Daily Bible – No. 7

February 12-18, 2017

In this week’s reading, we have the bizarre story of Balaam and Balak (the king of Moab); a disappointing sin that causes the deaths of 24,000 Israelites; and, two lengthy addresses from Moses to the nation of Israel.

The nation of Israel is inching ever closer to the Promised Land, making their approach from the eastern side of the Jordan River. As they do so, they encounter the Moabites, a nation led by a king named Balak. The Moabites, who have seen the great numbers of Israel and have heard of their victories, live in great fear of God’s chosen people.

To combat their fears, King Balak asks a man named Balaam from Midian to put a curse on the Israelite nation so that he might be able to defeat them in battle. Balaam is a spiritualist or soothsayer of some sort, but God intervenes with Balaam and tells him that he should not curse Israel. Balak, however, asks again, and Balaam inquires of the Lord a second time. This leads to an interesting encounter between Balaam and a talking donkey.

We might scoff at the very idea that a donkey might talk, but God clearly shows himself to Balaam:

“Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword draw. So he bowed low and fell face down. The angel of the Lord asked him, ‘Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.'”

Number 22:31 (NIV)

Balaam confesses his sin in resisting God, and, ultimately, he blesses Israel three different times. However, the Scripture indicates that twice Balaam relied on “sorcery” to do so (Numbers 24:1). More importantly, we later learn that Balaam had encouraged the women of Moab to seduce Israelite men and encourage them to offer sacrifices to their gods.

Amazingly, many in Israel begin to worship Baal and openly engage in immorality with Moabite women. The Lord is so angry with Israel that he brings a plague upon them that kills 24,000 people. In addition, the Lord leads the Israelites to rout the five kings of Midian, and the duplicitous Balaam is killed as well.

Clearly, the story of Israel is important to Christians for a number of important reasons. None, however, are any more important than this one simple aspect of God’s covenant with Israel: there is only one God, and He alone – as the provider of deliverance and rest and provision and victory – is to be worshiped.

“If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I (Moses) testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.”

Deuteronomy 8:19 (NIV)

To ignore this simple concept in our lives is to invite disaster.