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  • Balaam – Inauguration of a Politician’s Prophet – 2

    Balaam – Inauguration of a Politician’s Prophet – 2

    Previously

    For those of you who missed Part 1 of our story of Balaam, we began by noting Balaam’s best inaugural speech in Numbers 24, to which we will return chronologically in Part 3. Now turning back to some background and the beginning of our story, King Balak of Moab sent diplomats to Balaam to urge him to prophesy against Israel, whose tribes have invaded nearby Canaan.

    Numbers 22:

    … Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying,

    “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

    Some beckoning!

    This foreign king gives great compliment to a prophet living miles away in another land (modern day, Iraq). We may be familiar with a western perspective from Egypt of the Hebrew people crossing of the Sea of Reeds. Perhaps we recall the fall of the major Canaanite city, Jericho. But let’s look at these events as reported to a Prophet living by the Euphrates River. The invasion of Canaan by the Hebrews coming into Canaan looks different from the west beyond Moab.

    …  9 And God came to Balaam…

    What happens next, of course, is that Balaam listens to God and tells Balak’s ambassadors, “Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”

    Later they return with a more money for Balak’s campaign.

    20 And 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.” 21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

    Seems fairly simple for a man to whom God speaks – a man who princes and kings know hear, a mere mortal who speaks the word of the Lord.

    So Balaam joins the entourage of important men for their long return journey to Moab. King Balak believes inviting Balaam will be the inauguration (under good omens) of a new era in his land near the Jordan.

    22 But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary.

    Wait just a minute

    Something’s wrong here. Why would God be angry with Balaam; for the Lord had said, “go with them?”

    Balaam’s attitude at a second return of more men with more political promises of riches in Moab must have swayed his original steadfastness to just send these politicians of Balak back home empty-handed. Look closely at some of the detail leading to Balaam’s return on this second journey of the Moabites and Midianites.

    Prior to the first diplomatic mission to Balaam:

    7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand… 13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”

    I see no mention of acceptance of their ‘fees for divination.’

    Second Diplomatic Junket

    Take a look at Balaam’s challenge of the second mission of these diplomats from the Jordan River valley, a land promised to Israel by the Lord.

    15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’”

    Hear once more Balaam’s reply the first time:  “Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” (No room for negotiation in his words.)

    Listen to the subtlety of his second reply:

    “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more. 19 So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.”

    If I’m a negotiator in the middle east, it sure sounds like an opening to me.

    ‘I’ll sleep on it. I’ll ask the Lord again. (Maybe God will change His mind.)

    Do you ask the Lord to command you twice?

    In response to these high officials coming again to him with promises of power and influence, after already having received the Lord’s answer, Balaam went to the Lord once more. “Are you sure.” he asked?

    Do we ask the Lord, “Are you sure?” Of course we do (even though the Lord’s command to us is clear).

    Pethor on the Euphrates – 400 miles from Moab

    Now comes the familiar story of Balaam’s journey with the princes and diplomats to the powerful capitals of their kings. It could be (if the Lord would allow) a great career move for Balaam.

    Now the prophet, distracted by men of influence and dreams of earthly riches, misses the Lord’s message for him. In fact, Balaam’s procession to this inauguration puts him in great danger.

    Balaam and his Donkey

    You probably know this story and like many, smirk at its absurdity.

    Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field.

    And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. 25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall.

    So he struck her again. 26 Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam.

    And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

    Balaam’s hopes for the inauguration

    Balaam certainly expected a reward at the end the journey of about 400 miles. rather than trouble at the beginning. Perhaps this new year will offer us opportunity to consider Balaam’s failure to go forward without listening to God.

    [ctt title=”Do your New Year\’s goals include God?” tweet=”What path does the LORD lead you to follow this year?” coverup=”6Gmbd”]

    28 Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”

    Again, let’s overlook the humor for a moment of an ass rebuking a prophet of God. And while we are at it, let’s not be so quick to miss that God can make an ass speak that is obedient to His will, when a man will not speak God’s will (as a prophet is expected to do).

    30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”

    31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.

    Are your ways contrary to the Lord?

    The leaders of Midian and the leaders of Moab led lives in opposition to the Lord. Their sacrifices to idol gods offended the Lord. (Surely Balaam knew of this.)

    Like Abraham he was willing to travel this great distance. Unlike Abraham, Balaam traveled because he refused to listen to command of the Lord. Even so, the Lord was merciful here and spared Balaam’s life.

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

     

  • 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).

    chedorlaomer_campaignBefore 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.

    sodom_gomorrah_map8 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.

    NASA EMediterranian to PersianGulf

    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.)

    19 And he blessed him and said,

    “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
        Possessor of heaven and earth;
    20 and 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.

  • 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.

    9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for 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.

    sodom_gomorrah_map2 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.

    gen14_1

    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…