Life in the Word “Snapshot”@ the Branch Torah OT: Numbers 22:2–25:9 Prophets: Micah 5:6–6:8 NT: I Corinthians 1:20–31 Balak This portion speaks of the Moabite king named Balak who hired the prophet Baalam to curse the children of Israel so that Israel would not conquer his kingdom. Despite his initial resistance, Baalam agreed and came to Balak, setting up three locations to curse Israel. Instead, all he could speak were blessings. These blessings (from an enemy) are some of the most powerful blessings ever spoken upon Israel. In fact, most synagogue services begin with the words “How good and lovely are your tents O Jacob, your tabernacles O Israel...” Later, we learn in a later parashah, Baalam counseled the Moabites and Midianites to send their daughters to Israel to draw them away from the teaching of Moses and invite them to their festivals. In this way, God would reject and punish Israel and cause them to be prey for their enemies. Micha’s Exhrtation of Yahweh’s Expectation from us: “O My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab counseled, And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, From £Acacia Grove to Gilgal, That you may know the righteousness of the Lord.” With what shall I come before the Lord, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you, But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” Paul’s speaks of Adonai’s Wisdom revealed in us: “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
Posted on: Sat, 22 Jun 2013 18:10:30 +0000
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