Balaam and Balak

Numbers 31:8  And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.

Numbers 31:16  Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

There’s old Balaam. I was always confused on this matter because there doesn’t seem to be any mention of Balaam being bad in Number 22,23,24. It’s not until 31:16 that it is revealed that Balaam was behind the whoredoms of Israel with the Midianite women. In fact, 31:16 seems to be the only negative verse about him in the Old Testament. (This is actually not true, Number 22:32 is negative)

The New Testament reveals a bit more:

2 Peter 2:15  Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; (16) But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

Okay so here I don’t understand the iniquity. Is the iniquity the striking of the animal? That sure would give PETA some Bible to help them out. But it’s not. It’s the fact that he going when he shouldn’t going.

So it’s go, don’t go, go, don’t go, go? I don’t understand how Balaam is supposed to know whether it’s okay to go or not. Now it does say that in Number 22:32 why the angel of the Lord was withstanding him: “because thy way is perverse before me:” So there is another negative verse in the Old Testament about Balaam.

So that gives us a hint I suppose. It’s not that he’s going. It’s why he’s going: for filthy lucre.

Jude 1:11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

See? Greedily after the error of Balaam for reward. Balak, the second time he sent for Balaam did promise to promote him unto very great honour, and will do whatsoever he said. And Balaam said correctly, “If the Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.” Sounds good, but maybe Balaam was just playing Balak. I mean three times they go through this building seven altars and preparing seven bullucks and seven rams for what? Balaam already knew he couldn’t curse Israel. And Balaam at the end tells Balak again about that house full of gold and silver. And I believe he was rewarded because in Numbers 31:8 Balaam is listed with the kings that were slain.

So back to 2 Peter 2:15. The iniquity was the perverse way; which was greed for reward; which is as Peter said that Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness. Balaam was determined to get promoted and rewarded. And we find out at the end of Numbers how he did it. Balaam gave counsel to on how get the Israelites to tresspass against the Lord.

Revelation 2:14  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

So Revelation tells us again that Balaam was behind the whoredoms of Israel because he taught Balek to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel. Balaam’s counsel was, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!”

So, there’s three things:

  1. The way of Balaam (2 Peter 2:15), which is perversion. Balaam used his relationship with God as a means of profit. I really think that Balaam was going to try to see how much he could get out of Balak.
  2. The error of Balaam (Jude 1:11), betraying God out of greed for reward. God spoke with Balaam, and Balaam conspired against God’s people.
  3. The doctrine of Balaam (Revelation 2:14), “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!” This would be doctrine of devils if it was to undermine the people of God. The main tenant I suppose of this doctrine would be “We all worship the same God.”

It’s kinda hard to seperate the way and the error. Now the doctrine is different though.

Numbers 32:4  Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle:

Texas!

Numbers 32:22  And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.

Dan, Reuben, 1/2 tribe of Manessah get their request. I’m surprised that this was allowed. I guess I’m just a legalistic jerk.

Numbers 32:23  But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Your sin will find you out. I didn’t know that this is where that came from. Sin to abandon the congregation. They had reasonable intentions, not off doing something bad, but Moses was suspicious. If they abandoned the congregation in battle, then Moses knew that it was really sin that was behind it all. Reminds me of Paul when he says to not forsake the assembling of themselves. We try to justify laying out of church. We may even try to do something religious. But Moses is right. It’s sin that is at the bottom of it when people abandon church. You don’t like that? You want a piece of me?

There was a time after bible college that we tried to make it on our own. It wasn’t right. It didn’t feel right. It wasn’t right. My view on this comes from personal experience, not a legalistic judgemental attitude that people who don’t want to go to church think that it’s coming from.

Numbers 33:8-9  And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.  (9)  And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there.

I believe Marah was the bitter water. There they murmured against Moses. They forced God’s hand to make the waters sweet by casting that tree in the water. But if they would have waited, God had 12 fountains, one for each tribe, waiting at the next stop; Elim.  This is in Exodus also. I never saw it. Exodus 15:27 “And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.”

Numbers 33:38  And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.

Signification of Aaron dying on the 40th year? Aaron was not one of the generation that would pass. Aaron was kept out because he and Moses struck the rock. Lester Roloff once said that Aaron was a worldly associate pastor!

Numbers 33:55  But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.

Deal with everything or later it will deal with you. Sin will always find you out.

Numbers 33:56  Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.

God thinks about us and makes plans for us. Isn’t that beautiful.

Numbers 34:3  Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:

Borders. I like borders. It’s not just verse 3. The next several verses establish the borders of Israel. As far as I’m concerned those borders still hold true today. I really don’t know what all the fuss is about a Palestinian state and Golan Heights and Gaza and blah blah blah. It’s Israels because God said so. I think this should be there borders today, at least.

It would be interesting to see today’s borders compared to these borders.

Numbers 34:22  And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli.

I just think it’s fun to say Bukki and Jogli. Bukki and Jogli!!!!

Numbers 35:2  Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.

Levites everywhere.

Numbers 35:11  Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.

The city of refuge.  The explanation.

Numbers 35:14  Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.

3 for 2 1/2 and 3 for 9 1/2? City of refuge type of Jesus. 1/2 of Jesus on one side of Jordan and 1/2 on the other?

Numbers 35:19  The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.

Aye yi yi

Numbers 35:25  And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.

Jesus is our high priest. He’ll never die. So we’re safe.

Numbers 35:26-27  But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;  (27)  And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:

Stay in the city. Typology. Can we get out of the city? Is the city not a type of salvation but a type to help in the Christian life? Prolly, usually is. We’ll check that out later.

Numbers 35:31  Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.

Rolling Stones? What does this mean? Don’t make friends with the murderer? Kidding. Interesting.

While we read this about the murderer and avenger of blood, Philllip went to the bathroom. When we were done, he came out and said, “I killed the roach!” He didn’t know we just read that. It was funny.

Numbers 36:1  And the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spake before Moses, and before the princes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel:

Regarding those daughters that wanted an inheritance.  Zelophedad: Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah.

Stick to you tribe.

Numbers 36:8  And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers.

Every daughter?