Category: Pentateuch Genesis-Deuteronomy

IN THE BEGINNING… Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy – Pentateuch [5 books] It’s the LAW of GOD!
Forgive us our trespasses. Jesus teaches many lessons from these books of the Bible and we have forgotten MANY of the issues and applications to our 21st century life. How can you SHARE from the beginning of the Bible with your SOCIAL ‘Friends’ and talk of Jesus as Lord? Please TITLE your post by the topic, not the verse. Include links to scriptures and helpful references. — Please post or tell us in a COMMENT how you talk of Jesus through this topic and these Old Testament scriptures.

Balaam – Inauguration of a Politician’s Prophet – 1

Prophesy of a man with eyes to see

Numbers 24:

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
4 the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down with his eyes uncovered:

5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your encampments, O Israel!
6 Like palm groves that stretch afar,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes that the Lord has planted,
like cedar trees beside the waters.
7 Water shall flow from his buckets,
and his seed shall be in many waters;
his king shall be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brings him out of Egypt
and is for him like the horns of the wild ox;
he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries,
and shall break their bones in pieces
and pierce them through with his arrows.
9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion
and like a lioness; who will rouse him up?

[ctt title=”Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.”” tweet=”The LORD God of #Israel” coverup=”We237″]

Looking back on election

Let’s look at an ancient analogy about changes of political winds all too frequent throughout history.

The inaugural event spoken by Balaam son of Beor illustrates hope for one group of hearers present, but not those who elected Balaam to his present situation. Backing up some (two chapters), we see Balaam’s nomination by powerful men with entirely different motives.

You may need to map out some unfamiliar geography and history for understanding this election.

First, understand that Balaam’s journey to Moab may have been about 400 miles from Pethor on the Euphrates. Yes, even then wars and skirmishes between nations surrounding Israel frequently involved foreign intervention. Balaam’s family may have been Canaanites who migrated to Mesopotamia, perhaps even to flee from local war of invading warriors.

Election

Israel (Jacob) claims election by God as a people set aside for the LORD. The LORD had led Israel by the hand of the prophet and leader, Moses [Mosheh]. מֹשֶׁה

Joshua then defeats Canaan and begins capturing the lands promised to Israel [Jacob], son of Isaac, son of Abraham.

We now glance into these tumultuous times of trouble in the middle east, just east of the Jordan during the campaigns of Balak, Balaam, Og, Sihon and other forgotten men of the 14th c. BC.

Balak Summons Balaam

Numbers 22

Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel…

Conflict between local leaders in the middle east (nothing new) and one leader, Balak, reaches out to foreign powers to fight Israel. Some mysterious power of Balaam is known, yet what if not known is something Balaam sends back as a message.

… So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”

These men of influence, likely with bribes for Balaam, return to Balak saying that Balaam will not come; but Balak orders them to make the long journey again promising even more riches as is typical of the diplomacy of influence.

… God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.” ²¹So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

Now the seer or prophet Balaam embarks on a potentially perilous journey of many miles into unknown outcomes of the middle east.

Balaam – Inauguration of a Politician’s Prophet – To be continued…

January 7, 2017
The Mystery of Melchizedek – 3

Genesis 14:

In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, 2 these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).

Before we read further, take a look at the map above. Understand that Shinar is in a familiar place at the northern ports of the Persian Gulf, Iraq. Elam would be in southwest modern Iran. Goiim to the north would be in modern day Turkey. Elasar may have spanned from ancient Haran in the east to modern Aleppo, Syria in the west. The Salt Sea (Dead Sea) is clearly visible west of Shaveh-Kiriathaim, Israel.

3 And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar.

8 Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five…

11 So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.

14 When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.

15 And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.

Sheik Abram – a war in the promised land

Once again, Abraham is a prince in the promised land. He has riches. And Abraham has 318 trained men, men who are more than servants or family members; they are a guard or small army at the command of their sheik and prince. Abraham was called by the Living God to a journey – not an easy journey – to the promised land, to war, to the land of Egypt beyond and back.

Look once more at places familiar to us. Consider the extent, time and trouble of the journey of God’s calling. In a place where Abraham won a victory with allies of other princes he remembers the Most High God who sent him.

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)

Remember, Salem is in the place of Jerusalem. (The Valley of Shaveh and meeting are the subject of the map for these three posts about Abraham and Melchizedek, who then blessed Abraham.)

¹⁹And he blessed him and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
²⁰and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

To the victor goes the spoils

Why would Abraham give a tribute to Melchizedek? Is it the same tribute these kings were forced to pay for the 13 years before their rebellion by the occupying king of Elam (that distant kingdom which would become Persia)? And reading on, why did the king of Sodom want to take the captives and give Abram the captured riches?

Abraham refuses to take his rightful spoil of the victory, “lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’”

Abraham walks away from this major battle with nothing. Furthermore, Abram gave a tenth to Melchizedek, a man who holds a distinction different from all the other kings.

And Melchizedek king of Salem… was priest of God Most High.

Gen.14:18

The faith of father Abraham

Abraham is held in high honor as a father of three faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Though these faiths differ in many important points, all have in common worship of the One True God.

This is the first mention in the Bible of a priest. The celebration of a priest with bread and wine occurs numerous times throughout history. Its significance cannot go unnoticed. Melchizedek was a king and priest.

Those who do not believe in the One True God have no concern about the Christ or a priest or a father of three faiths. May God have mercy on their souls at the judgment.

A Jew may hold Abraham or Moses in reverence. Yet they worship the One True God. A Muslim may hold Muhammad as a prophet, but it is the One True God to whom they bow down.

We do not worship the place of Jerusalem or Salem or Mecca or Nazareth. No place is more holy than the Living God! It is not the priest or king, the sheikh or prophet, the mother or ancestor who is to be worshipped. We worship the Living God!

The Lord God is One. Abraham worshiped the LORD. Jesus worshiped the Lord God our Father, with whom He IS One, with the Holy Spirit! Even more than Melchizedek or any priest, king or prophet, it is a great mystery of faith.

Do you worship the LORD? Have you given the LORD due tribute? Have you given the LORD your heart and soul – your life eternal?

I pray that by the mystery of the Holy Spirit the LORD will touch your heart and guide your journey, as with Abraham, who was: “Blessed by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.”

Amen.

July 13, 2016
The Mystery of Melchizedek – 2

And His tabernacle is in Salem, And His habitation in Zion.

– Psalm 76:2 YLT

Hebrews 7 (ESV)

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.

⁹One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, ¹⁰for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

Abraham: New Allies in a New Land

Abram was a prince, a sheik with flocks and family tribal leadership on his shoulders; first in Ur under his father and then in Haran before traveling to the promised land. I might mention that Abraham was a merchant and trader with a sizable household. Abraham commanded a guard of men led to protect his interests.

Abraham did not go to Canaan or later to Egypt to challenge kings and princes (sheiks, to borrow the common title for Semitic tribal leaders). Abraham journeyed to Canaan at the leading of Almighty God. Abraham came before men like Melchizedek and others kings as prince anointed by Almighty God sent to others as ally or as their enemy. Even if Abraham and his many men were to be underestimated by other kings, the LORD God has anointed this man to be a father of many nations and a conquerer of an inheritance promised by God.

So a battle ensues hundreds of centuries ago to which we pay little heed of a few details, except the names of Abraham and Melchizedek.

The kings who opposed Abraham and Melchizedek were no more or less evil than those who oppose the LORD in this day.

So returning to our journey with Abraham:

Genesis 13:

So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.

2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the Lord. 5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, 7 and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land.

Two Sheiks, princes if you prefer, Abraham and Lot travel together then decide to settle in lands nearby. Though by different circumstance, this is not so unusual or different than Jacob leaving Laban or Jacob and Esau choosing peace between their neighboring tribes. Powerful princes in a land of promise, living among other princes with armies and interests different than their own.

11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the Lord.

Lot would rule his tribe from Sodom and his lands nearby, as Abram had traveled first with his father from Ur to Haran, then set out on his own to his own principality promised by the Lord. Meanwhile, back in the land along the Euphrates from Ur to Haran, other kings were mustering troops to expand their influence into the very promised land to which Abraham and Lot had settled.

To be continued…

July 9, 2016