A Precious Commodity. Matthew 6:14-15

It’s something we all want but it’s so hard to give. There have been songs and books written about it. Hollywood has made movies about it and people spend hundreds of hours and dollars in therapy over it. If we don’t give it we become hard hearted, bitter, and angry. It will not only infect our life but destroy our relationship with those around us. With all this attention to to it, you would think mankind would focus more on giving it and less on keeping it all bottled up inside us. This elusive commodity that is so important to us and for those around us? Forgiveness. 

Matthew 6:14-15

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

https://youtu.be/n9J6xOT3Ldw

Numbers 23:11-12 Curses or Blessings?

 11Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have only blessed them!”

12But Balaam replied, “Should I not speak exactly what the LORD puts in my mouth?”

Curses or Blessings?

Balak paid for curses but got blessings for the Israelites instead! He was 😡 

But examine Balaam’s response, it’s void of love ❤️ for God, it’s cold as ice!

Last night we watched a documentary on the exodus, the parting of the Red Sea. It appears they discovered the actual location as described in the Bible and they used a robotic submersible camera to examine the floor of the sea. The coral located there only grows on certain objects and it had wheel and axle patterns believed to be the chariots of the pharaoh’s army.

Imagine 2.2 million Israelites crossing through the Red Sea, now imagine Balak looking out over the plain and seeing 2.2 million Israelites.

Do you think Balak heard of the plight of the pharaoh’s army?

Can you see Balak’s concern?

Blessings 

Why you can believe the Bible - Voddie Baucham

 A reliable collection of historical documents written by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses and they report supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies and they claim that their writings are divine rather than of human origin. 

3 different continents, 3 different languages, over 40 authors, from all walks of life, 66 volumes and written over a period of 1500 years. 25000 archeology digs pertaining to the Bible.

2 Peter 1:16-21 “Eyewitnesses of His majesty.” 16For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”c 18And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

19We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. 21For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:1-4 Traced & collected information from eye witnesses. 

1Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

1 John 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life. 2And this is the life that was revealed; we have seen it and testified to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us.

3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.

1 Corinthians 15: 1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, and in which you stand firm. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. 6After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8And last of all He appeared to me also,

The math: At least 301 eyewitnesses to the resurrection still alive when 1 Corinthians was written.

Appeared to the twelve, Judas hanged himself but was replaced in Acts 1:12-26 by Matthis who was an eyewitness to the resurrection.

Argument made:

Not reliable because it’s been translated so many times. 

The people are either ignorant, evil or both.

Sources of the Bible: Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic Manuscripts. 

New Testament documents dating back to 120 AD and contains over 6,000 documents.

No ancient document comes close to the New Testament and the Bible.

Matthew 17: The Transfiguration

(Mark 9:1–13; Luke 9:28–36; 2 Peter 1:16–21)

1After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2There He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

3Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus. 4Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown in terror.

Prophesies 

Isaiah 53 The Suffering Servant: about Jesus 

Older, over 1000 years before Jesus was ever born.

Psalm 22: Jesus on the cross!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G1XJ7DeR5fc

Numbers 23:7-10 Longing for Righteousness

 7And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Balak brought me from Aram,

the king of Moab from the mountains of the east.

‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me;

come and denounce Israel!’

8How can I curse what God has not cursed?

How can I denounce what the LORD has not denounced?

9For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs,

and I watch them from the hills.

Behold, a people dwelling apart,

not reckoning themselves among the nations.

10Who can count the dust of Jacob

or number even a fourth of Israel?

Let me die the death of the righteous;

let my end be like theirs!”

Longing for Righteousness 

Balak paid good money for a curse and instead Balaam’s oracle (prophecy) was a blessing!

Balaam longed to die the death of the righteous but he didn’t desire to live the life of the righteous! The two go hand and hand.

How do we obtain righteousness?

Philippians 3:9 and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.

Faith in Christ!

Blessings 

Numbers 23:1-6 Here Am I

 1Then Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.”

2So Balak did as Balaam had instructed, and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

3“Stay here by your burnt offering while I am gone,” Balaam said to Balak. “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. And whatever He reveals to me, I will tell you.”

So Balaam went off to a barren height, 4and God met with him. “I have set up seven altars,” Balaam said, “and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”

5Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”

6So he returned to Balak, who was standing there beside his burnt offering, with all the princes of Moab.

Here Am I

“We might be surprised that God spoke to and through someone as obviously wicked as Balaam. But this shows us that spiritual giftedness does not equal spiritual maturity or holiness of life. God spoke through a donkey in the previous chapter and now He spoke through a bigger donkey.” (Guzik)

Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”

Has the Lord ever put a message on your heart ❤️ to share with someone?

Did you obey?

If the Lord can use a donkey in the previous chapter and a bigger donkey in these verses He can use you too!

Be like Isaiah, “Here am I. Send me!”

Blessings 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uFEK4fpYOS4

Numbers 22:36-41 Compromise

 36When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite city on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37And he said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why did you not come to me? Am I really not able to richly reward you?”

38“See, I have come to you,” Balaam replied, “but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”

39So Balaam accompanied Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and he gave portions to Balaam and the princes who were with him.

41The next morning, Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see the outskirts of the camp of the people.

Compromise 

Richly Reward You

Music to Balaam’s ears!

“but can I say just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.”

“Balaam again protested that this was not in his hands. Perhaps he really believed and understood this, or perhaps this was his way of protecting himself in case he failed. Then he could say that it was God’s fault, and not his.” (Guzik)

Balaam was a prophet of compromise because he was giving way to Balak.

Proverbs 25: 26Like a muddied spring or a polluted well

is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

Are you compromising your faith in Jesus Christ?

Blessings 

There’s An App For That. Matthew 5:43-46a

 If you’ve watched The Chosen series at all you know season 2 ended with Jesus about to give the greatest sermon of all time. Of course Dallas Jenkins has to take some artistic liberty in creating the series. Some of the dialogue and scenes are “writer’s imagination”, he doesn’t have a first hand account, except from scripture in the Gospels. 

Some scenes kind of make you think. I’m sure that was what Dallas (as we’ve all come to affectionately know him) intended. Take John the Baptist for example. Am I the only one who had this image in my mind of someone built  more like Tom Selleck? Instead we got someone built like Urkel! Then there’s the Sermon on the Mount. Did the disciples really build a stage complete with curtains? Did Jesus really pre write the sermon and struggle putting it all in order? Well, why not? 

Rereading this portion of the Sermon on the Mount this morning I had a truth reaffirmed. “bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you”. Thanks Jesus, I needed that reminder. 

Matthew 5:43-46a “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”

If you don’t already have it, get The Chose App on your device today! 

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-chosen-jesus-tv-show/id1473663873

Numbers 22:20-35 Balaam, a Donkey and a Angel!

 20That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” 21So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.

The Angel and Balaam’s Donkey

22Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.

24Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow passage between two vineyards, with walls on either side. 25And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat her once again.

26And the angel of the LORD moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left. 27When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he became furious and beat her with his staff.

28Then the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?”

29Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”

30But the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not the donkey you have ridden all your life until today? Have I ever treated you this way before?”

“No,” he replied.

31Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. And Balaam bowed low and fell facedown.

32The angel of the LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you, because your way is perverse before me. 33The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, then by now I would surely have killed you and let her live.”

34“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”

35But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you are to speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Balaam, a Donkey and a Angel!

“your way is perverse before me” Balaam was only thinking of money!

Notice Balaam isn’t astounded that his donkey speaks! 

There is nothing I can add to this scripture so I shutith my mouth!

Blessings 

Old vs New Matthew 1:5-6 BSB

 Matthew 1:5-6 BSB

Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,
And Jesse the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon by Uriah’s wife,

Most times when we read genealogy in the Bible our eyes gloss over and we start thinking about lunch. Yes, genealogies are boring but they must be important because God put them in the Bible. 

There’s a few names here we recognize. Boaz who told his harvesters to leave extra grain in his fields for Naomi and Ruth to glean. (Ruth 2:16) Boaz became Ruth’s husband. Jess, David’s Dad who “forgot” about his youngest son, the shepherd, when Samual came to anoint him the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16). And  Solomon, David’s and Bathsheba’s son who eventually built the temple God forbid David to build because he had blood on his hands. 

Some believe the Old Testament is irrelevant and the New Testament is all that should be taught today. Here, in the first Book of the New Testament, in the first chapter of Matthew, in the first verses, the Old Testament is referenced. 

So how can the Old Testament be irrelevant? 

Numbers 22:16-19 The Father’s Will

 16They came to Balaam and said, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17for I will honor you richly and do whatever you say. So please come and put a curse on this people for me!’ ”

18But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything small or great to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. 19So now, please stay here overnight as the others did, that I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.”

The Fathers Will

With the promise of great riches the temptation returns stronger than before!

“Please stay here tonight” this was proof Balaam continued to entertain sin, he knows what the Lord’s answer was before!

12: “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

That I may find out what else the LORD has to tell me.

“Balaam was like a child who, having once heard the father’s answer, will ask again, hoping the father’s will might change.” (Guzik)

Have you ever been like a child who heard the fathers answer, will ask again, hoping the father’s will might change?

Don’t be like Balaam, accept His answer!

Blessings 

Numbers 22:13-15 Heart ❤️ Issue

 13So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your homeland, because the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

14And the princes of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

15Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first messengers.

Heart ❤️ Issue 

Notice the way Balaam said this! “the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”

Balaam had a heart issue! It’s almost as if he was saying, you might persuade me if you offered me more money, wealth etc.

Are we any different when we sin? We know it’s wrong because our conscience is telling us no, but the desires of our hearts are telling us yes! 

What will the Lord tell Balaam next?

Blessings 

Numbers 22:9-12 Crystal Clear Message

 9Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”

10And Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’ ”

12But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

Crystal Clear Message 

God knew who these men were and so did Balaam, they were evil men that came for a evil purpose.

Gods response was crystal clear, do not go, do not curse, they are blessed!

Have you ever been given a crystal clear message and ignored it?

I’m reminded of a song from 1970 by Three Dog Night, Mama told me not to come. The lyrics say, That ain't the way to have fun, son. It’s about a son who went to a party for the first time where drugs and alcohol were being consumed. 

The song sent a crystal clear message in the lyrics, Mama told me not to come.

If only we listened better to the crystal clear message from the Lord or our mama!

Have you ignored a crystal clear message?

Blessings 

Numbers 22:7-8 Divination

 7The elders of Moab and Midian departed with the fees for divination in hand. They came to Balaam and relayed to him the words of Balak.

8“Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and I will give you the answer that the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

Divination (fortune telling) for hire.

“Balaam began on a dangerous course - entertaining, planning, setting his heart on something he knew to be sin, and looked for a spiritual excuse to pursue the sin. Because of his love for money, Balaam essentially tried to manipulate God into granting him a special exception.” (Guzik)

Some use the word prophet when referring to Balaam, but Balaam isn’t listed as a major or minor prophet. Since the Bible states “divination in hand”  Balaam was a fortune teller, a diviner. 

Look at Balaam’s fate!

Joshua 13: 22The Israelites also killed the diviner Balaam son of Beor along with the others they put to the sword. 

Zechariah 10:2 Household gods give worthless advice, fortune-tellers (diviner) predict only lies, and interpreters of dreams pronounce falsehoods that give no comfort. So my people are wandering like lost sheep; they are attacked because they have no shepherd.

Seeking a fortune teller (diviner) clearly is a sin, stay away from them!

Blessings 

Numbers 22:1-6 Metaphor

 1Then the Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan, across from Jericho.

2Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites. 4So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.”

Since Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time, 5he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphratesa in the land of his people.

“Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”

Metaphor

“This horde will devour everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.”

Ever use a metaphor when describing someone? I know I have and I’m sure the Lord didn’t like it in either case!

“God commanded Israel to not harass Moab, because He did not intend to give Israel the land of the Moabites” (Guzik)

Deuteronomy 2: 9Then the LORD said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.”

What will happen? Stay tuned!

Blessings 

Numbers 21:31-35 No Survivors

 31So Israel settled in the land of the Amorites. 

32After Moses had sent spies to Jazer, the Israelites captured its surrounding settlements and drove out the Amorites who were there. 33Then they turned and went up along the road toward Bashan, and Og king of Bashan and his whole army marched out to meet them in battle at Edrei.

34The Lord said to Moses, “Do not be afraid of him, for I have delivered him into your hands, along with his whole army and his land. Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.”

35So they struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army, leaving them no survivors. And they took possession of his land.

No Survivors 

The Lord was delivering the promised land one king, one battle at a time.

But how do Christians fare? We win the battle for the promise of eternal life but don’t expect life on this world to be easier. 

Should we expect to win all the battles in this world and survive?

Let’s look at the apostles:

– Matthew was beheaded with a sword.

– Mark died in Alexandria after being dragged through the streets of the city.

– Luke was hanged on an olive tree in Greece.

– John died a natural death, but they unsuccessfully tried to boil him in oil.

– Peter was crucified upside-down in Rome.

– James was beheaded in Jerusalem.

– James the Less was thrown from a height then beaten with clubs.

– Philip was hanged.

– Bartholomew was whipped and beaten until death.

– Andrew was crucified and preached at the top of his voice to his persecutors until he died.

– Thomas was run through with a spear.

– Jude was killed with the arrows of an executioner.

– Matthias was stoned and then beheaded – as was Barnabas.

– Paul was beheaded in Rome.

(From David Guzik Weekly Devotional)

Paul said,

2 Timothy 4: 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

I hope to finish like Paul, fighting the good fight, finishing the race and keeping the faith.

Do you?

Blessings 

https://youtu.be/5YG6zNhGbv0

Numbers 21:25-30 Baby Steps-Spiritual Infancy-Spiritual Growth

 25Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its villages. 26Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land as far as the Arnon. 27That is why the poets say:

“Come to Heshbon, let it be rebuilt;

let the city of Sihon be restored.

28For a fire went out from Heshbon,

a blaze from the city of Sihon.

It consumed Ar of Moab,

the rulers of Arnon’s heights.

29Woe to you, O Moab!

You are destroyed, O people of Chemosh!

He gave up his sons as refugees,

and his daughters into captivity

to Sihon king of the Amorites.

30But we have overthrown them;

Heshbon is destroyed as far as Dibon.

We demolished them as far as Nophah,

which reaches to Medeba.h”

Baby Steps-Spiritual Infancy-Spiritual Growth 

“We now better understand God’s favor and mercy to Israel. Before they face the hardened warriors of Canaan, God gave them smaller foes and smaller battles to fight. We see how foolish the unbelief of the previous generation was.” (Guzik)

1 Corinthians 3: 1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready, 3for you are still worldly.

As new Christians we drink the milk as infants in Christ ✝️ and as we begin to mature in spiritual growth we are able to begin to chew solid spiritual food. 

The Israelites needed spiritual growth in the Lord and He gave them smaller foes and smaller battles to fight in the beginning to train them up into battle hardened warriors.

Which stage of spiritual growth are you in?

Blessings