9.22.09: Numbers 24 - 33

Most people have mixed reactions around animals. But no one - even those who love animals - would say that animals should run our lives.
After wandering in the desert for disobeying God's command to enter Canaan, a new generation of Israelites has grown up. Now they are poised to enter the land but the Moabites stand in the way. Their kind, Balak, tries to get Balaam, a sorcerer, to stop them. Can he do it? Well, yes and no - Balaam's donkey has is right.
Balaam was a sorcerer, a person called upon to place curses on other. The king of Moab wanted Balaam to use hi powers with the God of Israel to place a curse on Israel - hoping that, by magic God would turn against His people. Neither Balaam nor Balak had any idea whom they were dealing with!
Why would God speak through a sorcerer like Balaam? God wanted to give a message to the Moabites, who had already chosen to employ Balaam. So Balaam was available for God to use. Balaam's devotion and motives were mixed. He had some knowledge of God but not enough to quite his magic and turn wholeheartedly to God. (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11) - let us know that Balaam couldn't resist the tempting pull of money and idolatry.
Do not take good feelings and apparent positive results as a sign of God's blessing on your life. A popular following, a track record of success, a speech about respecting God - Balaam had all of these yet he still lack a relationship with God. God was not blessing Balaam but using him in spite of His duplicitous heart.
What will it take to give your whole heart to God? Get rid of anything that would distract you from Him.

24:15-19. The star that will rise from Jacob is often thought of to refer to the coming Messiah. It was probably this prophecy that convinced the astrologers to travel to Israel to search for the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1-2). It seems strange that God would use a sorcerer like Balaam to for tell the coming of the Messiah. But this teaches us that God can use anything or anyone to accomplish His plans. By using a sorcerer, God did not make a sorcery acceptable; in fact, the Bible condemns it in servant places (Exodus 22:18; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Revelation 18:23). Rather, God showed His ultimate sovereignty over good ad evil.

25:10,11. It is clear from Phinehas's story that some anger is proper and justified. Phinehas was angry because of his zeal for the Lord. But how can we know when our anger is appropriate and when it should be restrained? Ask these questions when you become angry:
1. Why am I angry?
2. Whose rights are being violated (mine or another's?)
3. Is the truth (a principle of God) being violated?
If only your rights are at stake, it may be wiser to keep angry feelings under control. But the truth is at stake, anger is often justified, although violence and retaliation are usually the wrong way to express it(Phinehas's case was unique). If we are becoming more and more like God, we should be angered by sin.

If you ever played kickball at recess, you know what a difference having the right team captain can make. If you end up on the wrong team, it can be a long game.
Leaders who continually make bad decisions cause anxiety and anguish for those they lead. That's why it's important to choose leaders carefully.
Moses asked God to appoint a leader, one who could lead the people in battle but who would also care for their needs. The Lord responded by appointing Joshua, a man "who has the Spirit in Him." (Numbers 27:18). Moses then presented Joshua to the people and commissioned Him to serve as God had commanded Moses also clearly told the people that Joshua had the authority and the ability to lead the nation.
Most of us are in the position of developing and choosing leaders. Leaders are important and the kind of people we choose and the way we choose them matters a great deal. Whenever we see a change in leadership coming or we influence the choice of a leader, we should do as Moses did - first ask God for a person who is both able and compassionate; then commission and support the person in his or her new position.
In what ways are you developing leaders at home? at work? at church? in the community? What can you do to influence them to lead God's way?

Three tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh) told Moses that they wanted to live on the land that was east of the Jordan River (Num. 32:1-5). This land had already been conquered; the hard work had been done by all of the tribes together. When Moses heard the request of the three tribes, he immediately assumed that they had selfish motives and were trying to avoid helping the others fight for the land across the river (32:6-15). Moses jumped to the wrong conclusion. These tribes fully intended to continue the fight and promised to keep working with the others until everyone's land was conquered (32:16 -19).
Don't automatically assume that others have wrong motives, even if their plans sound suspicious. With any person, take time to let the facts surface before making up your mind.