Day #64

Sermon - Audio
Num 23-25 - Audio
Num 23-25 - Daily Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

Numbers 23 finds us at an upswing in the book of Numbers. There has been failure after failure by the people of Israel, but beginning in Numbers 22 we find that the old generation is close to dying out and the people are on the way to Canaan. There will be one more major incident of disobedience, but this also becomes a time when zeal for God is shown.

Numbers 23

The goal of Balak is to control Yahweh and control the future. The sacrifices (23.1-4) reflect Ancient Near East beliefs that one could control the deity by offering excellent (and these were the most excellent) sacrifices.

29.7-10: The first curse turns into a blessing. One cannot help but remember God's promise that whoever dishonors Abraham, God will curse (Genesis 12.1-3). Moab and Balak are treading on dangerous ground.

23.8: Since God has not cursed Israel, Balaam cannot curse Israel. One would think this would be enough to get Balak to stop, it is not.

23.9: These words declare the uniqueness of Israel,it is not like other nations because it is God's covenant nation.

23.13: Balak has just confirmed the promise of God to Abraham. Israel has become a great nation so that in this place only a small part of the nation can be seen.

23.19: A wonderful statement of the unchanging promises and trustworthiness of God.

23.21: The king is God, his royal throne is the Ark.

23.27-30: Balak is an incredibly slow learner, but he is also sure of his understanding of the gods, namely, that you can manipulate them. He has never encountered a God like Yahweh.

Numbers 24

24.1: Balaam's usual way of working was to go in search of the words of God, but he realizes that such a search is not necessary: God is determined to bless Israel.

24.2: Israel camping tribe by tribe shows their obedience to God's commands. Also, the word camping (in Hebrew) is the same word that speaks of God dwelling in their midst. One can't help but hear an echo that what Balaam sees is the people of the great King with their tents arrayed for battle.

24.3-4: Balaam declares that his words are from the Highest One, he is being given unique insight.

24.8: These are the words that Balak doesn't want to hear.

24.9: The words of Genesis 12. In these chapters these words and their theme are repeated over and over.

24.10: Striking his hands together may be to ward off the curse that had suddenly come on Balak and his people.

24.15-16: Balaam speaks of an even closer relationship with God and therefore the certainty of his oracle.

24.17: Star and scepter are signs of royalty.

24.18-19: David is the first fulfillment of this promise as he temporarily defeats these people. The prophets speak of another who would complete the promise.

24.20-25: Words against the nations.

Numbers 25 (Parental Warning--if you do this one around the supper table, make sure you read the notes before you share with your kids)

Balaam could not curse the people of Israel, but he was able to give advice on how to get them to curse themselves (this information comes later) by their behavior. The people worship Baal, the Canaanite fertility god.

25.6: This is a picture of sacred prostitution or of having sex to guarantee fruitfulness of the land. This sexual encounter may take place in front of the tent of meeting (the tent inside the "walls" of the tabernacle) showing that Yahweh is being treated like Baal. This encounter also gives us insight into the many regulations about sexual conduct. God was determined not to have his people believe that he was like the other gods of the land.

25.8: Phinehas kills them while they are in the act of intercourse.

25.9: Those who die are the ones who participated in the cult. The number 24,000 is used only here and in the book of Chronicles (1 Chronicles 23 & 27). In both of those instances we find people who are faithfully serving God and their king rather than rebelling against them.

Note: The rabbis were uncomfortable with Phinehas’s act. He set a dangerous precedent by taking the law into his own hands and slaying a man impulsively, in disregard of the law. Some argued that Moses and the other leaders would have excommunicated him were it not for the divine decree declaring that Phinehas had acted on God’s behalf (vv. 12–13). Regarding this, a recent commentator remarks: “Who can tell whether the perpetrator is not really prompted by some selfish motive, maintaining that he is doing it for the sake of God, when he has actually committed murder? That is why the sages wished to excommunicate Phinehas, had not the Holy Spirit testified that his zeal for God was genuine.”

25.13: The word in Hebrew for "jealous" ESV, "zealous" NIV is the same word that is used in Psalm 69 where we are told that "zeal for your house consumed me". This text is applied to Jesus in John 2 when he cleanses the temple. The striking difference between Jesus and Phinehas is that Phinehas kills in his pursuit of zeal, Jesus is killed. Along with this reality is also the fact that the sacrifice that stops the plague in Israel is the sacrifice of the two sinners. One commentator says, "In a situation of extreme crisis, Phinehas had acted in way that made it possible for him to make atonement of Israel. The term "to make atonement" indicates the mediatorial work of the priest that averts God's wrath, usually by some sort of offering. Here the sacrifice is the man and the woman." Again, the contrast to Christ is powerful: Christ turns back the wrath of God by his own death, not by putting another to death (cf. Ephesians 2.1-10).

25.16-18: God brings punishment on those who would derail his plan to bless the nations. It is another example of those who dishonor Israel will be cursed.