NIV) Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.

2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.

...

8 "Spend the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will bring you back the answer the Lord gives me." So the Moabite princes stayed with him.

…

12 But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed."

13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's princes, "Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you."

...

15 Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16 They came to Balaam and said:

"This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, 17 because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me."

18 But Balaam answered them, "Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God. 19 Now stay here tonight as the others did, and I will find out what else the Lord will tell me."

NOTE: The Moabites clearly understand the situation--much better than the Amorites did. Their response is to have the Israelites cursed by Balaam. And so begins one of the more interesting, perplexing, and commented stories of the bible. Interesting because an animal speaks to Baalam. Perplexing because it is hard to understand Balaam's fault. Commented, because Micah in the OT and Peter and John, in the NT, reference the incident. From the passage itself, a couple of thoughts emerge. One, Balak wanted Israel cursed by God, but why would God curse his own children, and woe to the nations who try to hurt God's chosen people. Second, there is a lot of money and pomp emphasized in the story, as if power and wealth could change or bring about God's will. Third, there seems to be some hesitation on Balaam's account despite the first answer from God because he goes back to God a second time when the money is a little greater. Why, money or power should change God's response is a laughable point. God does change his response, but you have to wonder if that is to deal with something in Balaam's life as opposed to the greater money and pomp displayed.

The application would seem obvious. Worldly goods do not change the God's will. He can operate outside of that realm. What changes our direction in life is when God speaks and calls us in a new direction. We need to listen for his direction and not try to seek our direction.