Numbers 31

Dear RTB’ers,

Holy war. We saw a lot of holy war last year when we read Joshua, as the Israelites were claiming the Promised Land. Today’s holy war is different from what we read earlier: The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites…” (vv. 1-2a). This war is the Lord’s revenge on behalf of His people because of Midian’s having led them astray in their Baal worship at Peor, Numbers 25:1-9, which we read just a few days ago. It’s heartening to see the Lord looking out for His people in this way, to keep them from further sins of idolatry. It’s also a reminder to us of the apostle Paul’s warning, Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19) We are not to avenge ourselves when we are wrongly treated. Pray for the person or people or situation where we were mistreated, forgive them if you are able, and leave it up to God to deal with them. Yes, difficult.

By the way, this is not the end of the Midianites. We will see them soon in the book of Judges, after we read Mark and Deuteronomy.

Blessings!

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See also: February 18 (2023) / Numbers 30-31

Numbers 30

Dear RTB’ers,

Vows – caution suggested! Who makes vows today? Husband and wife take vows on their wedding day. Monks and nuns take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Elected officials and military officers swear allegiance to their nation, state, or county. And all of us sign contracts when we buy a house or engage in other business or work obligations. What holds us to these vows, these contracts? First and foremost, it’s our word, our reputation, our responsibility. Sadly, words may fail over time. Second, we have lawsuits and our judicial system. We’ve heard too much of lawsuits the past few years. Finally, one day God will judge us for all that we’ve said and done. In the end, that’s all that matters.

Blessings!

Numbers 28-29

Dear RTB’ers,

The burnt offering to the Lord was introduced in Leviticus 1. It is now re-introduced to this new generation of Israelites in the first eight verses of Numbers 28. Then the phrase, …besides the regular burnt offering… occurs first in Num. 28:10, then another four times (or some variant of this phrase) in Numbers 28 and ten more times in Numbers 29. The NASB uses the word “continual” instead of “regular”, which seems even more emphatic. This burnt offering is an “add-on” to other weekly, monthly, and annual offerings (Sabbath, Monthly, Passover, Weeks, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and Booths). All these other offerings are intended to remind the Israelites of the Lord’s hand in their lives, from their Exodus from Egypt to their daily provisions.

But the daily/regular/continual burnt offering stands out. And this daily/regular/continual burnt offering is a morning and evening activity. Why? Presumably for the Israelites to keep God at the forefront in all their activities in their daily lives. Maybe that’s why we read this one phrase fifteen times in today’s reading. Except for us it’s prayer, not burnt offerings. A good reminder, morning and evening – and throughout the day!

Blessings!

Numbers 27, 36

Dear RTB’ers,

The daughters of Zelophehad, an interesting twist to inheritance laws and the division of the Promised Land. It is particularly interesting in that:

1. The daughters came to Moses and presented their petition
2. Moses took the issue before the Lord and the Lord responded with inheritance caveats to go as far as “the nearest kinsman of his clan”
3. A further issue arose wherein “The heads of the fathers’ houses of … Manasseh” were concerned about the daughters of Zelophehad marrying outside the tribe of Manasseh and the tribe of Manasseh losing that land, and
4. Moses again brought the issue before the Lord and the Lord replied that any daughters in this situation must marry within their tribe.

We already read last year in Joshua 17:3-6 that this issue was resolved as the Lord had commanded – the daughters of Zelophehad were given their inheritance, a portion of land along with other members of the tribe of Manasseh.

Blessings!

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See also: February 17 (2023) / Numbers 27-29

Numbers 25-26

Dear RTB’ers,

Good morning, folks, and welcome to March! Another RTB month behind us – 22 more to go in Search the Scriptures!

While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. (Num. 25:1-3a) You may recall from Numbers 23:28 that (Mount) Peor was the third location where Balak had taken Balaam to curse Israel. So Baal of Peor was the god of the Moabite people who lived in that region, and the Israelites began to join the locals in worship of this god. We will learn later that it was Balaam who incited the people to this worship of Baal: Behold, these, on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the LORD. (Numbers 31:16) Therein we see the judgment of later writers against Balaam.

This incident is the first record of idolatry since the Golden Calf incident at Mount Sinai back in Exodus 32, when it was the ancestors of today’s worshipers who had engaged in that idolatry. They had their failings – grumblings and their listening to the unfaithful spies – but we have no record of further idolatry with that generation. Still, the sins of the fathers…! (Exodus 20:5, 34:7; Numbers 14:18) We will read much more of Israeli idolatry over the next 22 months!

Blessings!

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See also: February 16 (2023) / Numbers 25-26

Numbers 23-24

Dear RTB’ers,

More Balak and Balaam – today, his actual words, his blessings. And they are numerous. First, Balaam asks three times for Balak to “Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” (Num. 23:1, 14, 29). Balak does as requested and Balaam responds with three sets of substantial blessings upon Israel. Balak is furious, but Balaam responds to Balak’s anger with four more sets of blessings and prophecies, including a short prelude to Balak: “And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” (Num. 24:14) After a few more blessings, Balaam prophecies destruction upon Moab, Edom, Seir, Amalek, the Kenite, Asshur (Assyria) and Eber. They then depart.

STS asks us to read through the blessings carefully. A few of them stood out for me:

• Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel?
  Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his! (Num. 23:10)
• The Lord their God is with them… (Num. 23:21b)
• …a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel… (Num. 24:17b)
  Possibly Messianic…??

Now you… Your favorites? Your comments on Balaam?

Blessings!

Numbers 23-24

Dear RTB’ers,

Frankly, these chapters leave me confused. Left to my own consideration, I would be lauding Balaam – first, he refused (twice) to go to Balak to do his bidding (even if he were paid an enormous sum); then he went as the Lord directed him; then the incident with his donkey; then finally he blessed Israel instead of cursing them. Although he is a pagan who worshiped strange gods and practiced divination, Balaam seems to be an upstanding guy. However, the rest of Scripture disagrees with that perspective. Look up the references that STS provided yesterday (II Peter 2:15-16; Jude 11; Num. 31:16; Rev. 2:14) – which they said should be read even before reading Numbers 22. They are all negative toward Balaam. My Study Bible added even more references to Balaam and Balak: Deuteronomy 23:3-6; Joshua 13:22, 24:9-10; Nehemiah 13:1-3; Micah 6:5. Finally, my Study Bible also had this to say about Balaam: “Balaam is universally condemned in Scripture for moral, ethical, and religious faults.” So, please forgive my initial positive perspective on Balaam. Your thoughts?

As to his actual words, his blessings… Tomorrow.

Blessings!

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See also: February 15 (2023) / Numbers 21-24

Numbers 22

Dear RTB’ers,

We leave Moses and the Israelites for three days to read the strange story of Balak and Balaam – and today, Balaam’s donkey. There have been a few times in my Christian walk when I have heard someone mention Balaam’s donkey, mostly as something like “If God can make Balaam’s donkey speak, then surely He can … (whatever)…” And yes, God can do anything He wants!

It’s a strange story. Knowing that the Moabites would be too weak in warfare against Israel, Balak wants to hire a “prophet” from another land to come and curse Israel, presumably benefiting Balak’s Moabite people. Balaam twice refuses Balak’s request, then with the Lord’s blessing begins his journey toward Moab. Then he is confronted by an angel of the Lord impeding his journey three times and eventually speaking to Balaam through his donkey. Then the Lord allows Balaam to continue his journey. Strange!

So, what to make of this story (and its culmination the next two days)? There have been times in my life when I have faced adversity and I had to ask myself whether it was the Lord directing me or Satan impeding me. Then I would have to ask myself further whether I should redirect my efforts or fight through the adversity. Only by constant prayer and my own continuing efforts would I eventually see the Lord’s hand at work and see the direction in which He was guiding me – sometimes a redirect and sometimes continuing on the path in which I was headed. Specifically, I faced six major setbacks in my academic life. On three occasions I was redirected down another path and on the other three occasions I continued to fight through the adversity. I don’t see an easy answer for difficulties in our lives, but I do know that prayer is essential. Proverbs offers wisdom for facing adversity with two well-known verses: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6) To those two well-known verses, I would add also the next partial verse: Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD… (Proverbs 3:7a). Amen.

Blessings!

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See also: February 15 (2023) / Numbers 21-24

Numbers 21

Dear RTB’ers,

Today, the story of the “bronze serpent” – the Israelites grumbling, the serpents biting them, Moses lifting up a bronze serpent, and those who were bitten being saved from death by looking at the bronze serpent. This story may seem familiar to many of you, even if you have not read through Numbers before. That’s because of Jesus’ reference to this story in John’s gospel, And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up… (John 3:14a) It’s wonderful when we can make connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament!

Today we begin to see Israel’s conquest, not of the Promised Land but of the land to the east, what is known as the “Transjordan”. Last year we read in Joshua that two-and-a-half tribes (Reuben, Gad, and one-half of the tribe of Manasseh) settled in the land that is conquered in today’s reading. These two defeated kings, Sihon and Og are mentioned many times down the road – four references in Deuteronomy, three in Joshua, and two in Psalms. Although they warrant only a few verses in today’s reading, it’s helpful to keep them in mind as we read further.

Blessings!