Nu 23: no curse but a plan

      Balaam’s understanding about God progresses through the course of the Numbers account. In 22:13, after God speaks to Balaam, Balaam refers to God as “the LORD,” or hwhy Y@hovah. In 22:18, after his second meeting with God, he now calls him “the LORD my God,” or hwhy Y@hovah Myhla 'elohiym.

       In 22:34, Balaam acknowledges he has sinned.

       34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

       He offers to turn around at this point, but in verse 34, the angel of the LORD tells him to go with the men.

       In chapters 22 and 23, a pattern ensues of Balak bringing Balaam to various sites, their offering of sacrifices, God giving Balaam a word and Balaam blessing and prophesying over Israel.

       In church circles, we quote some of these verses, such as 23:19.

            19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

       In 24, there is a particularly beautiful Messianic prophesy. In the Manasquan High School symphonic choir, we sang part of this verse in an arrangement by Felix Mendelssohn.

       17 a I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel....

       In chapter 24, Balaam continues to understand God a little more.

       24:1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek [harq qir'ah] for enchantments [vxn nachash], but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

       Balaam usually divined to get his information. In 24, however, he realizes that it pleases God to bless Israel. He looks over Israel and experiences the supernatural in a different way. Instead of seeking after enchantments, the spirit of God comes upon him. He blesses and prophesies once more.

       Balak’s ‘aph is kindled against Balaam. He is so angry that the Bible notes his physical action. He tells Balaam he’d better flee (run for his life?).

       Here’s one place where I need a Hebrew scholar. In response, Balaam says,

       24:14 And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

       Throughout the Old Testament, there is the phrase that someone “was gathered unto his people.” It means someone died. Verse 14, however, uses a different verb. At first I thought it meant Balaam was resigned to die at Balak’s hand, so he was going to continue prophesying anyway. But maybe he was simply saying, “Well, before I go, just one last thing.”

       Whether Balaam thought he was about to be killed should make no difference to one’s theology. It does, to me, though. I’m not excusing Balaam’s sin. I am, however, looking for real people with real motivation and real growth.

       We live in a very real world where very real people hate and want to annihilate Israel. If I, a professing Christian, had to stand in front of a furious king, would I continue to bless Israel? Food for thought.

       Balaam then prophesies over the neighboring peoples. Then he goes home.

       That’s it? That’s all?

       Something happens between 24:24 and 24:25. Instead of fleeing [xrb barach], Balak just goes [Kly yalak]. Why, after all the blessing and prophesying against Israel’s enemies, does Balak simply let Balaam go?

       Our answer is in Revelation 2.

       12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

          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.

       Revelation 2:14 tells why Balak let Balaam go. Balaam gave Balak a way to cause the Israelites to curse themselves! He taught him to throw [ballw ballo] a stumblingblock [skandalon skandalon]. (The skandalon initially was a trigger for a trap. It also came to mean something to cause stumbling or falling.)

       Putting this information into the Balaam account:

         25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.

 25:1 And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.

       Just when I was hoping Balaam really understood God and his ways, Balaam uses that understanding to set up Israel’s downfall.

       Enter Phineas.

Nu 22: Decisions, decisions

       Three times the donkey stopped, three times Balaam beats her and then the LORD first opens her mouth and then opens Balaam’s eyes. He sees the angel of the LORD. The angel of the LORD explains:

       32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: 33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.

       Balaam’s way [Krd derek] is perverse [jry yarat]. It is interesting that the angel of the LORD says that it was the donkey’s action that kept Balaam alive and that the angel of the LORD would have saved her alive [hyx chayah] anyway. I don’t know what (if any) inferences to draw from this; I just find it interesting.

       At what point did Balaam’s way become perverse? When does error become colossal failure? Many times scripture illustrates a pattern of poor decisions. If you look at the account, there are several times Balaam could have chosen a different action. Keep this in mind when you find yourself in what seems like a cascade of events and worsening choices. Had Balaam exercised wisdom and obedience, at several points in time, he may have avoided folly and judgment. 

       Balak, king of Moab sent messengers to Balak. They carried the “rewards of divination [Moq qecem]” with them. Balaam speaks with them and invites them to stay the night. One might argue he should never have let them stay, but custom probably dictated that he do this, so I won’t fault him there. In verse 8, it appears that he doesn’t know that God will forbid cursing Israel.

       8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

       In verse 9, God comes to Balaam. God forbids Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam sends them off. So far, so good.

       In verse 15, Balak sends a more impressive company and bigger promises. What does Balaam say? “Not for a million bucks.” {My paraphrase.}

       Culturally, is this an indicator of willingness to bargain? (Note to my sister EJ: if you can find out, PLEASE let me know!) I once heard some “specialist” on a daytime talk show say that if someone says, “Not for a million bucks,” that this indicates the person might be, well, venal.

       Having said this, however, I remind myself of my personal rule when I write about biblical people: unless the Bible actually says that someone is evil, I give them the benefit of the doubt. I believe Balaam was a real person, so I dare not accuse him unjustly.

       What we do know is how scripture summed up his motivation:

       2Pe 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;

         Jude 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.

       The Bible says that Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness and that other people have run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward. Balaam [agapaw agapao]-ed the wages of unrighteousness. He welcomed, entertained, was fond of and loved dearly the wages [misyov misthos] of unrighteousness [adikia adikia].

       By the time Balaam gets to Balak, he has had three chances to pay attention to the frightened donkey. Balak brings him to place after place to curse Israel.

       Do you see the places where Balaam could have stopped and changed his direction? How was Balak so persuasive? Did Balaam fear Balak? Did he feel trapped at this point? Scripture doesn't say. Speculation about Balaam doesn't necessarily provide application for my life. Or does it?

       I can think of times that I have been tempted to do what I knew wasn't right. The temptations seemed relentless. Thankfully, the Bible gives believers two iron-clad promises.

First,

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Second,

Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

      God is faithful. Take heart and make right decisions. Don't let a history of bad decisions prevent you from making good ones now.

      Shalom.

Red strain among the white

This is the first time I have seen such a completely pink -- and hot pink, at that -- strain of white clover. Normally you may see white clover with some pink tips or pink flowerlets at the base. Seeing this, however, left me grinning for days. While out walking, I saw the white clover getting progressively pinker and pinker until I saw a whole plant that rivaled its red clover neighbors. As I walked further, the pigment disappeared and went back to white.
There is much I don't know about the world. This mystery is a prime example. Is it a mutation? Is it a manifestation of a recessive gene? Is it a cross pollination with the red clover? I don't think it is cross pollination, because the two types (T. repens and T. pratense) have several differences, from leaf shape to flower shape to flavor of nectar (yes, I have sampled them). I didn't sample this hot pink one, though. I don't want to interfere if it is something genetically important.
For the skeptic, here is a sampling of what I saw. First, white clover.

Then more white clover with pink.

And more pink.

Here's a red clover.

Here's the red strain of white clover to give you an idea of size.

To all you backyard naturalists, stay curious!

Nu 22: Balaam is persuaded

       Among traditional Sunday school stories, Balaam’s talking donkey isn’t necessarily as popular as Noah’s ark or Jonah and the whale. To the teenage/youth group mind, (at least to my youth group at the time), the pun of a “talking ass” brought a range of reactions from snickers to shame.

       Soooo, let’s get it out of the way. Balaam had a talking ass. 

       There. Now that you’re done with the snickers or shame, we may continue.

       The Hebrew, by the way, is Nwta 'athown, a she-ass or she-donkey. It comes from a word implying a sense of patience.

       To recap Numbers 22, King Balak fears the Israelites and tries to hire Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam says no, then finally gives in.

       When rereading this passage, I noticed that the writer refers to God as Myhla 'elohiym and Balaam refers to God as hwhy Y@hovah. In contrast, the bulk of Numbers refers to Y@hovah rather than 'elohiym. I took a cursory glance at commentaries about this. Some think this points to a writer other than Moses. Although a cerebrally interesting point, this idea that another writer may have written these chapters doesn’t detract from the authenticity of the account. (For example, Moses wrote the bulk of the Pentateuch, but Deuteronomy also records that Moses died. It’s pretty safe to assume that someone other than Moses contributed in at least that part of Deuteronomy. It changes no theology and it doesn’t negate the authenticity.)

       In verse 9, 'elohiym comes to Balaam and asks who are the men who have come to see Balaam.

       For those of us who have heard a lot of sermons, we have learned that when God asks a person something, God already knows the answer. He seems to ask us so that we ourselves realize the answer.

       After Balaam answers, 'elohiym says, “Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.”

       Balaam sends Balak’s men away; Balak sends more honourable [dbk kabad] men to offer greater reward to Balaam. Like before, Balaam asks them to stay the night in case Y@hovah has something to say.

       'Elohiym comes to Balaam again. This time God says to go with them. Then in verse 22, 'elohiym’s anger is kindled [Pa 'aph +hrx charah] against Balaam because he went.

       This is why it has taken me a couple weeks to write about Numbers 22. Why would God tell Balaam “no,” then “yes,” then get angry? I brought it up at a bible study last week. At face value, it looks like God set Balaam up for failure.

       I know in my “knower” certain things about God. One thing is that God is good, without hidden motives.

         1Jo 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

       Like Graham Cooke, I can say that God is the kindest person I know.

       I also know that I don’t have everything figured out. My friends in the bible study reminded me that I don’t need to have everything figured out. They are absolutely right. If something in scripture seems to contradict what I know about God, then the difficulty is on my part, not God’s. I will continue growing and seeking regardless of the apparent difficulty. One day I will understand. Tucked into I Corinthians 13, the “love chapter,” I read:

       9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

       I find that very encouraging to seekers like me, to seekers like you.

       My bible study friends also reminded me to see what else scripture says about Balaam elsewhere.

       2Pe 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;

         Jude 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.

         Re 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.

       Peter and Jude mention Balaam’s greed. It was Balaam who had a hidden motive, whether he himself realized it at the time. We’ll get to the reference in Revelation in a few chapters.

       Mighty theologians and greater than I have churned over the dichotomy of free will, God’s sovereignty and passages such as Exodus 7, in which God hardens Pharaoh’s heart. A clue is found in Romans 1. To paraphrase, if you’re “hell bent” on wickedness, you will be.

       In any case, Balaam does what he shouldn’t have done. Money talks and Balaam walks -- right into trouble.

       Until next time, Shalom.