The Blessing of the LORD in Your Wilderness
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Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The primordial story, the first and foundational of life - the petnateuch is a story about blessing and curse. God creates a world out of nothing, bring order, harmony, beauty, out of the chaos of darkness - and what does he do he forms the world to be inhabited (Isaiah). He builds it like a house, and it become a home when He places the inhabitants in it - and He Hinmself moves inwith them. And the creation is copmolete, and objective is not work, but rest - shalom, peace, enjoyed! THen God says - walk in my presence in covenant with me - and your life will grow in blessing, and extending the blessing of shalom, of Sabbath to the whoel world - confirmed - ultiate mblessing. But turn from me, break covenant with me, ive by self-depeence, and unbelief rather just belief in self - and you will know curse and death and barrenness, and this world won’t really be a home but a desert wilderness. The storty of life is about about blessing and curse.
Which are are we experiencing - no doubt tasted the wilderness and the curse - but then God comes to our first parents with grace, offers it to each succeeding genration in ever growing manner. And in this book of Numbers - we come to the climax of the story of Israel. The first gerneation, from bottom to the top - broke faith, and experienced the curse, even Moses not goign to the prised land. Their worst and final revbelleion follow this Baalam climacx and the las tof them will experience death in the wilderness. But the second genearation - on the cusp of entering now,from the Plain s of Moab, even without them involved and knowing about it, - God has determined all these nations consipiring to destory them, bring them back to bondage -(that’s what sin and Satan does in your life and mine), but God has determined to bring blessing that nothing can stop - and he works not by the line of Israel’ss rituals and priests, nor of Israel’s kingly leader Moeses, but emplys outside - to make a community, sure delivered and protected, and listen blessed with prosperity. They were to become a kingdom in earth like no other that would bring blessing to the families of the world! These were the promises to Abraham, to Jacob a tthe end of his life for his children, promises in Christ we too are to take hold of! Are you embracing these proimses?
Key Truth: The LORD is still a Lion delivering his people from bondage to blessing.
Either become part of His process of blessing, or experience the curse!
But God embeds these truths in the stories of 4 people in 4 oracles.
Oracle #1: The Folly of the King Balak Exposed & Confronted (23:7-12)
Remember in the story of King Balak of Moab summoning the spirtual diviner man Balaam from 400 miles north, Balak is a static unchanging figure. He is hiring a non-conventional weapon of mass destruction. He sees conventional warfare will be of limited success, so he thinks he can hire a man to curse his enemies like a voodoo priest hired to pronounce a curse on an enemy, and secure his prosperity.
Snd you may think that has nothing to do with your life - but understand like you encounter sometimes, Balak is looking down a dark tunnel with no light at the end, and he feels trapped, and unable to control the future. When business goes awry, family falls a apart, friendship turned upsdie down a diagnosis, you may be feeling the same thing. And Balak thinks he can find something in this world, that he can pay for and control - in order to change his future to manipulate the gods to get what he wants.
And while you may not higher a diviner like Balaam, or turn to palm reader, you may be turnign to costly, and utlimately counterproductive solutions to cahnge your wilderness to blessing, to change your future or jsus to cope with it. And they are called idols - that you can devout yourslf too when you are so wrapped up in your fears, and anxieties like King Balak. Read this afternoon -of his costly 7 altars each time asked. Contrasts three times that God revealed hismelf to Balaam, three diffrent places each timeseven altars with costly bull and ram - what are you turnign to when want to cotnrol the future. Realize impotent to deliver the promises of change, relief. - counterproductive.
Balaak, has already hosted elaboarate feast when Balaam arrived, now Balaam tells hinm to wait on the Lord by the offering while he goes up “the Highplaces of Baal” where a Babylonian tesxt, command not one altar like Israel, but 7 to her various gods.
And God gives in kind of mechanical way a MASHAL, an oracle. Not hte normal word for prophesy, but what Jesus said he spoke in paraables, potent riddles.
Israel is God’s plan A in a broken world and there is no plan B. Curse on whole world because of sin, wrath remains on it, brokenness and depravity, but God determined to bless through Isdrael. And listen to what Balaam must proclaim abou that:
Numbers 23:9 For from the top of the crags I see him, from the hills I behold him; behold, a people dwelling alone, and not counting itself among the nations!
For from the top of the crags I see him, from the hills I behold him; behold, a people dwelling alone, and not counting itself among the nations!
Here is the first theolgical truth that the living God declars form heaven - Israel didn’t attack any of the nations, Israel not engaged in revenge and rivalry like the competing warring petty nations of the tranJordan. Israel is a people, a part. The point of Holy War, was that God went before them - executed justice on peples who sin weell up - delivering an inheritance. but the point of Israel - established in Canaan - as they walked ins tep with justice and mercy of their covenant God Exodus 19 - are God’s treasured possession - perculiar people n ot because better tha the nations, first generation failed, but this love and calling!
You look a tthe insignia of mighty emprires and emperors - see weapons, and earthly power - but like synagogue in Capernaum - lentil - pot of manna with the Word - Israel to bless through Word of God, through Gospel of Grace - a comjhnity like no other, not just another earthly kingdom.
True of the church not as a rpelacemtn of Israle, ut with Christ as the fulfillment included in that people. Peter says… Ralize even in our failure that this is the only hope of blessing we’ve got…
And so God sends the message, he had been sending to Abraham 400 yeras before, I will raise your little clain up, from heights Balaam sees them, if ony part of the camp - and God made promise to make that liittle calin like the dust innumberal, and here they are 400 years later - proimse fulfilled.
And look at Balaam’s own desire as the poromse is held before him, I can’t curse, I see the blessing of God in ISrael:
Numbers 23:10 Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!”
Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!”
Simple application, get a 5000’ areial view of your life in the wilderness, even with your unfaithfulness, even in your problems, now do you see God’s Israel, do you see His desire to and prmsies to make them - do you want in? Or you going to seek blessing by manipulation of fate and the gods, and waster your life lloiking for blessing in all the wrong ploaces, even if it breaks your bank, exhusts searching - going to find it hear in God’s ISrael.
But Balak is a static creature, slow to learn like we are sometimes. Maybe if we try it on the fields of the wtachman, Mt Pisgah - remember were Moses had a vision of all of Canaan. That’s the setting for God to reveal His promises about who God’s people are and what He does for them in even greater detail iin even greater deatil: Balak goes throug the same rigmarole but now God speaks a riddle with even greater intensity
Oracle #2: When God Walks with You, & You with Him Sin is Covered (23:18-24)
And here we must hear God thunder: Numbers 23:19
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Much of religion even with the Christain church in the West is not what true religion literally means - being bound and held and bleonging to the LORD, but rather huamnity trying to bind and manipulate blessing of God. Getting God to fit into our little selfish kingdoms, rather than be part of his program. Balak really thinks God is not a person, interesteed in real relationship with us, but just a magic rabbits foot, a mystical power to be tapped into.
Maybe you’ve caught yourself saying thins like”I don’t know why God would let htis happen, I did so much for him, so he if he kept end of the bardgain he should bless me.”
And God would have us tremble at His Word - His ways not our ways, but they are good ways - he does all he intends even when has to deal with the brokenness of this world, the power of evil, freedom of people choosing against his good plan.
Balaam says it again, when God blesses that blessing is secure and sure and can’t be revoked. But look at the wonder of what he procalims next.
The words have a double meaning. Could say as the ESV translates it:
Numbers 23:21a He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel
He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The Lord their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them.
How could that be, the last 40 years were full of misfortune and trouble. What is God proclaiming through Balaam? This is surely an idealized vision of who God’s people are in part, but will one day fully be? And this is so imoprtant to your and my self-understanding!
The way some peole read history - good guys and badgusy, and they are the hero. Way they lookk at people that surround their life - neacricism and selfishness in the extereme. BUt the other way to look at our selves is not a healthy loathing of sin and sinfulness, but a despairing self-loathing.
And this is wehre you need to understand the other way these two words, misfortune and trouble can be translated. God looks at His people with all their wekaness, sin, and struggle, and how is it possbile He doesn’t see INQUITY AND SIN in us. And that is because of what God says in the end of that verse:
Numbers 23:21b The Lord their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them.
He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The Lord their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them.
Wow, how could that be possible - that God sees Israel no as his enemy, or rebellous child, God is with them. That was the point of the first third of the book and the book of Leviticus - that ark at the cetnre of the camp - a picture of God’s throne. He is present in the Mediator, at the altar, he is present speaking from the Ten tof Meeting, strengthening us in covenant meal - he is there as our King, and we as friends of the king, cleansed and purified.
The nations see what God does for His people and they cry out what the Lord has done for htem, what he has wrought. What does God do?
His shout as a victorious king leading us goes up: =
Numbers 23:22 God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
That term is a military marching phrase, God steps forth with His people, he marches with them, tramples all obstacles under HIs foot. And he declares, like US Preseidents BGarak Obama and Geoerge Bush - anyone who attacks Israel doomed. Not true as a ntional state political entity any more. But as spiritual entitiy the ISrael of God - people of God - so true . Numbers 23:23
For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What has God wrought!’
DO you feel it no eaponed, fashioned against you can stand, that though forces of darkenss seek to snatch you out of God’s hand, held secured and protect. So we have two of Abraham’s promises fulfilled, and in Christ too - dust of the earth join them, but all who curse you will be cursed - indestructible protection - God said to Abraham - I am your shielfd and great reward. He said walk before me - Balaam pronounces hedge of protection aroudn this peole.
Oracle 3: The Blessing of God Places You in a Community of Shalom (24:1-9)
Now I don’t want to be to hard on King Balak because I see myself and maybe you too once in awhile in him. What is the definition of stupidity?
Balak is blowing a gasket now. You keep blessing not cursing them. Now he takes Balaam to the NE of the Dead Sea, M Peor., where he can see the whole camp. And though he keeps livig thinking he can manipulate the gods, 7 altars sacrafices again. But Balaam doesn’t, and this time isn’t just a divineer that God speaks throug. This third and fourth koracle is idfferent adn the most intense.
At the end of Numbers 24:2b we read: And the Spirit of God came upon him,
Now he doesn’t just repeat God’s words, but like a true prohet of the Lord, as v.4 puts it Numbers 24:4 SEES the vision of the Almighty...
He spiritually sees the revelation God desires to communicate with his human words.
God had promised that Abraham would be blesseed, to have his family of faith, those who not only have blood, but have the faith of Abraham - household, a community - qahal. We all long for and were made for that!
And Balaam looks down the corridors of future - sees big big tent, encampments of Israel.
And look at the for LIKES. What promised blessing does he sees God’s peole inheritting. They are in a promised land already but look hwo they are living there together:
Numbers 24:5-6 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.
We sat under palm gtroves… idea of each man in grove of trees he lanted, not driven away. but also like the garden of Eden, but more aloes - aromantic tree , and here is the clencher. Cedars don’t grow by rivers! Deep deep roots, towering, przied for buidling cities of the ANE. But Israel’s commynity life, is better than the best world has - Cedars of Lebanaon -
But now look here someone comes down from the beautful hills - yoke with two buckets of the most essential thing a commhnity needs in the ANE - water is overflowing - picture of a peole flourishing, marrying - mulitplying
God says, that blessing is your that community - Let me ask you ever feel not part of a family, just bunch of individuals - in conflict and competition - like worst feeling of family board game, risk - But then crisis pull together even in hardest moments - knit to something bigger.
and all other commnities that war against that community, war against each other, - oppression - Freud of each other, Marx economically, Ecological, Fenmnism - sinful patriarchy.. all alienation.… broken to pieces and pierced by arrows and will come to nothing before teh GOD , not Israel who is a Lion and lionness
And Abraham’s promises is explicitly shouted out agian. And remember the power of curse like Idiannne Jones, moement said goes to work - and now with Israel in the plains of Moab, God declares his blesing to start to be put into effect . Numbers 24:9
He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.”
But now Balak, not just blowing a gasket, he fires Balaam and sends him packing without pay. Numbers 24:10
And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.
Balaam tries to expalin, I upheld the contract Ican only spiek whta the lVing God speaks. But as a parting shot across the bows of the one who will not put faith in the lviing blessing God. Balaam now prophesies the blessing and curse of the distant future, indeed also fo the final days! Her is the final mashal, riddle , parable
Oracle #4 Relying on the Authority of Jesus, No Opposition Can Overcome Us (24:15-19)
Now Balaam is not just speaking of blessings from the past, or of the present vision of God’s people. Now this oracle reaches the heart of the matter:
Numbers 24:16
the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:
What Job and Melichizedek called God. Elyon,… Most ancient poetry .
And here is the greatest shame. Balaam gets to the hear tof the matter, and reveals the knoweldge the knowing of God that is most intimate but he doesn’t sem to embrace it and experience it:
Listen to Matthew HenryA man may be full of the knowledge of God and yet utterly destitute of the grace of God, may receive the truth in the light of it and yet be a stranger to the love of it.” And so as I read these proismes love the One who is revealed here - it is the hear tof knwoing God. It reveals the God you must love, from Genesis 49 revealed king a dn sceptre not leave Judah’s , in Brith of Jesus star reveals a King of Hevan and Wtht that wisemen form the East where Balaam is from come to this king. Understand this is the title given at the end of the book of revealtion of Jesus - heart of the matter in the Bible is this prophesy! Here it is:
Numbers 24:17a I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.
Staff: Scepters or staffs were thin wooden or metal poles, sometimes capped by a mace head of copper or bronze and shaped in various forms. In Bronze Age Egyptian murals, the pharaoh is depicted smiting his foes with his glorious scepter, as the future king of Israel is portrayed in the next
Star, and Sceptre, David conquered some of th ose enemeis, but end of his life especially showed - not the Messianic King bringing full redemption, but also victory over evil!! Do you have a STAR as King of your life - Bright Morning Star - Bosman… dark now.. but light growing stronger… Facing darkness today - take hold of prophesied promises - JEsus fuliledd it, but can apply it in your darkness: John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Gospel written to display - power to forgive sin, power over demonic, power over disease, death, power of nature. Jesus who said, rulers of this age lord it voer, don’t exerccise authroity in living service. But I am among you as one who serves!
So said other Son of David, true Messiah, ANnoitend to brings salvation, bring back tabnernace rebuilt in centre of the people. Not replace but fulfill Israel - In OT literal nations put out of existence, in NT spiritual battle
Numbers 24:19a And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion ...
And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!”
What is it that Jesus said when against all expectation - brought land to fervour expecting godlen Messianic age any moment, want to make him king, but he died, and and what tdidi he say - my kingdom not o f this world, but you will see me seated at Right hhand. Fulfill Daniel 7 - says as ascendes and approach great throne of God in human nature - fulfilling - rising To receivin all authroity all dominion!
Balaam’s prpoephsy picked up in Psalm 110 he must reign until - coiong again in 2nd advent all enenmies put under this feet, death destoryed, Stan cast in lake of Fire, nations fade, those opposed to him destoryed with him. All an d in all.
CONCLUSION:
Balalk and you and I with out idols of creation whatever they be , bhave no pwoer to deliver blessing or curse, that power alone lies in the hand of the Alghty God. But that doesn’t leave us floating aimeless and fataliistically on the seas of life. Promises all fuflilled in Christ and offered to you ame. A real inheritance, to be receive in part now, but full poimsed land - by faith!
What set Israel apart was not their population, power, or perseverance in the wilderness over the past forty years; what set Israel apart was their God. The statement that Yahweh God is with his people means that no form of opposition can overcome them. He was their invincible King and Warrior, who demonstrated his royal nature by delivering his people from bondage to one of the most powerful nations in the ancient Near East