How many of the men who participated in the battle against Midian will be in Joshua’s army is unclear, but these wanderers are enlisted to conquer the people who dragged them into sin earlier (see 25:1ff). He is foreshadowing a lesson that will be important during the conquest, a lesson Israel will disobey and fail to learn to their own hurt and difficulty: “Purge the evil influence of the world around you from among you.” Notice what is found in this chapter.
THE SUCCESSFUL WAR (1-8). They killed every Midianite male, the five kings, and Balaam (remember him?). The Lord spoke (1) and the army, comprised of a thousand from each tribe (5), warred (7) and killed (8) the Midianites.
THE SPOILS (9-12). They captured women, children, livestock and goods. Though they destroyed their cities (10), they brought the aforementioned back to the leadership, the congregation, and the camp.
THE REBUKE (13-16). Moses is angry with the warriors for sparing the women who caused Israel to sin in the matter of Peor through Balaam’s counsel. While women would customarily be part of the “spoil,” these women were known agents of immorality.
THE REMEDY (17-24). The command is specific. Kill every male child, kill every woman not a virgin, keep virgins for themselves, purify themselves (warriors), purify by fire everything that can withstand fire, wash clothes, and be clean after seven days. The High Priest passes these commands of the Lord along to them (21).
THE TAX (25-54). The total tribute was divided between the warriors and the congregation, a portion given to Eleazer as an offering to God. It is fitting for a people who have become enriched in battle, a battle which the Lord enabled to happen. Their gift should have been prompted by gratitude.
God is seeking to teach the Israelites (and us) some valuable lessons.
1. Sin cannot go unpunished (the Midianites’ influence had been a spiritual detriment)
2. Instructions must be followed (Israel is rebuked for arbitrarily choosing to spare women and children)
3. Giving to God comes first, before using and spending for self
4. Those who do the work (warriors) should be rewarded accordingly
Vows preceded the Law of Moses (Jacob commits to give a tenth of his possessions to God, if He delivered him, Gen. 28:20). A vow “connotes the act of verbally devoting to the service of God, i.e., vowing to perform, to make an offering, or to abstain from something” (TWOT 557). God reinforces how serious such commitments are, and later we will see some who make some costly ones (like Jephthah and Saul). Here, God prepares the conquerors-to-be by helping them master their words.
GOD MAKES THE LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE (1ff). This command was spoken “to the heads of the tribes” (1). Notice how God holds a man accountable for his vow (2). It is binding, cannot be violated, and must do “according to all that proceeds out of his mouth” (2).
GOD MAKES PROVISION FOR AN UNMARRIED OR BETROTHED WOMAN WHO MAKES A VOW (3-8). Her father could nullify her vow on the same day if he hears it (3-5). So could her husband, after the same manner (6-8). If neither did this on her behalf, she was bound to her vow.
GOD’S PROVISION FOR WOMEN WHO ARE OR HAVE BEEN MARRIED (9-15). Widowed and divorced women who vowed were bound to such, just as men were. Wives’ vows fell into two categories, much like the unmarried or engaged woman. Her vow could be made void by her husband without penalty (10-12). But, if he said nothing on the day of her vow, the vow was in force and he shares her guilt (13-15).
Vows were binding unless someone who had recognized authority over her nullified it. This was a matter of “forgiveness” or “guilt.” God listens to our words. They matter to Him, how ever much or little they mean to us. Jesus would teach His disciples that their word alone should be sufficient and need no oath (Mat. 5:33-37). He would also warn, ” “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Mat. 12:36-37). There’s an old children’s song that counsels, “Oh be careful little mouths what you say….” That is sage advice for big mouths, too!
Everyone on earth was intentionally designed by God. This fact should help us to remember that every person we meet is an opportunity to serve someone made in the image of God.
God created us by making a deliberate choice to design us based on what He desired. Basically, who we are is no mistake. Who we are is intentional. Who we are is by design.
Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Both men and women are equally created in the image of God. Not just male, or just female; both are created in His image.
Nothing else on earth can be what we are. God intentionally designed us this way, and that means we matter to God! Men and women were created to be a reflection of the community God has had from the beginning. Complementary in function and design, equal in value, and created to create.
God could have made a fresh batch of humans each time one died. God could have made us like self reproducing amoebas. Instead, God designed humans to multiply and fill the earth. He designed us for community. There would be a lot less division if we would remember this.
Though he designed us perfectly, our decision to reject God’s path brought brokenness into this world–affecting bodies, gender relationships, and even the ability to have healthy families. But God loved the world. He desires for all people to know him because all are equally valuable in his sight.
So God sent his son into the world. Jesus was the perfect image of the invisible God. As we saw Jesus’ perfect love, we learned of God’s perfect love and nature. He died to create a family, a spiritual family made up of every age, race, and culture and a family formed into a church who is like his bride (A bride he died to save so that we could be united with Him for all eternity).
May we never forget that we are the product of intentional design. A design created by Almighty God!
The seventh month of the Jewish calendar was (and to modern Jews who still observe the days as holidays today) especially important. The first day of that month (Tishrei) is “The Day of Remembrance” (Yom Teruah)(1-6). The tenth day of that month is “The Day of Atonement”(Yom Kippur)(7-11). The fifteenth day of that month is “The Feast of Booths” (Sukkot)(12-38). The seventh month on the Jewish Calendar is actually their new year.
While Jews today still observe these holidays (inexplicably and inconsistently without animal sacrifice), we understand that the law that commanded them has been nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:15). But at the time when Moses writes this to the generation that is about to conquer, in Numbers 29, these are binding observances that required so much sacrifice, specifically laid down concerning the animals, the grain, and the drink for each day of sacrifice. The point of all of this is summarized in verses 39-40: “You shall present these to the Lord at your appointed times, besides your votive offerings and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings and for your grain offerings and for your drink offerings and for your peace offerings. Moses spoke to the sons of Israel in accordance with all that the Lord had commanded Moses.”
The Lord commanded Moses to command Israel. Why these tedious commands regarding sacrifice? Perhaps the best answer is the inspired one given by the writer of Hebrews (10:1-4–“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”
Sin is still terrible and despicable to God. His just requirement for atonement is still as great. The joyful truth today is that Jesus satisfied that requirement once for all (Heb. 10:10). Would you take time today to thank God for His “indescribable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15)?
Political divide in the church is not new. I’m sure, to some degree, idealogical division has existed since the church’s conception. It’s not a coincidence that Jesus chose a militant political activist and an enemy of that political activist to be among his apostles. He expected them to set aside their differences in favor of a truth that transcended anything earth-based.
We understand this intellectually, but it’s hard for most of us to see how that’s relevant when American political issues are so different from first century issues. Most of us think (rightly so in many cases) that the intrinsic differences between conservatives and progressives are moral rather than merely ideological. How could anyone claiming to be a Christian vote for a leftist politician when theirs is the party of abortion, hedonism, and (which is ironic and paradoxical) restrictions on fundamental freedoms?
Conservative values do intersect with Judeo-Christian morals far more than progressive ones. But our values can (and have — I’ve witnessed it myself many times) cause us to ignore or blatantly violate scriptural principles. Are we ugly to people who’ve been deceived, or who tell themselves that they’re voting on an issue-by-issue basis? Do we love our enemies and pray for them? Have we determined that — even in matters not covered in scripture — we will defy governing authorities that God put in place? Do we elevate certain political or ideological figures to deity by how we perceive them? The number of conservative Christians who have conflated faith with flag is staggering. More than a couple of times, I’ve heard a Christian say something to the effect of, “God expects me to fight for my faith and my family.” Where is that even implicitly taught in scripture?
But this is not new. The overwhelming majority of Americans before (and during and after) the Civil War were reliable church-attendees.1 Brother excluded brother on the basis of ideology and ethnicity.2 I’ve preached at some old churches whose ancestral members (during the Civil War) brought their rifles to church so that they could fight their fellow countrymen after services. The odds of a believer leaving worship to slaughter a believer on the other side were quite high.
This year has been tense, to grossly understate reality. We are divided over legitimate issues of national identity and security, individual freedoms, and behavioral regulation. Christians all over the country wait with bated breath to see if the “right” political figures are installed in the next election. To conservatives and progressives alike, this is seen as a fundamentally existential election. The future of our country depends on it!
This may be true. We do live here, and we have legitimate concerns about our future and about the sanity of our culture. But many American Christians put the principles of their supposed faith in the back seat once before — at the cost of 620,000 lives (equivalent to roughly 7,000,000 Americans today by percentage of population3).
Don’t read, “Gary doesn’t think these issues are important,” or, “He doesn’t understand how bad things have gotten.” I’m far more plugged in to these issues than I should be as a die-hard conservative who professes belief in Jesus. We’ve gotten to the point, though, that we can’t have both: it’s time to choose.
Are we Christians, or are we conservative Americans? Or even progressive Americans? Don’t fall into the trap of conflating faith with flag, or faith with political issue(s)! This planet is not our home. We are not American Christians. We are Christians who happen to live in the United States! Our view of people is supposed to be colored by how Jesus would treat them — not by how friendly or hostile they are to our Constitution or Bill of Rights or natural laws! God expected his people to show patience, love, humility, and altruistic care to godless, hedonistic, depraved people who illegally put them to death (cf. Mt 5.44; I Pt 2.12-14, 3.9, 3.15, 4.7; Rom 12.14, 12.17-19).
We could legitimately say that our political opponents are, in every sense of the word, enemies. Existential, moral, ideological enemies. Do we love them? Do we pray for them? Are we kind to them? Do we bless them? Would we turn the other cheek? Do we want, more than anything, to see them saved on the last day? We do not have a monopoly on salvation — in fact, Jesus will determine who leaves with him and who stays behind by how we treat each other (cf. Mt 25.32ff). No “Christian” who fails to live by Jesus’s principles of godly love will be saved on the last day (Hb 12.14).
“Try to live in peace with everyone. And try to keep your lives free from sin. Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the master. … You have come to the meeting of God’s firstborn children. Their names are written in the heavens. You have come to God, the judge of all people. And you have come to the spirits of good people who have been made perfect. You have come to Jesus — the one who brought the new agreement from God to his people. You have come to the sprinkled blood that tells us about better things than the blood of Abel. Be careful and don’t refuse to listen when God speaks. Those people [the Israelites] refused to listen to him when he warned them on earth [not to touch the holy mountain]. They did not escape. Now God is speaking from the heavens. So now it will be worse for those who refuse to listen to him. When he spoke before, his voice shook the earth. But now he has promised, ‘Once again I will shake the earth, but I will also shake the sky.’ The words ‘once again’ clearly show us that everything that was created will be destroyed — that is, the things that can be shaken. And only what cannot be shaken will remain. So we should be thankful because we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And because we are thankful, we should worship God in a way that will please him. We should do this with respect and fear, because our God is like a fire that can destroy us” (Hb. 12:14,22-29).
Crucial to the people’s impending conquering of Canaan was seeing to their spiritual welfare. Their priests had to make “a continual burnt offering every day” (3). The Hebrews writer references this and the events of Numbers 29 (9:6-7), with his point being that Christ appeared and “entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (9:12). So, while they were about to inherit the land promise made to Abraham (Gen. 12:7), they would still have to make these continual sacrifices to atone for their sins.
Think of all the death, the blood, the time, the inconvenience, just to cover their daily, weekly, and yearly sins. We’ve never had to live that way. We don’t have such a graphic reminder under Christ, but a chapter like Numbers 28 can help us put the seriousness of sin into proper perspective. The Lord says, “You shall be careful to present My offering, My food for My offerings by fire, of a soothing aroma to Me, at their appointed time” (2). Specific offerings, a specific way, at a specific time. God is a God of details. It matters.
1. The daily burnt offering (2 male lambs, one in the morning and the other at twilight, with the grain offering and the drink offering (1-8)
2. The sabbath day offering (2 male lambs, with grain and drink offering)(9-10)
3. The monthly burnt offering (2 bulls, 1 ram, 7 male lambs of specific age and without defect, with grain offering and drink offering, and one male goat)(11-15)
4. The annual Passover offering (14th day of 1st month followed by a feast week, no work the first day, an offering of 2 bulls, 1 ram, 7 male lambs, 1 male goat with grain offering and drink offering)(16-25)
5. The annual Feast of Weeks offering (offer first fruits of new grain plus 2 young bulls, 1 ram, 7 male lambs, and 1 male goat with grain offering and drink offerings)(26-31).
Doing the math, that’s a lot of time, expense, trouble, and inconvenience. How long before this got to be laborious, before the people lost sight of the seriousness of their sin in the chore of bringing these animals and the food and drink offerings over and over again?
I see a couple of challenges for us: (1) Appreciating the sufficiency of Christ’s one-time sacrifice and the better covenant, (2) Keeping focus, with gratitude, on the Lord during the Lord’s Supper each week, and (3) Living daily with the knowledge that we’ve been so favored by God to be in Jesus Christ. How will this change our relationship with God each day and our sense of urgency to share this with people whose sins are not covered by the blood of the Perfect Lamb?
Interestingly, the gems of Revelation are inorganic. Most of the rocks and stones you see in the natural world around you today are organic and were created through a process of death. Plants, animals, and microorganisms died and their remains were crushed down through various processes before eventually turning into rock.
Inorganic stones would be the only stones Adam and Eve would have been familiar with. These aren’t made up of deceased creatures, they’re made by a fascinating chemical process within the earth. Meaning, the components that make up inorganic stones were never alive and therefore nothing had to die in order for them to exist.
Not every gem is inorganic, but all twelve precious stones mentioned in Revelation are. How fitting that in God’s city, death has never been a visitor. Death is not allowed in heaven, even in the construction material.
This can be appreciated even if the gems weren’t meant to be taken literally. God was the one who had John record those specific gems. Death isn’t even allowed in His symbolic city! Either way— how satisfying.
As the book of Numbers gets nearer to the end of the forty years of wandering, plans for conquering ramp up. The previous generation were slaves whose masters provided places for them to settle and live, as subpar as it must have been. This generation were wanderers with no home who at least knew what freedom felt like. God has purged and refined His people.
Establishing the right of inheritance (1-11). The test case are the daughters of Zelophehad (1-7). The ultimate rule established was a line of succession for inheritance–sons, daughters, brothers, uncles, then near kinsmen (8-11). This rule would come into play in Ruth’s life, resulting in marriage to a near kinsman named Boaz, in the lineage of Christ.
Entrusting the rule of the people (12-23). It is time for Moses to die soon. He cannot lead the conquering because of his sin at the waters of Meribah (12-14). The Lord will appoint a man over the congregation (15-17). He will be qualified, a man in whom is the Spirit. He will be appointed, God telling Moses, “lay your hand on him,” have Eleazar “commission him in their sight,” and “put some of your authority on him…that…the sons of Israel may obey him.” As such, he would have delegated authority (21).
Enacting the requirement of God (22-23). This was all about doing what God knew was best and what He wanted done. Thus, they did “just as the Lord commanded” and “just as the Lord had spoken.”
No matter what the issue is, God has an answer for us. Whether it is how we handle the material or the spiritual, we should seek His will and then humbly and completely submit to it. We should be seeking to know what He has to say and what He wants us to do. There is no conquering without this mindset.
When a people are described with “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (17:6), they are apt to say whatever comes out of such a heart and mind. We cannot be surprised to see the hero as well as the villains in this account getting in trouble through their words. Back at the very beginning of Judges eleven, the Gileadites foolishly speak words rejecting Jephthah because of his unseemly origins (11:2). They would eventually have to eat those impetuous words (11:7-8). The events involved in turning back the Ammonite oppression would lead to words with deadly consequences!
Jephthah spoke reckless and rash words (11:30-31). On the one hand, his vow demonstrates a faith in God that made him throw all caution to the wind. He so desperately wanted victory over God’s enemy that he vowed to sacrifice the first living thing that passed through the door to meet him. While many ancient cultures, including Israel, frequently kept livestock in their houses (cf. 2 Sam. 12:3), Jephthah at least ran the risk that it would be a loved one or at least a servant who met him upon his return. Yet, in apparent passion, he vowed to offer whatever it was as a burnt offering to the Lord. God did not ask for or expect human sacrifice; in fact, His strongest words of condemnation were reserved for false worship that included it (Deut. 12:31; 2 Ki. 17:17; Jer. 7:31). God granted this deliverer victory and upon his return home, his only child, a daughter, came out to greet him celebrating his great victory (34). Both the daughter and her father understood the absolute seriousness of his vow (Num. 30:2; Ecc. 5:4-5). There was no breaking it, so Scripture says he “did with her according to his vow that he had made” (39). How many words have been spoken in the heat of passion, anger, or zeal that were not carefully thought through and went on to hurt God, ourselves, and others? How many promises have been made that proved costly to keep? We ought to taste our words, chewing on them before we say them, to make sure they are words thoughtfully and wisely spoken. Otherwise, they may prove to be bitter!
The Ephraimite spoke words that betrayed them (12:5-6). This started with their threatening and taunting speech, viciously (and apparently dishonestly, 12:2-3) accusing Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire” (12:1). They also insulted the Gileadites, whom Jephthah led, calling them “fugitives” rather than brethren (12:4). The Gileadites took control of the Jordan River, monitoring all who sought to cross it. Any Ephraimite who tried to cross, they killed. In the end, they killed 42,000 Ephraimites. How could they distinguish them from everyone else? Their speech. The Ephraimites’ speech led to their downfall. They could not pronounce “Shibboleth.” They said “Sibboleth.” It was literally a dead giveaway! What about our speech, on the job, at school, at home, or out with our friends? Do those words proclaim to others that we are followers of Christ, or do we sound just like the world? We are wise to listen to Jesus’ words of warning about our words: “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Mat. 12:34-37). We don’t need anybody’s affirmation or approval so badly that we would neglect this warning!
Those of us who are prone to think out loud or practice “ready, fire, aim” with our speech do well to remember Jephthah and the Ephraimites. Let’s watch our words. Let’s make sure they are pure and profitable, not poor and pitiful!
Even as God is thinning out the population of the faithless wanderers, He’s readying the up and coming generation for the daunting task of conquest. The Lord saw it necessary to get Israel to number “whoever is able to go out to war in Israel” (2). “Numbers” refers to this task of counting the people at God’s prompting.
WHO DID THE NUMBERING (1-4). Eleazar The High Priest was tasked with this duty. Verse one connects this with the foregoing plague (25:9).
WHO WAS NUMBERED (5-61). The twelve tribes, here called “the sons of Israel” (4b), who came out of Egypt are the subjects of this census. Reading through, there are a couple of notable sidebars.
First, the Reubenites were missing the sons of Eliab (Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram, who were swallowed up by the earth). The sons of Korah did not die, and they would pen some of the Psalms (9-11).
Second, the Manassehites included Zelophehad, who had only daughters (including one named Noah). God provided for the unusual, allowing the daughters to have an inheritance (ch. 27; Josh. 17:1-4)(33).
The total number of the sons of Israel were 601,730. Therefore, the children of Israel continued to have families and grow them while sojourning through the wilderness. They were replacing the tens of thousands of Israelites who died or were struck dead by God for their disobedience.
HOW THE NUMBERING WAS UTILIZED (52-65). The land would be divided according to the number of names, with larger groups getting more and smaller groups getting less (53-54). The land would also be divided by lot (55-56), with God choosing where each tribe would settle within Canaan. The Levites would not receive a land inheritance in a specific geographical region (62), living in 48 cities throughout the promised land instead of (35:1-8). Only Caleb and Joshua, of their generation, would live to go in and conquer Canaan.
This day must have been exciting, but also sobering. An entire generation was prevented from conquering because they refused to do what God said. But out of this spiritual refinery, the next generation was more ready to conquer than ever. They did not carry the emotional, spiritual, and social baggage of Egypt, and they had been made ready to accept what God promised.
On the surface, Balaam seems like the great prophet Micaiah who once told wicked Ahab, “What the Lord says to me, that I shall speak” (1 Ki. 22:14; see Num. 23:26; 24:13, for example). But, three different New Testament writers make clear that Balaam was wicked. “He loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Pet. 2:14). He “rushed headlong into error” (Jude 11). He “taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality” (Rev. 2:14).
Balak has hired Balaam to curse Israel. What happens is incredible. You can almost see his giddiness as Balaam instructs him to build him seven altars and they sacrifice (25:1-3), then watch his expression change when Balaam speaks. But, though God is fighting for them, Israel will find a way to fight against themselves. Notice.
BALAAM’S FIRST PROPHECY (at Bamoth-Baal) (23:1-12)–Israel will flourish and grow
BALAAM’S SECOND PROPHECY (at the top of Mt. Pisgah) (23:13-24)–Israel will defeat all its enemies
BALAAM’S THIRD PROPHECY (at the top of Peor) (23:25-24:9)–Those who bless Israel will be blessed; Those who curse Israel will be cursed
BALAAM’S UNPROMPTED DISCOURSE (24:10-24)–He prophesies of the destiny of God’s enemies’ destruction and a possible Messianic Prophecy (24:17; “The Qumran sectarians interpreted this passage as having Messianic import, as did other Jewish sources of the period between the mid-second century b.c. and the first century a.d” (Cole, NAC, 426). He curses the Amalekites, the Kenites, and Assyrians.
BALAAM’S IMPLIED INFLUENCE (25:1-18)–Here is where New Testament passages help us understand that Balaam was trying his best to curse Israel and get Balak’s honor and money. Also note Numbers 31:16, where Moses blames Balaam for this sin. Also see Deuteronomy 23:5 and Joshua 13:22 and 24:10. There, it appears Balaam is advising Balak on how to seduce Israel. Apparently, Israel engages in full scale idolatry and sexual immorality with “the daughters of Moab.” It is urgent that Israel not only desist from this, but punish the guilty. 24,000 Israelites die as the result of this wickedness. Phinehas, Aaron’s grandson, is praised by God for his zeal in defending God’s honor on this horrible occasion. Apparently, they also slaughtered Balaam on this very occasion, too (31:8).
I encourage you to read these three chapters, rich with details and some excellent points and ideas (God is not a man, that He should lie–for example). Balaam knew God’s Word. But even after hearing it, he hoped it would be something different. He knew the right answers, but it didn’t seem to truly penetrate and affect his own heart. How tragic to know and even tell others the truth, then fail to internalize it and let it guide your own life (1 Cor. 9:27).
With Israel’s wilderness victories, word begins to travel and new enemies began to emerge. The Moabites are afraid of God’s people, and instead of trying to battle them head on they come up with an unconventional plan. King Balak, the mastermind of this plan, forgets one important factor: The One who is causing Israel to succeed.
THE PROPOSITION (1-7). The Moabites saw what Israel did to the Amorites and were afraid (1-3). Moab conspires with the Midianites (4). As part of this, Barak sends for Balaam and asks him to curse Israel (5-6). All we know of Balaam is that who he blessed was blessed, and who he cursed was cursed (6). Messengers arrive with payment and the words of Balak (7).
THE REVELATION (8-13). God tells Balaam not to curse Israel, a message he conveys to the messengers. Surely Balaam knew it would be wrong to curse Israel, and a righteous man would have spoke from that conviction. Instead, he refuses to go because God will not him. Yet, he knew for sure that God had spoken.
THE DETERMINATION (14-21). Barak sends a more impressive delegation to get him to go. The Moabites and Midianites offer to make him rich. God allows it, but only to speak what He says. Balaam saddles up his donkey to go with them. God has already spoken definitively, but he holds out hope that He would say “more” to him (19). Some will not be satisfied until they hear what they want to hear.
THE MIRACULOUS OPPOSITION AND PRESERVATION (22-36). God was angry Balaam was going. It appears Balaam wants to curse Israel though he says all the right things. Balaam’s donkey sees the Angel of the Lord and changes course. It ultimately speaks to Balaam, which incredibly does not seem odd to the prophet. Then, God allows Balaam to see the angel, who rebukes him. Balaam apologizes, offers to turn back, but is permitted to go. God will not let a covetous prophet subvert His overarching purpose.
THE PREPARATION (36-41). Barak is impatient, ready for Balaam to curse Israel. The prophet reminds the pagan king that he can only speak God’s message. The two ascend the heights of the area and look over the part of Israel that they could see, a fraction of them (41).
This text really intrigues us. We don’t fully understand Balaam’s relationship with God, his mysterious ability, or even Balaam’s true motivation and intention. He says all the right things, but there’s obviously something very different going on in his own intention and motivation. God will use this whole situation to reveal His glory, though this generation of Israel will show their true religious colors ultimately. We do know God wants us to do the right things, and He wants us to do them for the right reasons. Our motive must be His glory and our desire to submit to His perfect will, crowding out any ulterior motive that serves our fleshly desires.
Recognizing The “Big Three” Temptations In The Bible And Today
Brent Pollard
The number three is significant in many areas, reflecting its longstanding presence in human consciousness and the natural world. Often, it represents balance, harmony, and the union of opposites, making it a powerful symbol in spiritual practices. The “rule of threes” is a common phenomenon, likely due to confirmation bias, where people tend to notice and remember patterns more quickly, leading them to attribute significance to events that occur in threes.
The number three holds significant importance in religious contexts, especially in Christianity. In 1 John 2.16, John identifies three fundamental categories of temptation leading to sin: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These categories offer insight into the underlying causes of human moral struggles, with most sins attributable to one or a combination of these three factors.
This pattern of temptation is evident in several biblical narratives:
The Beguiling of Eve (Genesis 3.1–6):
Lust of the flesh: The fruit was “good for food.”
Lust of the eyes: It was “a delight to the eyes.”
Pride of life: It was “desirable to make one wise.”
The Choice of Lot (Genesis 13.10–13)
Lust of the flesh: Fertile plains to support abundant livestock.
Lust of the eyes: The appealing appearance of the land.
Pride of life: Desire for social and economic advancement near Sodom.
The Temptation of Jesus (Luke 4.1–13)
Lust of the flesh: Satan tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread.
Lust of the eyes: Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world.
Pride of life: Satan challenged Jesus to prove His divinity by jumping from the temple.
These examples show how the “big three” temptations shaped human decision-making and moral choices throughout biblical history. Recognizing these patterns allows us to understand better temptation and how it affects human behavior.
In today’s world, Christians face similar temptations in various forms. The lust of the flesh manifests itself in overconsumption, addiction, and sexual immorality (Galatians 5.16–17). The lust of the eyes manifests itself in materialism, covetousness, and the constant pursuit of the next best thing (1 John 2.15–17). The relentless pursuit of status, power, and self-importance gives rise to life’s pride (James 4.6). However, just as Jesus resisted temptation by referring to Scripture (Luke 4.4, 8, 12), modern believers are encouraged to arm themselves with God’s Word (Ephesians 6.17). They are encouraged to “flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace” (2 Timothy 2.22), remembering that God has provided a way out of every temptation (1 Corinthians 10.13). By recognizing these patterns of temptation and actively seeking God’s guidance, Christians can navigate the complexities of modern life while remaining spiritually intact.
One of the most legendary fighting forces in military history is the U.S. Army Rangers, the elite fighters of that branch of the armed forces. Their fame and lore is derived from many true stories of valor and bravery. The modern Rangers began service in World War II, though their heritage is traced back to the early 17th Century.
In World War II, Darby’s Battalion infiltrated the German lines in Sicily and wiped out nearly all of a “German parachute regiment during close in, night, bayonet and hand-to-hand fighting” (Ranger Handbook, ii). Two other Ranger battalions were in action on D-Day, landing at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, and engaged in bitter fighting that allowed the allies to breakthrough and drive inland from the beaches they invaded. There, their motto was formed, that “Rangers lead the way.” “Merrill’s Marauders,” as other Ranger units serving in the Pacific Theatre were known, were volunteers of “a high state of physical ruggedness and stamina” who were to come from jungle-trained and tested units (ibid.).
The official 75th Ranger regiment website speaks of their many attributes, like physical strength, intelligence, toughness, courage, and discipline. They state, “Rangers are self-starters, adventurers, and hard chargers” (www.goarmy.com). They are model soldiers who have it engrained in them to never quit. They are soldiers of personal excellence and character, on and off duty.
While these soldiers are among the most elite to have ever fought and died for the freedoms we enjoy, there is another group of soldiers whose mission is greater, whose character must be more outstanding, and whose potential peril outweighs all others. They are the soldiers about whom Paul speaks in Ephesians six. They fight “against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (6:12). This formidable enemy is led by none other than a devil whose schemes (6:11) have eternally defeated the majority of mankind in human history to have ever faced him. Defeating him and his forces requires divinely designed and issued armor (6:10, 13-17). Souls are in the balance, and the Lord needs us to rescue them. Eternity is what is at stake. How we live and conduct ourselves in this world spells the difference in our success and failure. Romans 12:2 urges Christians not to be conformed but be transformed. Are we being led by the world, or are we spiritually those “who lead the way”? The Lord needs nothing from us that exceeds this!
Before getting to my article, I need to make a correction to last week’s article that I didn’t catch in my hurry to submit it on time: the genitive plural of ουρανος is ουρανων (I had said ουρανους, which is accusative plural). Rookie mistake.
Everyone knows what happened last weekend. We came very, very close to some terrifying times in this country. These are some observations specific only to Christians in the aftermath of the nation’s divided response (and potential futures):
We don’t know what the future holds. While things certainly aren’t ideal (from an earthly perspective) right now, they could have been made much worse overnight. Our earthly security is not as stable as we might be tempted to think.
Earthly security is not what we’re here for. We exist to be people who model Jesus’s love as effectively as we can. External events are just details, the directive never changes.
To a Christian, these events should be considered largely irrelevant. There’s nothing wrong with being informed! It can help us mentally and emotionally prepare our response in times of crisis (cf. I Pt 3.14-17). But that’s about the extent of its value.
God installs presidents, not us (Rom 13.1, Dan 2.21). Whoever he wants in the White House will be in the White House.
We are never permitted to be ugly or hateful to our enemies (cf. Eph 4.29-31; Mt 5.43-45).
This earth is not our home (II Pt 3.7, 10-13). At least not in its current form.
As a holy nation and God’s people, our allegiance is first to Jesus (I Pt 2.9; Phil 3.20), second to whoever he decides to put in charge of our country later this year (Ac 17.26; Dan 2.21; I Pt 2.14-17; Titus 3.1, 8).
You might expect to find old relics and bits of clay shards in the sun baked earth of ancient Jerusalem— but sharks?
Oh, it happened.
“In the ancient city of Jerusalem, nestled within its landlocked confines, relics dating back 3000 years coexist with surprising companions—shark teeth from the Cretaceous period”
(Dr. Heidi Baker)
3,000 year old treasure found in the same layer as 29 types of “trillion” year old teeth would certainly contradict the secular narrative. It’s a fascinating find but shocking? Not to some of us.
EVIDENCE FOR EMMAUS
The problem is, nobody knows where Emmaus is. According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus appeared after his resurrection in a village by that name but like many other towns and cities mentioned in the Holy Canon the location of Emmaus has proven to be elusive. That is— until very recently.
A dig taking place in Kiriath-Jearim led researchers to stumble across evidence that dated later than the Maccabean revolt (167-160 BC). It became evident that this site was more significant than anybody realized. The most intriguing theory so far is that this might just be the elusive Emmaus whose ancient streets were once graced by the resurrected feet of Jesus. Time will tell and perhaps unveil some exciting new discoveries.
There had been several to die on this wilderness journey, would-be conquerors who were defeated by their sin problems. But, now, they are faced with spiritual giants who die. First, it was one then the other. Truly, the death of Miriam did not seem to hit the people nearly as hard as the death of Aaron. Aaron had some notable struggles–the golden calf, questioning Moses’ leadership, and even here at the waters of Meribah, but he was the face and voice among the people since their days in Egypt. His loss would be demoralizing to these would-be conquerors. Notice what happens on this stage of the journey.
THE PARCHED REBELS (1-13). Israel seems to pay little attention to Miriam’s death. Her death is a footnote to their worrying over water (1-2). They contend with Moses and Aaron, and blame them for all their troubles since leaving Egypt (3-5).
Moses and Aaron are so provoked by the people’s murmuring that they disobey God’s command to speak to the rock (8). They disobey Him and Moses strikes the rock instead (11).
The Lord diagnoses this problem for Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel” (12). It was a faith problem, a reverence problem, and an influence problem. It would prove especially costly for Moses.
THE PRIDEFUL RELATIVES (14-22). Afterward, Moses wanted Israel to go from Kadesh through Edomite territory. Edom refused to let them use their roads or pay for water for livestock. Edom lacked compassion (14-17) and perhaps nursed a grudge, as these were Esau’s descendants. Edom threatened force against them (20), so Israel was rebuffed. This pride problem of the Edomites will be addressed as a coming judgment against this nation in the book of Obadiah.
THE PRIESTLY REPLACEMENT (23-29). Because of Aaron’s part in the sin at Meribah, where the rock was struck, he could not go into the land of promise. God arranges for his priestly succession. His son Eleazar takes his garments and his place “in the sight of all the congregation” (27). Aaron dies, and “the people Mourned Aaron for thirty days” (29).
This wilderness journey was hard for Israel, facing physical deprivation, military opposition, and personal emotion. But the Israelites chose this route when they refused to trust God to help them conquer. We must take God at His Word and have faith that He is with us on our journey to take our promised land.
The wanderers had to continue to address their sin problem. The Lord gives an elaborate ceremony involving a red heifer, slaughtered for impurity and uncleanness. It seems strange and maybe complicated to us, but it was a continual reminder to the people of their need to do what God said to be spiritually clean. These instructions definitely highlight that.
THE PROCEDURE WAS EXACT (1-6). What? An unblemished red heifer with no defect and having had no yoke on it. Who? Eleazar the priest. Where? Outside the camp. How? Take its blood and sprinkle toward the front of the tent seven times; Its hide, flesh, and blood, with its refuse burned; The priest takes cedar, hyssop, and scarlet and cast into its midst. God leaves nothing to chance or imagination. He spells out what He wants. THE PURIFICATION PROCESS WAS EXTREME (7-17). The priest must wash his clothes and bathe, being unclean until evening. The one burning the animal had to do the same, being unclean. The gatherer of the ashes is the same as the one burning. Precise provisions for purification are made for one who touches a corse (11-13), whatever is uncovered in a room with corpse (14-15), and anyone touching a dead body in an open field (16-17). The clean must act on behalf of the unclean (18-19). THE PENALTY WAS EXPLICIT (20-22). The unclean who did not purify himself was cut off from the assembly for defiling the sanctuary (20). What the unclean touched became unclean until dealt with (21-22). God wanted them focused on the cost of contamination. What is God telling Israel? Uncleanness and defilement matters. There was God’s scientific foreknowledge, preventing the spread of disease involved in death. But there was also a spiritual picture being drawn of the distinction He draws between clean and unclean, pure and impure. That is helpful to us even today.
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