Reading Bryant's message the first thing when I get to work in the mornings makes my day!

Thank you.

I am listen to the "1 year daily audio bible" podcast while i'm in my car on the way to work, and then read this first thing. I'm actually behind in the podcast because i didn't start it until Feb... what does that mean? well, I HAPPEN to be on March 15th today which is Numbers 22. When God places the same story in front of me twice in 1 hour, I think I better start listening. Worst part is, I don't feel off track.

I, too, am off schedule with my Bible reading for the year and just yesterday read Numbers 22 so I was surprised to see it again this morning. I am also reading in Proverbs hoping to gain wisdom so I can less frequently act foolish. I am so thankful to God for giving us His Word so we can know the best way to live. Thanks RFTH for encouraging people to read and live it.

Since it looks like everyone is doing a little study on the book of Numbers, how come in 22:20-22 God tells Balaam to do something then punishes him for doing it. Was God just testing him? Why does God play these games with us then?

Erik, The NET study Bible has a note referring to your question. This is what it says about verse 22, "God's anger now seems to contradict the permission He gave Balaam just before this. Some commentators argue that God's anger is a response to Balaam's character in setting out---which the Bible does not explain. God saw in him greed and pleasure for the riches, which is why he was so willing to go." Obviously I did not come up with this on my own but it seems a plausible explanation to me. You certainly have a lot of Bible knowledge. Have you pondered this question for years or did it just come up from today's devotional reading?

Janice- thanks for the response, but I don't see anything in the passage about greed or riches. In fact Balaam had already refused twice to go despite Balak's pleading. He only relented when God came to him and told him to saddle his ass and hit the rode.

Is it not possible that God was just messing with him, like He does with Job and others?

Erik, In several past comments you have indicated you believe God messes with people and I think you always mean this in a negative way. I am not God and can't speak for Him but I do know He is sovereign and can do what He pleases. You are free to come to your own conclusions in the matter. Maybe some things are left out of the Bible as a test for us to see if we will come to opinions that honor or dishonor God. I suppose that sounds like God is messing with us. Anyway, I do not mind the thought of God taking the time to mess with me because I expect something good to come of it. Maybe He as the "hound of heaven" will mess with you and something good will come of it, too.

Numbers 31:18 is some SERIOUS "messing". Then Numbers 25 - One cannot help marvelling at the extraordinary draconian view taken of the sin of flirting with rival gods.

Ecc 11:5 - As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything.

Janice, how do you know God is soverign?

The Bible says God is "sovereign" and refers to the sovereignty of God numerous times. If one takes the Bible for the "whole truth that it is",and I do, that settles it for me. Just go to Blueletterbible, plug in "sovereign, God" in whatever version you like (I prefer NIV) and see the verses that come up. One knows God is sovereign because God says so - the Bible, after all, is His written word!

Amen, Deanna, I believe God's word is the truth. There will always be some who don't believe. It is up to God to change their hearts. We can show them where to get daily bread but we can't make them hungry for it. Keep praying folks.

"The Bible says God is sovereign".

Why did I know I'd get an answer like this...besides an outdated book though that was written (by ignorant people) to control the masses and convert people to Christianity (which socio and economic benefits), what proof do you have?

At least you guys agree with the Muslims on this. Although not sure if they see Allah as one and the same with your god.

If your god wrote the Bible, how come he has no knowledge of anything beyond the desert. It's all extremely "local", which is completely forgivable for ancient man, but not so for an omnipotent and omniscient god.

Erik, This story type fits into the category of faith-challenges similar to Jacobs wrestling with the angel at Peniel on his return to the promised land (Gen 32:24-32. It could even be compared to Moses' encounter with the Lord upon his return to Egypt (Ex 4:24-36. These accounts are reminders that a holy God demands complete obedience of His servants. Balaams words seems like he is going to become Gods spokesman but before he was not. He was known as a pagan divination expert, hired to pronounce a curse upon Israel. People of this sort were known as "Seers of the gods" and were said to be skilled at manipulating the deities to bring about the results desired by the person who hired them. The men came to him and he said he could not go but then they came the second time and this is when he said he could only say what the Lord tells him. This is when the story takes an ironic turn, as God is displeased with him on the journey to Moab. Remember I said it was a faith-challenge. He had to have faith that God would deliver as he would instruct him. The challange was he was about to do a ritual in the presence of Balak which the out come would not be what Balak wanted.
(I have got to go to our Mens Prayer Meeting and if I can I will try to elaborate a little more when I get back home, I don't want to lose this so I will post it now.)

Now God let Balaam go with Balak's messengers, but he was angry about Balaams greedy attitude. Balaam claimed he would not go against God just for money(vs 18), but his resolve was beginning to slip (vs 19). His greed for the wealth offered by the king blinded him so that he could not see how God was trying to stop him (vs 22-31). We are the same way we can become blinded by our greed to the point that we can't see when God is working in our lives. Balaam didn't see the angel of the Lord standing in the way but the donkey did and thus he saved Balaam's life and also made him look foolish in doing so. After reading the whole story we see where after Balak hired Balaam to curse the Israelites, he got a blessing instead. This demonstrates the hidden power of God in history. Sometimes God's will is worked out even if he chooses to complete it thru his enemies.
In getting back to the devotion because we love and serve a loving God, we can be confident that he will guide our paths. We just need to make sure our eyes are open to follow his lead.

Thanks Jerry for your detailed answer. As far as Olberman's comment about God being "local". I don't consider a God that created heaven and earth as being just a "local" God or John 3:16- "For God so loved the "world" that He gave His one and only Son so that whoever belives in Him shall not perish but have etenal life" or when Christ told the his diciples to " Go into all the "world" and preach the good news to "all" creation," and in John 8:12 when Jesus spoke "I am the light of the "world". Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" The most important thing about these verses though is they not only include the whole world-It also includes YOU. Your cynicism is hiding some real issues. Only you know what they are. I feel like there's a deep lonliness and emptyness in your heart which I hope is soon filled with the love of Christ. We're still praying for you.

Jerry- I like you, but your explanation of this thing with Balaam is absurd.There is nothing in these verses about greed. I encourage everyone to read Numbers 22 and see for themselves. Balaam says in verse 18 that EVEN IF Balak gave him all the riches in his palace he still wouldn't go unless God told him to. This is the opposite of greed. Then in verse 20: "And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do." Followed by verse 22: "And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him."

Pastor Wright has an excellent sermon on the story of Balaam in the sermons section of this website. He takes a different approach than some of the interpretations expressed in this comments section, and his doesn't have anything to do with greed. However, Wright does state that there are multiple lessons that can be taken from this story. It is quite an insightful sermon.

Olberman, my Bible addresses things in the cosmos (Genesis) as well as here on earth. The reason God focuses on the desert is because that is where the Jews lived. It is also were Jesus lived. God also didn't talk a whole lot about physical things, it seems in an effort to drive home the point that man's primary problems aren't physical, but spiritual.

Austin- can you point me to that sermon?

You bet. It is in the sermons series titled Animal Kingdom. The sermon is called "You look like a fool argueing with a donkey."

Now that I have listened to it again - Wright does mention that Balaam was motivated by money.

I could be wrong about my view but just I am human, I am capable of misinterpreting scriptures

"The reason God focuses on the desert is because that is where the Jews lived."

LOL ok. That's all I need to hear. Thanks.

For a bit of humor, Olberman, you used LOL which used to mean Lots of Love but I figured that was not what you meant so my son informed me it means Laughing out Loud. So I have to be LOL at my ignorance!

That's cute Janice. Yeah I guess LOL is a thing for the young. I can see it meaning "Lots of Love" too. I guess our kids are more "with it" a lot of the time!

I mean, "where the Jews lived". That is good for a laugh. Circular reference in cell E10. I guess that’s also the reason why Zeus focused on Greece and Buddha on China. Hilarious.