The Book of Numbers

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!

  Numbers begins with the people of Israel encamped at Sinai. God told Moses to take a census, then organize the nation  as to assign duties to different tribes and groups.  God gave regulations to help improve their lives, gave guidance, and the pillars of cloud and fire was to show He, God, was continually with them and guiding them on their journey.

  However, as many people do, they complain about where they were, (slaves) then,  now that they are freed  from slavery, they begin to complain about being in the wilderness.  Is this not so human nature?  But, then again, where and what we have been in the past often determines what we will be and do in the future.  We tend to be guided by our past experiences.  Like grandma cutting of the ends of the ham. (If you want to know that story email me separately).

   As God's covenant the people of Israel were many. They would multiply and be a great nation; and they were a huge population; in Exodus 12 it says 600,000 MEN!  Now these were men of military age who could fight; this does not include the women, children, and old men.  So, when they traveled I am sure they were as far as you could see from the East to the West.

  Now Balak, king of Moab, was fearful of this vast band of people and decided to do something about it.  So he called the prophet Balaam to curse Israel. Now, who is Balaam?  He was a wicked prophet who did hear from God but was not a false prophet.  His heart was not right with God and eventually he betrayed Israel.

  In Numbers 22-25 (click to listen)Balak called Balaam to come. Balak sent his princes to have Balaam to come and put a curse on the Israelites. Balaam listened to God and refused to go to Balak.  Balak sent more princes to request he come.  God came to Balaam and said to go with them and do only what God told him to do. 

  Balaam, the next morning, rose, saddled his donkey and went with the men. However, this angered the LORD. As they traveled the donkey saw the angel of the LORD in the path with a sword and turned away. Balaam did not see the Angel, until after the 3rd time the donkey refused to go. At this point the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey which spoke to Balaam.  Balaam was told to do what the LORD told him to say. (Yes, Balaam talked and argued with the donkey)

   Balak tried all he could; did all Balaam told him to do; planning to see the Israelites cursed.  But Balaam listened to God and did not curse Israel, but blessed them instead. Balak was not happy.

   As you read on the Israelites fell to immorality and idolatry.  Then Gods judgment fell on the people who fell to idolatry and immorality.  God told Moses to "take all the chiefs of the people and hang them (the immoral people) in the sun before the LORD, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel."

   Because of this immorality 24,000 died.  The curse or plague ended when one of the people of Israel brought a Midianite woman to his family and Phinehas, son of Aaron the priest, rose, took a spear and pierced both of them through their belly.

 The Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, who was the tribal head of a father's house in Midian.  God spoke to Moses saying, "

Harass the Midianites and strike them down, for they have harassed you with their wiles, and which they beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the chief of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague on account of Peor."

  Okay, your head may be spinning by now and we will continue tomorrow. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny