Joining His Work

“Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.” (Numbers 23:20, ESV) In the second oracle of Balaam, we see a key theological principle. God is sovereign and what God decrees man cannot override. Balak offered Balaam money to curse Israel to which Balaam responds that it is impossibleContinue reading “Joining His Work”

Absolute Unchanging Truth

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19, ESV) This passage, from Balaam’s second oracle, presents some obvious but vital theology. “God isContinue reading “Absolute Unchanging Truth”

Devotion In Life

“Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, ‘What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?’ And Balaam said to the donkey, ‘Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I wouldContinue reading “Devotion In Life”

Spiritual Blindness

“But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. . . When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Then the LordContinue reading “Spiritual Blindness”

Antivenom For Sin

“So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” (Numbers 21:9, ESV) Once again, the people grumbled against God and Moses stating that they loathed the food, the “manna,” that God had provided. Because of this, theContinue reading “Antivenom For Sin”

Cleansing and Restoration

“If the man who is unclean does not cleanse himself, that person shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, since he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. Because the water for impurity has not been thrown on him, he is unclean.” (Numbers 19:20, ESV) The Lord instituted a process for personContinue reading “Cleansing and Restoration”

Tithe Of the Tithe

““Moreover, you shall speak and say to the Levites, ‘When you take from the people of Israel the tithe that I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution from it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe.” (Numbers 18:26, ESV) There is much debate among Christians overContinue reading “Tithe Of the Tithe”

The Branch

“On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and behold, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted and put forth buds and produced blossoms, and it bore ripe almonds.” (Numbers 17:8, ESV) Because Aaron’s priestly authority was challenged, the Lord commanded the head of each of theContinue reading “The Branch”

Atonement

“And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.” (Numbers 16:48, ESV) After the Lord brought judgment on Korah and those actively engaged in the rebellion, the people grumbled against Moses and Aaron saying they had “killed the people of the Lord” (v41-42). In making this statement, the people disregardedContinue reading “Atonement”

Significant Clothing

“And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after.” (Numbers 15:39, ESV) The Lord commanded that the people of Israel wear tassels on theirContinue reading “Significant Clothing”