Now that those who sinned with the women of Midian are dead, God calls for vengeance on the nation of Midian. They acted deceitfully to entice Israel away from the Lord. When the people come back from defeating the Midianites, Moses says that Balaam had advised the Midianites as to how to ensnare Israel. “Behold, these, on […]
After the people completed the Tabernacle, God told Moses to take a census. Now God calls for the recount of who is left. Two of those 20 and above remain from the first census. After 40 years in the wilderness, many plagues, and God’s judgments, the first generation to leave Egypt is gone. Eleazar, Joshua, […]
The king of Moab tried to get Balaam to curse Israel. It didn’t work, but Midian’s tricks aren’t done yet. They use their women to lure Israel into sin, and turn God against Israel. I won’t swear that Midian set out deliberately to entice Israel away from the Lord, but that was the result. Israel […]
Balak has sent for Balaam to have him curse Israel. Balaam’s oracles offered to the king do just the opposite. “I can only do what the Lord tells me”, says Balaam. I had always been taught that Balaam told the people of Moab how to trap the people of Israel; to get them to worship […]
We are on the road with Balaam. God said he could go to Balak, but there is a problem. A most unusual argument ensues where his donkey says “I saved you from death.” The first thing I think about when reading this story is that I would be blown away if my donkey started talking […]
