Stop the Destroyer- I cannot go beyond the Word of the Lord my God

Stop the destroyer- I cannot go beyond the Word of the Lord my God INTRODUCTION ● Israel journey to Promise Land ● Israel moving along facing enemies ● Israel defeats the Canaannites at Hormah (Numbers 21:3) Hormah means CURSED FOR DISTRUCTION and SPLIT ROCK ● Still sinning ● They get to the plains of Moab Numbers 22:1 MOAB ● From my Father ● Son of Lot ● Born of incest - Genesis 19:30-38 Numbers 22:2 BALAK ● DEVASTATOR ● DESTROYER - He who lays waste ● His Father: ZIPPOR ● BIRD (small- more like a sparrow) Str 6833 ● A BIRD which picks parasites from the mouth of a crocodile (A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament) Numbers 22:3 ● Many = mixed multitude ● Exceedingly afraid = Exodus 15:15 ● Sick and dread - by no-Jews ● Because of Israel Numbers 22:4 ● Elders - counsel ● lick up - consume - DEVOUR, to bare ● Just like the locus eating everything Contrast with the counsel of the LORD Isaiah 46:10 ● He promised to restore everything Joel 2:25 Numbers 22:5 ● The River - Euphrates ● Pethor - a city north to Siria ● About 60 km away ● Afraid Israel is going to cover the face of the earth Numbers 22:6 Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” Curse started in the Garden Genesis 3:13-15 ● Curse is a consequence of disobedience ● Disobedience induced by deception ● Disobedience is a sin ● 1 John 3:4- Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness ● Lawlessness= there is no law- we disobey the law of God ● We use: Romans 4:15 and Romans 6:14 ( because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression----For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace) We use these verses to say we are not under the law- hoping to just ignore our own conscience - although we know we have sinned. ● Romans 6:23 ● Deuteronomy 27:26 ● Galatians 3:13 ● Romans 8:1-2 ● Romans 6:14 In our previous Bible class we studied that we are not able to clean ourselves- sanctify ourself-we need Jesus - represented by the Red Heifer, by the Power of His Holy Spirit. Philippians 2:12-15 If you are blessed you cannot be cursed ● Numbers 22:12 ● Psalm 1:1-6 ● Jeremiah 15:17 ● Numbers 23:8 ● Acts 10:15 ● Acts 10:28 ● Acts 11:9 ● It is impossible to curse the one who is covered by the Lord ● To be cursed they have to disobey ● Deuteronomy 28:1–3 ● Deuteronomy 28:15 Who’s counsel are you listening to? Be careful who you listen to Balaam is listening to Balak -destroyer Numbers 22:7 The diviner’s feet in their hand - payment Mixing of pagan doctrine with God Revelation 2:12-14 Numbers 22:8-11 Numbers 22:12 Not go with them physically or mentally John 14:15 Numbers 22:13 No permission from the Lord Deuteronomy 23:4–6 Numbers 22:13-18 ● Princes are sent - twice ● Second time - higher (more honourable) and more number ● Promise to honour Balaam greatly - pride of life ● Promise to obey Balaam - lust of the flesh ● Promise of fortune - a house full of silver - lust of the eye In all this ● price established ● temptation presented Limits: ● I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God (v-18) ● But only the word I shall speak to you- that you shall do (v-20) ● but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak (v-35) Again: Who’s counsel are you listening to? Be careful who you listen to Balaam is listening to Balak -destroyer The way to stop the destroyer is to do what God says- and only that Numbers 22:21 Balaam still chose to go Numbers 22:22-26 Three times: Three annual feasts- journey: Exodus 23:14-17 Three ways: 1. Into the field: Turned aside out of the way and went into the field struck 2. Into the wall: Narrow Path between the vineyards - crushed Balaam’s foot- struck 3. Into the Narrow Place: no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left Deuteronomy 5:32-33 32 “Therefore you shall be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess. Matthew 7:13-14 Proverbs 4:20-27 Numbers 22: 28-29 Bil‘am said to the donkey, “It’s because you’ve been making a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand; I would kill you on the spot!” (Complete Jewish Bible) Proverbs 16:22 Proverbs 17:10 Proverbs 17:24 Proverbs 18:2 Numbers 22:30-41 So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath Huzoth (Jordan desert). 40 Then Balak offered oxen and sheep, and he sent some to Balaam and to the princes who were with him. Pagan sacrificial of animals: to the god named Molech - who will eventually become Zeus, done in High Places often mixed with Jewish sacrifices In closing Again: Who’s counsel are you listening to? Be careful who you listen to Balaam is listening to Balak -destroyer Do we still have destroyers like this today? Yes 2 Peter 2:12-17 Stop the destroyer- I can not go beyond the Word of the Lord my God Joshua 1:7-9 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man ● It is impossible to curse the one who is covered by the Lord ● To be cursed they (we) have to disobey ● The way to stop the destroyer is to do what God says- and only thatObey His Law