For a full description of the (Y4) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Num. 22
I don’t know what happened to Balaam. On the surface, it seems like he was trying to obey God. Yet he somehow ended up on the wrong end of God’s favor. You know you have made a wrong turn in life when the angel of the LORD says to you, “Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me.” (Num. 22:32b). My suspicion is that greed got hold of Balaam’s heart. With Balak’s second attempt, he showed that he was desperate and willing to pay big. So instead of simply turning them away on the spot, Balaam asked God again.
It was likely at that point when Balaam set his heart on going. So even though he asked God, he wasn’t really willing to take “no” for an answer. Ditto for when he told the angel, “if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.” (Num. 22:34c). He continued in his pretense of obedience, but we know that in the end, he found a way to go around God, so to speak, to get what he wanted. I’d say he traded his soul for worldly wealth.
Balaam’s story is a lesson to me on how good we humans are at deceiving ourselves. We find all kinds of creative ways to convince ourselves that we are serving God when we are really serving self. So it pays to be more diligent in avoiding such pitfalls. In Balaam’s case, he knew the right path early on. God made it clear that going with Balak’s men was not good. When something is obviously wrong, then, we shouldn’t even ask if we can do it. You might as well openly ask God if you can oppose Him. Why, then did God tell Balaam to go? It’s called free choice. With Balaam’s first ask, God showed him right from wrong. Balaam’s free will took it from there, and he didn’t choose wisely.
Ps. 62-63
“They bless with their mouth, but inwardly they curse.” (Ps. 62:4b). Having just read about Balaam, this statement jumped off the page at me. Balaam’s words did not align with his heart’s desires and intentions. I don’t say that to point a condemning finger at Balaam. I know all too well how easy it is to aimlessly wander off the right path in life. Rather, I see him as a warning flag; a reminder to more carefully place my feet as I walk.
David gives me a couple of tips as to how to do that in these Psalms. David didn’t just rely on God. He relied ONLY on God. From wherever our help and blessing come, we have to know the source is always God alone. Everything else is merely His instrument of choice for any given circumstance. In addition to that, David held God as his greatest desire. He said of God, “Your lovingkindness is better than life” (Ps. 63:3a). When we know and believe with all our being that nothing is better than God – and I mean that in every way possible – we are far more likely to both know right versus wrong and to choose what’s right.
Is. 11-12
I see a few more interesting little hints of Jesus in these chapters.
- “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him” (Is. 11:2a). That happened at his baptism with John the Baptist.
- “And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.” (Is. 11:4b). I turn to Matthew’s description of Jesus’ crucifixion with this one. “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised” (Matt. 27:50-52). With His final cry, Jesus struck the earth. And with His final breath, He conquered evil, removing the separation between God and man and giving life to the dead.
- “Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.” (Is. 12:3). Jesus made it clear that He is that spring of living water.