Numbers 24:1-25:18 + Luke 2:1-35 + Psalm 59:1-17 + Proverbs 11:14
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with Tom Dooley’s terrific NLT 1996 readings at this link or The ESV Bible: OT + NT + Psalms + Proverbs ~
Old Testament – Today in Numbers chapter 24 we read about Balaam’s prophecies! Verse 17 is thought to be prophetic of Jesus: “I see him, but not in the present time. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the foreheads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.” Tyndale’s commentary today suggests that the star rising from Jacob may be the prophecy that convinced the wise men to travel to Israel in search of the newborn Jesus. Here’s an image of Balaam prophesying over Israel’s camp: (and of course Balak looking horrified over this blessing that Balaam is giving)
And just when it looks like Balaam was turning out to be maybe not so bad in chapter 24… we get to chapter 25… In chapter 25 we read about Israel’s sin in worshiping Baal and their sexual immorality. What we don’t find out until Numbers chapter 31 verse 16 is that Balaam was the principal instigator of the idea of leading Israel toward this sexual sin & idolatry: “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD’s people.” Revelation chapter 2 verse 14 also refers to Balaam’s hand in the incidents that took place: “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.” Reading about these incidents in chapter 25 today – do you think people today still live in this tension of serving God versus being seduced by idols? What saves us from this tension?
Bob Deffinbaugh’s take on Chapter 25 and Balaam’s behind the scenes work is at Bible.org at this link and leads off with, “Balaam’s Advice: “If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em!”” is at this link.
New Testament – Okay, any fans out there of Charlie Brown’s Christmas Special recognize anything here from Luke chapter 2?? 🙂 Yes, indeed, Linus’ speech to Charlie Brown about the meaning of Christmas comes straight from the KJV of this chapter, Luke 2:8-14.
One thing that seems to be standing out to me quite a bit in reading Luke this year is how much Luke writes about Mary. I like how Luke gives us a little bit more of a glimpse of the mother of Jesus in his Gospel. We saw this obviously in our readings 2 days ago about the Magnificat. And then today we read about Mary listening to the shepherds’ words in verse 19: “Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.” And then in verses 34 & 35 today we read: “Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, “This child will be rejected by many in Israel, and it will be their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy to many others. Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”” This last sentence of Simeon’s seems to be the first glimpse of Jesus’ suffering and death that will come later in his life…. Here’s a nice image of Simeon holding Jesus:
Bible.org commentary on Luke chapter 2 titled “The Birth of the Messiah” is at this link, and “Acclamations of the Birth of Christ” is at this link.
Psalms – Psalm 59 has some powerful imagery of the “night of danger” in verse 14 and the “morning of deliverance” in verse 16 – “But as for me, I will sing about your power. I will shout with joy each morning because of your unfailing love.” I like that thought – shouting for joy each morning because of God’s unfailing love. I pray that in some way I “shout” for joy each morning because of God’s love. How about you? Do you in some way “shout” for joy each morning because of God?
Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 11 verse 14 teaches us today: “Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.” This is a great teaching that it is wise to seek the counsel of others! Whether it is a nation or in our own lives, this is wise advice. We can’t figure it all out on our own. We need many others in our lives to help counsel us along The Way. We certainly need the Bible to help counsel us along The Way…
YouTube: Based on my reference above to Linus telling Charlie Brown about the true meaning of Christmas in Luke Chapter 2, here’s the clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eff0cqYefYY
Do you know the true meaning of Christmas? Click here for your Christmas today!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you will treasure all of the Words of Scripture that you are reading this year and that you will often ponder the Word in your heart.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Based on our Proverb today, do you have advisers in your life today? Are there times that you try to figure things out just on your own rather than consulting advisers? Which way works better? Has the counsel of advisers in your life ever changed how you might have approached a situation on your own? If you don’t have advisers in your life, do you think you should? Where do you think you can find wise advisers these days? In church? In a small group? In a Bible study? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!
BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
Numbers 24-25:18
I hear it in the Book of Psalms, I hear it from the mouth of Jesus, I hear it from the writings of the Apostle Paul and now I hear it from the mouth of a false prophet,
Romans 8:
30 And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being].
31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] (AMP)
Why do I continue to get nervous, fret and worry when things seem to be against me and mine. Although this is about Israel, the nation, this is for Israel the Spiritual nation. God has my back. Yet I am aware that it is one thing to say it, study it in the scriptures; however it is another to get what’s being rationalized in the head to be aligned with what is going on in the heart. Ramona, hear the Words of God and BELIEVE!!
Luke 2:1-35
I don’t think that Joseph had to by law take Mary with him when he went to Bethlehem to be counted in the census. I’m not sure how a census was done in the Roman Empire, but I know that females were not counted in Jewish census. So it is all the more compelling that you would have a ninth mouth pregnant going on a trip with her husband to participate in something she was not going to be a part of. It is hard enough traveling back and forth to work, when one’s time is so near. Yet Mary traveled over rocky terrain to go with her husband. At nine months most woman don’t walk they waddle over a smooth walking surface, imagine traveling over the rocky landscape of the Middle East, of Israel 2,000 years ago.
But this was no extraordinary journey that just happened to place Mary in Bethlehem at the right time. God ordained this. But I don’t think Mary woke up one mourning and said, “Hey! Joseph is going down to Bethlehem you better go with him so you can have the Messiah in Bethlehem as foretold by the prophets.” She did this because she was led by the spirit to do this. Mike mentioned yesterday about being inconvenienced and that inconvenience being a blessing, a lifesaver, fulfilling the plan and purpose of God, through the Word of God. What a blessing!
O, to stop and take a look back at some of the detours on the way to living our lives and discovering that our life was either saved or that we only really began to live life because we were “detoured” along the way.
Psalm 59:1-17
These Psalms of David where he shares the mental anguish of being pursued and reviled by people he thought where his friends, have one thing in common: In the midst of fear, doubts, threats and weariness, David always praises God despite what’s going on all around him. A sacrifice should be something you value highly and offer up to be totally consumed. Our praise is something of value, the fruit of our lips, a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving when we don’t feel like praising and when our thoughts scream out, “You have nothing to be thankful about.”
These Psalms were surly written to be used as examples for us to see that our victory over our circumstances is not based on our mental strategies but is founded in our praise to God. Can I get an Amen??
Proverbs 11:14
A Proverb that reminds us why we need to prayer for a National Leaders, no matter how much personal integrity a leader has, it is important that they are surrounded by godly men and woman. Worldly wisdom is not enough because that wisdom is foolishness to God.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Micah Girl:
Ps 59: 11 Don’t kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons;
stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees,
O Lord our shield.
What a powerful prayer. Don’t kill ’em, Lord, stagger them with Your power! I will have to remember that.
Micah Girl
======= Karyn:
More simple this morning, the reading that I felt in my very soul has to do with Mary treasuring the things spoken to her in her soul, and the image of her sitting quietly, pondering the miracle taking place both inside her own body as well as externally in world. I remember those early days of love, when I kept silent regardng things my late husband and I shared, or the spiritual times, when a verse would leap out at me and I would bath in it before sharing it and why it meant so much to me with anyone.
It is a reminder to me to hide God’s word in my heart for those times when I need to be reminded of His great love for me, especially as a young widow and now single parent. I need to ponder His words silently, directing my mind and spirit back to them often. Great choice of readings all around today for my tired spirit!!!
Karyn
======= Edward:
Num 22:21-35 – Why did God send an angel to kill Balaam when God earlier permitted Balaam to go with the men the second time round? Balaam knew that the intentions of the princes of Moab was to ask him to curse Israel and he knew that cursing Israel will displease God but at the same time his heart was drawn to the princes and possible benefits. However Balaam still consulted God the second time even though he already knew the answer because God’s mind does not change, so God permitted Balaam to go with the princes but to speak only what God tells him to. Balaam’s heart was not right because he was more drawn to the princes rather than obedient to God. Do we seek to please men or God? Are we after material rewards from what men can offer or do we obey the voice of God. God may permit us to do as we please but it may result in destruction if we go too far out of His will. Sometimes another person to discuss is better because they may be able to see clearer or at least pray through with you, in this case it was Balaam’s own donkey that saw the danger earlier which preserved Balaam’s life.
Edward
======= Luch:
I love the way Luke writes. There is a sense of ‘this is true…this really happened.’ Last night we were regaled on TV again about the lost tomb of Jesus. I am so glad that we have a presence of Jesus that just won’t go away. You and I and the world cannot escape the Lord Jesus. His brith affected everything for the better. I went to Chatpers (canadian version of barnes and nobles) and I saw again our bookshelves sagging with books mostly good but some not so good about Jesus. He’s still in the consciousness of people. Maybe God can use OYBers to bring even greater clarity by our way of life that hopefully is the way of Jesus.
Luch
======= Ramona:
Thoughts on Today’s Reading
Unbelievers, pretenders can get a Word from God, but that doesn’t make them “righteous.” I have been given “a word” by people who I knew out right were into the occult because they were out in the street standing in front of their “palm reading” shops as I walked by. Yet, there are pretenders who operate out of what the Bible calls “familiar spirits,” spirits who know your history because they have hung ‘round your family, hiding out in the Church. They cloak themselves with the “appearance of …,” like Balaam.
Jesus called these pretenders out when he spoke this:
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV).
I am so grateful that Mike was led to create a “space” on the WEB devoted to and focused on reading through the Bible. Fully knowing God’s Word and making it a systematic study is the only way we will be able to identify the pretenders in our midst. Identifying them is truly essential for our spiritual and natural lives.
Reading the first verse of chapter 24 stunned me,
By now Balaam realized that the LORD intended to bless Israel, so he did not resort to divination as he often did. (24:1 NLT). His previous failed attempts to “curse” Israel, which turned into a blessing had been by “divination,” and everything he had stated that was recorded in the previous chapters was all true none of it was inspired by God!
In the twenty-fifth chapter, not everyone in the assembly participated in the worshiping of the gods of Moab, yet the entire assembly was tainted by the sin of a few. Jesus warned the disciples to beware of the “yeast” of the Pharisees: that small amount of “yeast” that causes the entire batch to rise. Also, note that Moab was Israel’s relatives. She was the descendents of Abraham’s nephew Lot. Do you think they approached Israel by using that blood relationship to tear down Israel’s defensives? Have you ever had a relative use “family” tradition and relationship to do something you knew God said was a sin in the name of family unity? I have and yes, I fell into the trap to keep the peace. After all this is “family.” Did I live to regret it? Yes indeed.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Emily:
Yes Ramona even the best wisdom is useless if it is not applied to life. Its not enough to read the Word of God but it must be applied to and concern your life, your relations, your work ethics, principles, issues of scial justice etc.
This brings me into an interesting contrast with Catholicism.Some Protestants are sometimes so into Catholic bashing that it beomes their logo, ”Salvation by faith and grace alone” Trouble with this is that it can be interpreted negatively, which all Christians should guard against. Epistle of James is an interesting read that emphasises the importance of works, doing good, living out your faith.
On this theme I remember a nice quote, ”Our worth is determined by the good deeds we do rather than the fine emotions we feel.”
But of course negative side of ”Works” is as useless, i.e. salvation through sacraments, confessions, alms-giving (to THE CHURCH). You know what I mean!
May God make our faith firm and give us the grace and strength to live out our faith.
Emily
======= Jenny:
hmm, Balaam is one confusing guy!.. thats all i can say.
I really like Luke, and wow, now we get to the birth of our Messiah. awesome! i cant even image the honor of being alive back in those days, to see Jesus for myself like Simeon. wow, what an amazing blessing!
In Ps v 9-10 stood out for me: “You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress. In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.”
I was kinda confused regarding v. 11, “dont kill them” then in v 13 he says: “destroy them…wipe them out.” had to get out my study bible, which said;
“The psalmist thinks that if the Lord were destroy the wicked too quickly, the lesson of God’s hatred of evil might not be impressed on the minds of the people.”
Honestly, i kinda wish i lived in a day or place where i had more persecution. we have it too easy here, which is a blessing on one hand, we have freedom to worship, but is it really a blessing? i think where there is persecution, the power of the spirit is stronger. like in muslim countries where believers in christ are persecuted so much, the nonbelievers are more apt to turn to christ because they see these martyrs who’s faith is so strong thye are willing to die for it and it stirs ppl’s hearts. I’ve had a few messages from randon ppl i dont know on myspace who mock my belief in the Lord and my reliance on Him, it really fires me up! It gives me such a zeal for God, my faith in God is strengthened so much and I feel a fire and passion for God so strongly. of course, i’m not comparing being mocked the same as real extreme persecution, but i think its an honor. So many beleivers are lukewarm in America (and i’m sure other places) bcos its deemed a “christian nation’ which we know is absolutely false! Like in Acts, the people were arrested for filling the streets with the gospel of Jesus Christ…what an honor! Mostly ppl here nowadays just tend to be of the mind, you found the way thats right for you, thats good. good for you.
well, thinking of ppl like Joseph, he was trusted and given high authority tho potapher didnt believe, he knew jospeh was wise and that God was with him. Then you have paul who was thrown into prison for his faith, singing praises, the more he was persecuted, the more fire and passon he had! I think a lot of us need more fire and passion! Not sure where that tangent came from, but, there you go! haha.
Concerning advisors, it depends on the situation whether i try to figure it out on my own (seeking the lord of course) vs going to others. i do have trusted advisors, my dad, my best friend, my other godly friends who are rooted in the word, my aunt, etc. i have spoken with pastors over issues…it depends on the issue.
Its funny bcos i will often call my best friend for advice for an issue and as i’m telling her the issue and seeking her advice, i hear myself saying it and the Lord speaks to me through my own words…just recently i was upset over something, called her up, was explaining the situation and while i was, God already revealed my heart to me! So i knew the right thing to do before she even said anything.
but if its a larger issue, i will solicit counsel from ppl who are firmly established in the word, who know scripture and are unbiased (not gonna just favor with me cause i’m their friend, but are gonna favor with the Lord!), who know not to tell me wat they think i want to hear. what i need to hear is the truth! I want to be told when I’m wrong! i really do! i find very few ppl who will! ppl are scared of hurting me, but i cherish the wounds of a friend if it is from God’s wisdom they speak. (not from their flesh…if its from the flesh, i wont receive it, i can tell the difference). My dad is one…he wont ‘spare’ me feelings, he’ll tell me when i’m out of line and i need that!! we all do! theres my other tangent today, haha.
I’m loving Gods word, cant wait for the next readings. Praise God!!!
Jenny
======= Mae:
Hi Everybody,
I have a busy weekend coming up; we’re going preaching the Gospel on the streets tomorrow (wooh hoo!!! Pray for us!!!), followed by a great evening in church hosted by our brothers and sisters from Breda and Sunday is a special day when my husband and parents will be baptised, praise the Lord for that!
So … preperation is needed, I’m busy right as we speak. I only have the afternoon, cause tonight we have the Bible study at my house … sooooooooooo … I’m going now!
I will be doing the readings, but it’s just too busy to take time to sit behind my computer and comment.
Have a wonderful weekend everybody!!!
In Christ,
Mae
======== Skip:
Wow…I can’t believe that I’m the only one to post today!
Several versus stood out to me today. The first is Numbers 24:9, “…Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you.” I can’t help to think about how the United States has always backed Israel and how much we as a nation have been blessed. It bothers me that some of our leaders are now talking about not backing Israel. Don’t they know that if we do not back Israel; we will no longer be blessed? I fear what will happen in this country the day we no longer support Israel. Our nation is in bad shape with His blessing. What will it be like without it?
Psalm 59:9-10, 17 also stood out. 9 You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress. 10 In his unfailing love, my God will stand with me. He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies.” I find myself pray more often for Jesus to rescue me from this world. I truly feel as if I don’t belong here and actually I don’t. I belong to Jesus and therefore I am not of this world. His unfailing love does stand by me and in the end I know that He will let me look down in triumph on all my enemies. Versus 17 O my strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love. I praise God for being my refuge in this world and for always loving me, know matter what.
Luke 2:34-35 has always stood out to me. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35 As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul. Jesus has caused many to fall and He has been a wonderful joy to others, including me. I don’t know how people live without Jesus in their life? When you read the newspapers and watch the news there are so many people opposed to Christianity. There are so many false teachings out there and what is very sad is that so many people are so ignorant of the Word that they believe anything they hear or anything that makes them feel good. I pray that God will allow me to spread the Word to others and to bring many to follow Him. But I find that I’m not very good at doing that so all I can do is to try to live like Christ and pray that other people notice it and mimic me.
Yours in Christ
Skip
======= Elizabeth:
Hello,
Just checking in to say that I am STILL in Numbers 15–not Leviticus, as I said the other day ; ) I guess was having Leviticus flashbacks!!
Anyway, been a rough handful of days here. Just hanging on to Him,
Elizabeth
======= Chris:
9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said.
It’s been a wonderful day meditating on these words. I think of how Moses’ face shone when he was in the presence of the LORD, and wonder how the shepherds may have looked as “the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them” … once they got over their terrified feelings, that is. I doubt I’d be able to stand in the presence of His glory … and the joy would go from ear to ear.
Chris
======= Steve:
Numbers 24:1-25:18
Numbers Chapter 24 and 25 are powerful chapters outlining God’s unchangeable faithfulness and mans fickleness and proneness to wander. See Mikes link to the commentary by Bob Deffinbaugh, it’s a great read. Here we see the two main characters (Phinehas and Balaam) and they are as different as night and day. Balaam is a prophet that knows much about God but doesn’t actually intimately know God and Phinehas who is a faithful godly man that knows God intimately.
Balak (King of the Midianites) is rich and powerful and he offers Balaam great wealth if he can successfully curse the Israelites because he knows God is their strength and if he can somehow drive a wedge between them and God then he can destroy them. Balaam wants the reward but can’t curse the Israelites because he realizes that God is protecting these people from harm from any outsiders. Finally Balaam comes up with a plan in which he can curse the Israelites and get his reward. Knowing that God is faithful and protecting the Israelites from outsiders he devises a plan to attack the Israelites from the inside by using the Moabite women to seduce the Israelite men sexually by enticing them into worshipping other gods though sexual rituals.
This is why Christ said that it only takes a little leaven to leaven the whole lump. The attack on the Israelites launched by Balak and Balaam was so subtle that it crept in and like yeast it just grew until its presence got bigger and bigger right under the noses of the Israelites. No one stepped up as a leader to put a stop to the sin which was being tolerated until Phinehas stepped out of the shadows and lead the Israelites away from their compromised morals.
I love going through the bible with a daily reading plan, it keeps me aware of my own softness to sin and makes me realize that I need to be like Pinehas, step out of the shadows and take action against the sin in my own life.
I loved this quote by Bob Deffinbaugh “Immorality is deadly, so let us deal with it as a deadly disease. Let us not pamper it or protect it, but let us root it out with all diligence.”
Steve
======== Frederick:
Numbers 24:1
1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.
Why Balaam turned his face toward the wilderness? Wasn’t it because he knew God would bless Israelites and so he turned toward the wilderness so that God’s words did not fall on him to bless the Israelites?
Frederick
======= Billy:
Thanks Mike !! I’m a huge fan of Linus’s speech in Charlie Brown’s Christmas. How wonderful !! Praise the Lord !!
Billy
======= Duane:
Sad,but true, I believe ther have been times where I avoided wise council in order to do what I wanted. I knew in my heart that what I was wanting was wrong, yet I continued down that road. Believe me I paid a heavy price for going agaist the council of God. The scripture yesterday, revealed to me how I need a talking donkey in my life.Jesus prayed,”Father ,not my will but your will be done”. When we examined whats really in our hearts, sometimes you may not like what you see. But thats whats grat about God’s word, it reveals the innermost workings of the real you, and God is wanting to lead us out into the place where we ulimately trust and obey .
Duane
======= Janet:
A couple years ago, someone (probably heard it on my local Moody Christian radio station) pointed out a really cool thing in Linus’ speech to Charlie Brown. As he is quoting from Luke:
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”
Now get this: when he says “Fear not” he lets go of his security blanket! Go ahead, go back and watch and see!
Amazing isn’t it?
I think that is just so great!
I’m pretty sure that was planned on purpose. There are other scenes featuring Linus’ blanket to also ponder.
I love the fact that millions (believers and non-believers) have watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas” every year since 1965. 1965! (my eighth year on earth and it would be at least 8 more years until I got to see A Charlie Brown Christmas in color). I have never heard any complaints about this program being aired, despite the fact it includes Christian scripture. Yay for Charles Schulz! YAY for JESUS!
Now, I personally really need to work on letting go of the importance of so many earthly things and truly surrender myself to the Lord. Nobody ever said claiming Jesus as Lord and Savior would be easy. There is surely something to that camel-going-through-the- eye-of-a-needle passage.
OK, since we didn’t get a song today (got Linus’ clip instead, which is totally a good thing) here’s one:
https://youtu.be/rBZiPRPogn0?si=OeQ7BgIWytEVuEGV
Janet
========= Joyce:
Mike,
Thank you for sharing in yesterday’s reading in Numbers that: “A donkey laying down and starting to talk is inconvenient to Balaam. But, this talking donkey saved Balaam from an angel with a sword in hand that Balaam could not see… perhaps ‘inconveniences’ in our life today are saving us from a bad situation.”
In today’s reading in Luke 2:1-35, as Ramona shared, for Mary to travel with Joseph to Bethlehem, when she is about to give birth, would be an ‘inconvenience’.
Not to mention, that while at Bethlehem, there was no lodging available for them – another inconvenience.
Yet, Ramona, like you said, all these inconveniences were fulfilling the plan and purpose of God. So they are actually blessings! How true.
How easy it is for us to feel frustrated at inconveniences.
It’s a blessing to be reminded that God’s good purposes may be behind them.
Sincerely,
Joyce
======= Pat:
I’ll share something with you that you who don’t live in KY might not know even though it was touched on in the national news. An elementary school in Johnson County put on the Charlie Brown Christmas play but banned the line “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ, the Lord.” because of its desire to separate church and state which the law requires. This so enraged the parents and community that when it came time for that line the student paused and members of the audience stood up and shouted it. Our General Assembly is now in session and they have already passed a law which will allow schools to put on plays such as this in its entirety without leaving out lines that may have a religious emphasis. I’m so proud of the people in Johnson County and our General Assembly for standing up and taking the action that they did!
Pat
======= Robert:
Luke 2:1-38
Every time I read this scripture by Luke I get reminded of the manger. Luke says it 3 times to suggests its importance. A manger was primarily used for the livestock to come and eat from. In the same way the Lord is represented for us to come and receive nourishment.
Our church has tried to do an outdoor live nativity play every year for about the last 20 years. We have preformed in -40 to it raining cats and dogs. This weather always sheds a new perspective of that remarkable event. Afterward everyone gathers in the church for hot chocolate and sing-a-long. That warmth and fellowship spreads nicely into the community. The only thing stopped us this year was Covid. (Another perspective!).
Robert
======= Mitch:
OT – Balaam could not curse Israel (God would not allow those words in his mouth), and in the end prophesied the end of the different “ites”. BUT according to 2Peter, Jude, and Revalation – Balaam did offer up a plan to disrupt the Israelite contingent. His plan was send in the pagan women, let them bring food (more varied than manna), and get Israelites to worship false god (Baal). Why did Balaam do this – maybe to protect his life and/or to keep the treasure he was paid.
It worked. Why? Because the pleasures of the world are a temptation to us all, and some (if not many) will succumb. In the end, at this judgment by God – 24,000 died. About 1% of the camp. In America that 1% would be about 3 Million people. It would shake us up, as I am sure it shook up the Israelites.
NT – Three things:
– Luke says more about Mary than other gospels. Why? Probably because she was one of the witnesses Luke interviewed before writing Gospel.
– Angels did not sing before the shepherds – the Greek word is “lego” meaning “said” these things.
– Mary went with Joseph because in her village/town she was not viewed kindly. They ended up living in Bethlehem, fled to Egypt, and settled in out of the way Nazareth (not their home town) a place Joseph could work out of as Roman building projects were going on nearby.
My ?: The shepherds told all the people what angels said – they were amazed? For how long? They seemed to forget about this Messiah pretty quickly. My take is just like today the news cycle passed. Go by and look at this baby every day, and nothing special happens. BORING! Let’s move on – NEXT! Do we do that – get hyped over Jesus for a period of time, nothing much happens, and we just move on to a different idol?
Mitch
======= Dee:
I love the sweet Charlie Brown story! That is what it’s all about! The gospel! The Savior of the World! I do have advisors, I seek the Lord, I trust in the Holy Spirit, my pastor, my husband, a former headmaster at a school I worked at, a dear mama friend. Many God has given me to lead, guide me and help me in this journey I call life and I am forever grateful!
Be blessed
Dee
======= John:
Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” NIV
I had always thought this to be ‘peace on earth and good will to men’.
Which seems to have come from the KJV. I think the NIV and other translations are closer.
Bob Deffingbaugh says:
“In men of good pleasure (His)” “Good pleasure” is eudokia and means “good will, favor.” It developed two significant uses: (1) favorable and sovereign disposition, grace, unmerited favor, and (2) will, volition or freedom of choice. The Arminian would stress “will, volition, human responsibility,” and the Calvinist the sovereign disposition of God’s grace. Of course Scripture teaches both.
God has chosen, in His Son, to provide peace, salvation in men. What kind of men? Men of His good pleasure. Those who have responded to and received His grace work in Jesus Christ.
http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=982
There is certainly not “peace on earth”, unless it is the peace brought to one by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. It is the peace – that you are no longer at war with God (referred to in Romans). It is also the calmness of heart that comes with knowing you are one in the Body of Christ.
In that case the non-KJV translations make more sense in that the people who experiance that are “believers” – the ones who find favor with God.
John
======= John:
Numbers 24
So far Balaam seems to be doing OK. He keeps blessing Israel. Can a non-believer speak with words from the Lord? Judas certainly acted in the power of the Holy Spirit granted by Christ, and Caiaphas in John 11:49-52 also spoke the divinely inspired Words of God.
Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
“He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.
So, it is not a given here that Balaam is a believing prophet of God.
======================================================
Again Balaam blesses Israel – and before heading home throws in some bonus oracles, which were pretty damning to the Moabites and their crew. So everybody parts company.
But Balaam comes up with another idea. If I can’t get God to curse them – maybe we can get the Israelites themselves to anger God.
Rev 2:14 says it most clearly –
“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.” NIV
Also Num 31:16
“They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD’s people.” NIV
[also referenced in Jude and 2Peter2:15]
So it is pretty clear the strategy of the Moabites in Numbers25 had its origin and instructions from Balaam. Why did Balaam do this? Balaam knew firsthand how God felt about the tribes, and he knew the curses from God that fell on those that tried to curse God’s people.
Balaam’s heart was not right and never was – Balaam wanted the wealth, glory and power. Judas wanted a revolt against the Romans – neither cared of the consequences to God’s people or to God Himself. It was about them. The result of Balaams advice we will see in Num 25, and the result to Balaam?
Num 31:8b
“They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.”
‘What good does it do to gain the world and lose your soul’.
You do not try to destroy God’s people or betray God without consequences – both Balaam and Judas found that out – but too late for their souls.
John
======= John:
Numbers 25
Balaam’s plan: Use the attractive Moabite Women to invite the Israelite men to dinner and to worship with them. “worship” of these pagan gods involved sexual orgies right under the cliffs where Balaam had given a blessing on Israel.
[NOTE: The parallel between the forst generation of Israelites and the second. The first generation worshipped the golden calf and were in naked revelry at the foot of Mt. Sinai. the second generation was falling into the same pattern – man is corrupt – and easily prey to enticements of the world – (chosen or not).]
God got mad.
(Hosea 9:10) “When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your fathers, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.
His instructions are a point of controversy. If God instructed Moses to have the leaders of tribes killed – Moses did not do that. Is that why God acted with a plague? Because Moses disobeyed or watered down God’s instructions??? There is no starting point indicated – but the “weeping of the “whole” congregation must be related to the plague – where 24,000 died.
======================================================
Phineas
It was so bad that Zimri – the son of a leader brought a Midianite woman, Cozbi, right past the whole assembly of Israel to his families tent. In fact it was not the whole assembly as Zimri’s family was apparently in the tent.
Phineas got a spear and killed the two with one thrust – they were close to each other. By the act of one man, Israel was spared the continuance of the plague. (By the act of one man, Jesus, we can be spared eternal death.) By the shedding of blood – atonement was made before God – and the plague stopped. (By the shedding of Christ’s blood we are given the opportunity to have eternal life.)
Phineas, for his zeal for God and his act of atonement for Israel would receive a “lasting priesthood” for Phineas and his descendants. (Christ who zealously undertook the plan of God for man’s salvation and made atonement for the world is our everlasting High Priest.)
Once Israelites are atoned for, God turns His attention to the instigators. He instructs Moses to wage war on the Midianites (as they were in with the Moabites in Balaam’s plan.)
======================================================
“One last thing I have not mentioned. Standing behind Balaam and his plan to destroy the covenant was Satan. And, Satan tries to do the same thing today that he did with Israel. Satan, in other words, still lures and tempts and entices and seduces with the sins of the flesh. Satan still tries to destroy the people of God.
But, we don’t have to fear. We don’t have to fear because we have someone stronger and better than Phinehas. That someone is the Lord Jesus. In shedding His own blood He made atonement once for all times for all sins.” – Rev. Adrian Dieleman – Trinity Christian Reformed Church
John
======= Vance:
TO CONTROL OR NOT TO CONTROL: THAT IS THE QUESTION
Numbers 24 (NKJV)
1
Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, HE DID NOT GO AS AT OTHER TIMES, TO SEEK TO USE SORCERY, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2
And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
Note the meaning of the following words from the Miriam Webster online dictionary:
SORCERY: “the use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits especially for divining.”
Sorcery is related to the word Necromancy. NECROMANCY: “conjuration of the spirits of the dead for purposes of magically revealing the future or influencing the course of events.”
~~~
In today’s “modern” society, it might be easy to think that there is no way that what Balaam did connects with what people do today.
Yet, spiritism, occultism, New Age philosophy, witches, and warlocks are on the rise in American society as they have been in Europe for many years.
Even if no one reading this is directly involved in any of these precise activities, note that Balaam was trying to influence the Lord—to gain control over the Lord—through sorcery.
How many times have you and I, deep inside, wanted to control life and to control God (not that this is possible) so we could have the life which we consider “the perfect life”?
The issue of control is rooted in fear. Yet, the key issue of the Christian faith is not trying to keep or gain control. Rather, the Lord Jesus requires precisely GIVING UP CONTROL.
Matthew 10 (NKJV) – Jesus speaking
34
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;
36
and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’[ quoting Micah 7:6 ]
37
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38
And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
NOTE:
The Lord Jesus requires that we give up control to find life. The “seed” analogy seems to have been a favorite picture that Jesus used. A seed, if it refuses to die as a seed will never become the tree that God planned.
In order to God’s full purposes to occur—and for the fullness of what you and I were meant to be to happen—we must die to ourselves. Jesus must be first. Our love for the Lord Jesus should be that even others in our families are jealous of our love for the Lord, so that BY COMPARISON our deep love for family appears like hate when placed next to our love for the Lord.
The rich young ruler was given the same choice. He, like many of us, chose to keep the “control” of having money as his security. Yet, the Lord Jesus told Peter what would have happened if the rich young ruler—or any one of us—would have gained by giving up human control.
Giving up our controls ENABLES US TO HAVE THE RICHNESS OF GOD’S BLESSINGS—in this life and in the next. And, of course, people will not like our bright shining love for Jesus, and they will persecute us for it.
Following the Lord Jesus will truly cost us everything—but loving the Lord Jesus will truly enable us to have everything of God’s best for us.
See Jesus’ response to Peter after the rich young ruler kept his “control”.
Mark 10 (NKJV)
28
Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
29
So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30
who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.
31
But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Vance
