Bibledoorajar: Who Can Count?

 "Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!"

Balek had hoped that Balaam would be as frightened at the sight of the sheer numbers of Israelites as he was. And he may have been. But that is not what came out of his mouth. As if being in the know about what God recorded in Genesis 28, he stated that no one could count the dust of Jacob for God Himself had said they would be as the dust for number. When Balaam looked at the formation of the camp of the Israelites, divided into four squadrons, he realized that God's Israel was very great indeed. He announced that Israel, God's people, were truly blessed in life and also in death. Their position in life and death was better than how he evaluated his own and he expressed a desire to live and die as they did.

In the book of Romans, Paul declares that Christians, through the work of Jesus, have been grafted into this vast number and we now have a better life and end than those who are not God's people. This week I have been praying for a sister who will have breast cancer surgery this week. She is of this  dust and her days are in the Lord's will including her end. He declares that when His own cannot do, He will. God bless and help my sister. Amen

Bibledoorajar: It is All In The Motives

     The tug of war between God, Balaam and Balak continued. Balak did not come to where Balaam was camped with Balak's authorities, but he slaughtered animals and sent food for an impressive feast. Balaam was feeling the enticing pressure of Balak's riches and the limiting effects of God's demands. The tension between the two messages to be offered was palatable. One would lead to the destruction of Israel, the other would lead to their ongoing presence in the land. Balak took Balaam up on a mountain where the god Bael was worshipped. From the vantage point of Bael's altar, Balak thought the view would further entice Balaam to put a curse on God's people. From the vantage point,  Balaam could clearly see the people for whom Balak required a curse. But Balak did not understand the ultimate authority of the God of heaven. Balaam did not utter a curse. Out of his mouth instead came a blessing for Israel strengthened by the authority of God.

"Balak summoned me to come from Aram;

    the king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills.

‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me!

    Come and announce Israel’s doom.’

8 But how can I curse those

    whom God has not cursed?

How can I condemn those

    whom the Lord has not condemned?

9 I see them from the cliff tops;

    I watch them from the hills.

I see a people who live by themselves,

    set apart from other nations.

10 Who can count Jacob’s descendants, as numerous as dust?

    Who can count even a fourth of Israel’s people?

Let me die like the righteous;

    let my life end like theirs.”

There continues to be Balaams in the world. Their intense desire is for the destruction of Israel. But instead of this curse prevailing, Israel is a prosperous nation living by themselves set apart from other nations. Thus the will of God  prevails even to this day. God's word says to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122). I do, do you?