Don't Be A Dumb-A**

But Balaam responded to Balak’s messengers, “Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the LORD my God. But stay here one more night, and I will see if the Lord has anything else to say to me.” [Numbers 22.18-19] 

It was at this very moment ("But stay here one more night..."), that Balaam sealed his fate. In just one small doubt of second-guessing what God had clearly prohibited, Balaam set in motion a compelling story, the subject of many a Sunday School lesson and sermon, but a story of his willful disobedience and ultimate damnation.

So great was Balaam's sin that Jesus used it in illustration as was recorded by John in his Revelation:

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword: “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city. “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching. Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth. [Revelation 2.12-16]

The Old Testament gives no indication whatsoever that Balaam "taught" anyone anything. We are faced then with the fact that actions speak ("teach") louder than words. Jesus leaves no room for speculation otherwise.

From the moment Balaam second-guessed God in Numbers 22.18-19, he became NOT a spokesman for God, but an object lesson for God against disobedience. Yes, God continued to speak to, and even through Balaam, but only as it served God's purpose of blessing Israel, proving that God can and will accomplish His will even through the disobedience of the disobedient! God even revealed Balaam's donkey-like stubbornness using nothing less than Balaam's own donkey.

While it looked like Balaam may have had a moment of repentance in the talking donkey event, God sent him on to bless Israel. It would seem the slate was cleared at this point and that Balaam had a second chance to serve God as one of His own and not as a talking donkey. However, as the story goes, Balaam consumed meat sacrificed by God's enemy, the king and people of Moab who were steeped in sexual sin, and thereby again condemned himself to destruction, even though, like his own donkey, he would still speak on behalf of God.

The undeniable lesson to be learned from Balaam is NOT that God would speak through an otherwise dumb ass (donkey), but that God would speak through a dumb-a** (human) who had no future in heaven because of his second-guessing disobedience to God.

We should all be so sure of our obedience to God without second-guessing that we know we are speaking for God as a faithful follower. Otherwise, we are just a dumb-a** through whom God will speak, but not save. Don't be a dumb-a**.

Father, You know I struggle with second-guessing. I may be the king of second-guessing. I want You to use me, but not as a disposable tool. May I be found obedient the first time every time, living in and by that obedience and not by situation ethics. I plead the blood of Jesus over my life and the lives of all who read this. May we be obediently beholding Jesus for direction for our lives and redemption for our souls. So be it.

A Little More About God's Reputation

What sorrow awaits you, O people of Moab! You are finished, O worshipers of Chemosh! Chemosh has left his sons as refugees, his daughters as captives of Sihon, the Amorite king. [Numbers 21.29] 

If you want to know about Chemosh, look at Chemosh's people. The passage above reveals that Chemosh abandoned his followers.

A couple days ago God's Reputation was discussed. No doubt, God had become known by how He treated His people. As was discussed in the case of Rahab (of Jericho), she was certain of God's mercy based on what she knew of God's people (unruly as they were).

I wonder what the world knows of God today based on His people? "God's people" today rely on the same systems of debt, insurance, medicine and technology as the world because they experience everything the same as people of the world. What does this say about God?

The sad reality is that God's people's likeness to the world is given no thought. There is no distinction between God's people and people of the world. But there should be.

The problem with God's reputation here and now is not with God. He and His Word have not changed. The problem lies squarely with His people. So, the question, "what does this say about God?" that His people experience everything the world experiences relying on the same solutions, should in fact be, "what does this say about God's people?"

Although few see it, God's people encounter opportunities nearly every day to choose to glorify God in their actions or not.

This is what the LORD says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ [Jeremiah 6.16]

Every circumstance a follower of Jesus (the only Way to God) encounters is an opportunity to distinguish himself (or herself) from the followers of the world. Every circumstance is a "crossroad" - an opportunity to choose the Way of God or to choose the way of the world. The worldly "default" at every crossroad is to just blow right past it. However, a conscientious follower of God will consider the options at every crossroad; whether or not to distinguish themselves as followers of God.

What is the "old godly way" Jeremiah referred to? It is the way of faith detailed in Hebrews 11; the way of trusting God even when it makes no sense. It is the way of the Red Sea. It is the way of conquering a land occupied by giants. Israel chose wisely to cross the Red Sea, but chose foolishly to fear the giants when first approaching the Promised Land. It is the way of "moving" mountains... not going around them - not going over them, but moving them out of the way.

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. [Mark 11.22-24]

It should also be noted, and never forgotten, that the way of faith is, above all else, the way of the Cross. 

Debt is not the way of faith. Insurance is not the way of faith. Medicine is not the way of faith. Technology is not the way of faith. In fact, debt, insurance, medicine and technology are the ways of the world. They do for all people what God said He would exclusively do for His (obedient) people (see Deuteronomy 28, blessings for obedience, curses for disobedience). Debt, insurance, medicine and technology are expensive imitations that allow the world to "enjoy" the temporal comforts God promised to His obedient people thus providing a false sense of security for eternity. In contrast, God's people today mostly stay on the same expensive road of the world, thus "blowing by" the opportunity to distinguish themselves at the crossroad of faith.

If debt, insurance, medicine and technology could just be seen as "Chemosh" (in the opening passage), we would realize that they offer only temporary relief powerlessly abandoning their "believers" at death into an eternity in hell.

Jesus, the Way of faith, taught faith for a very good reason. Faith is what sets His followers apart from the world. In fact, faith is, in every way, contrary to the ways of the world - thus, the "crossroads" Jeremiah spoke of.

Father, before a lost and dying world, may we see the importance of our testimony of faith in every circumstance. May our faith in You alone, specifically in Jesus Christ, distinguish us at every crossroad; that You do not abandon us on earth signaling that You do not abandon us for eternity! So be it!

Wake-Up Call

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell the people of Israel to bring you twelve wooden staffs, one from each leader of Israel’s ancestral tribes, and inscribe each leader’s name on his staff. Inscribe Aaron’s name on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe. Place these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark containing the tablets of the Covenant, where I meet with you. Buds will sprout on the staff belonging to the man I choose. Then I will finally put an end to the people’s murmuring and complaining against you.” [Numbers 17.1-5] 

Jesus said this:

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” [Matthew 22.14]

The chosen one (Aaron's rod), in Numbers 17.1-5 was identified by evident fruit. Jesus also said something about "chosen" and "fruit":

You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. [John 15.16]

 Regarding the priesthood, the Book of Revelation indicates that every believer is a priest:

He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. [Revelation 1:6]

And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.” [Revelation 5:10]

Simply stated, a true believer in Jesus is a priest. A true priest is one who is chosen. The evidence of being chosen is fruit. The evidence of being fruitful is answered prayer using Jesus' name.

It is not enough to self-proclaim, "I am a believer." While many console themselves that calling on the name of Jesus is enough, James clarifies that, while faith begins with a proclamation, it proves itself in action:

Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. [James 2:26]

What is said here today is no less intense than what God told Moses in Number 17.1-5. Grace comes by faith. Grace is God's good works in and through His people that come by faith in Jesus. Jesus said it like this:

These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” [Mark 16.17-18]

Earlier in Mark's Gospel, Jesus had made a bold statement about faith:

Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. [Mark 11.22-24]

It is the grace of God that transports people into the power of God. They are forgiven and they are delivered from all manner of death, theft and destruction.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [Romans 5.1-2]

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. [Ephesians 2.8-9]

God's grace does not exempt us from what grace does! Self-proclaiming "grace!" over our lives with no works (evidence) of grace is a rod "without buds and fruit." It is no more harsh to make this statement today than it was when Moses placed those twelve rods before the Ark of the Covenant. Just because Korah, Dathan and Abiram self-proclaimed themselves as priests did not make them priests at all (Numbers 16).

The Church today needs this wake-up call. I need this wake-up call. The nothingness the modern Church calls 'grace by faith' without the evidence Jesus described is damning souls to hell. It is not enough to write these things and "everybody say, Amen." Jesus said "miraculous signs will accompany those who believe." Was He just kidding around? Will we simply explain this away, justifying our powerless lives, with no fear of God whatsoever? Will we, before God, lie to ourselves and the world pretending that we are okay all the while calling it faith?

Even the New Testament shows us how dangerous it is to be so foolish to pretend about things before God. Acts 5 tells of Ananias and his wife Sapphira who pretended they were right with God when they weren't! They died! 

"Grace" didn't save Ananias and Sapphira because their "works" were a lie!

I pray these words stir all who read them to action; starting with repentance for our make-believe faith that shows no works of grace to anyone (in the Church or in the world). Jesus was accused of healing people on the Sabbath. What might we be accused of? Proclaiming, "Grace!"?

Father, forgive me for make-believe faith with no accompanying fruit (works) of grace. May I take faith more seriously understanding it's all just pretend unless mountains move. So be it.

God's Reputation

But Moses objected. “What will the Egyptians think when they hear about it?” he asked the LORD. “They know full well the power you displayed in rescuing your people from Egypt. [Numbers 14.13] 

I have always read this account of Moses interceding for Israel urging God to consider His own reputation with the idea that God would even feel compelled to protect His reputation. But, is God really concerned with His reputation? We need to think this through... If you are God and control absolutely everything, what does your reputation matter anyway?

First, Moses was not as concerned with what the Egyptians thought as much as with what they would say to the inhabitants of Canaan (where Israel was going).

Now if you destroy them, the Egyptians will send a report to the inhabitants of this land, who have already heard that you live among your people. They know, LORD, that you have appeared to your people face to face and that your pillar of cloud hovers over them. They know that you go before them in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Now if you slaughter all these people with a single blow, the nations that have heard of your fame will say, ‘The LORD was not able to bring them into the land he swore to give them, so he killed them in the wilderness.’ [Numbers 14.14-16]

As the Scriptures go on to reveal, it is made known that the inhabitants of The Promised Land were terrified of Israel.

Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. “I know the LORD has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. For we have heard how the LORD made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. [Joshua 2.8-11]

 As Israel was commanded to wipe out the inhabitants of Canaan (because their sin was so great), what did it matter what Canaan thought about God? What was the significance of Canaan's state of terror?

The Bible says:

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. [Proverbs 9-10]

Rahab, in good judgement out of fear AND knowledge of God, held out for mercy. Just as she knew God had performed incredible miracles on behalf of Israel, she would have known that God had shown Israel great mercy regarding their stupid stunts as well. Her request of the spies for protection demonstrated her belief that God was indeed to be feared, but was merciful by nature. And, you know what God did? He saved Rahab and her family.

What Moses did for Israel was demonstrate before God his understanding of God's will for mankind to be saved, not God's selfish concern with His reputation! In Old Testament imagery of Jesus Christ, Moses interceded that people might be saved. Rahab's salvation still testifies of God's love and mercy even today.

Had God wiped out Israel, He would have been seen only as an angry God of justice and not also the God of mercy. The apostle Paul had great insight into this:

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? [Romans 2.4]

What Moses interceded for was critical in Rahab's salvation. Preserving God's reputation wasn't for God's benefit, it was for Rahab's benefit. And, this same reputation is for our benefit today:

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3.16] 

Father, help us to see Your reputation in Jesus Christ. Help us to wisely see Your anger against sin in contrast to Your love for mankind on the Cross. So be it.

Material Or Spiritual?

After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land. This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country—a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak! The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley.” But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!” But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites: “The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!” [Numbers 13.25-33]  

After all the miracles Israel had seen up to this point and God's declared disdain about the wickedness in Canaan including His intent to displace them, ten of the twelve men who explored the land gave a "bad report."

It should be understood however that the men who went reported exactly what Moses ask them to report!

Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: “Go north through the Negev into the hill country. See what the land is like, and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls, or are they unprotected like open camps? Is the soil fertile or poor? Are there many trees? Do your best to bring back samples of the crops you see.” (It happened to be the season for harvesting the first ripe grapes.) [Numbers 12.17-20]

Because the focus was on "their blessings"  (and what stood between them and those blessings), instead of on God's will (to displace the Canaanites), their report was one of material fact; not spiritual. Even though the LORD told Moses to send the men, God's purpose for the exploration may have been lost in Moses' interpretation to the men.

From what we know of Joshua and Caleb, they were quite in-tune with God's will. They understood God's holiness enough to "explore" the land spiritually more than materially. This is obvious in their eagerness to go in and "take the land" in spite of every material reason not to. They based their pending victory on the wickedness they saw and their confidence that God would not tolerate it. Their assessment and plan of action had nothing to do with the material facts as observed by the other ten.

The lessons for us in this are obvious. We should approach the world with God's amazing love with holy unconcern for the material obstacles. We know God's will. We have the testimony of all the Bible that He will have victory. And yet, like the ten (and even Moses), we survey the material "facts" and, instead of walking by faith right through those facts, we draw back in self-preservation as if God was not on our side at all.

It would seem we should strive for a shift in our focus. Instead of focusing on the blessings and making a fuss about everything that stands in the way of those blessings, we should be selflessly doing God's work understanding that His victory follows His will (not our ability to manipulate circumstances). The difference is found in whether we live materially or spiritually.

Father, help us to live for You and Your will. We have every promise of Your Word that You will be victorious. May we take our focus of ourselves throwing our self-preserving caution to the wind knowing You control the wind! So be it.

Blessing

‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the  LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’ [Numbers 6.24-26] 

Interestingly enough, this blessing was something God instructed to be done:

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: [Numbers 6.22-23]

God called this blessing a "special" blessing. Why?

It must be seen in this blessing that acknowledgement is given to God in it for every possible need of man. This is of no surprise given the 1st Commandment:

You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.3]

This blessing is specific in speaking God's blessing over the recipient(s). Blessings, protection, provision and peace are all benefits God gives. In speaking this blessing over another person, it is being conveyed that that person (or persons) should look to God and God alone for blessings, protection, provision and peace.

It might be understood that the blessing is not "may you bless yourself..." or "may your job bless you..." or "may your family always bless you..." or "may the inventions of man bless you..." etc... No, it is specified, "May the LORD bless you..."

It is the LORD who blesses people. Blessing comes from God.

The significance of speaking the blessing above over people is the constant reminder it gives that God is the Blesser, and no one else. People tend to forget this important fact. And, unfortunately, the world only makes it worse. 

Debt, insurance, medicine and technology all present themselves as blessings but rarely, if ever, give credit to God. The not so funny thing about these things though is this: there are always chains (as opposed to "strings") attached to these "blessings" which really make them no blessings at all. Debt chains people with interest payments. Insurance chains people with relentlessly increasing premiums. Medicine, by very nature of the "business," is not as much interesting in healing as it is in chaining repeat customers to their products. Technology... well, technology promises convenience but in all the conveniences people have today, they are busier than ever before... They are chained to the insatiable idea of "more." These really don't sound like blessings in this light!

The blessing quoted in Numbers 6 should be considered in a quiet moment, just as I am considering it now while writing this...

Father may Your blessing be spoken and realized on Your people. May we understand that YOU are the One Who Blesses and may our eyes be opened to every imposter that would claim to bless us, but in reality curses us. So be it.

Don't Go In There (Except In Christ)!

The Kohathites must never enter the sanctuary to look at the sacred objects for even a moment, or they will die.” [Numbers 4.20] 

Think about this: once the Tabernacle was set up, no one looked upon the sacred objects except the priests. Furthermore, no one ever saw the Ark of the Covenant except the High Priest once a year. Since the Kohathites were the ones who actually physically moved these objects, imagine how critical and dangerous this procedure this was!

This means that, in all the moving Israel did, all the setups and teardowns, that life-dependent care was taken in covering the sacred objects by Aaron and his sons in such a way that they were not looked upon.

For all the graphic imagery we have enjoy today of nearly everything we can conceive, it is difficult for us to understand that these sacred objects were simply not seen. They remained cloaked in mystery; they were holy.

What this highlights is the significance of the veil being torn when Jesus died on the Cross. 

We MUST NOT take lightly Jesus' words commanding His followers to "take up their cross" and follow Him. If Jesus tore the veil and entered the Most Holy Place via His Cross, the meaning of us "taking up our cross" just got much deeper!

Contrary to popular belief, God's throne room is NOT for everyone! It is only accessible by those who, in Christ, enter in Him.

Here's a thought... When Jesus died on the Cross, the veil in the Temple was notably torn from top to bottom. This can only say that it was no man from the ground who tore the veil. The veil was torn from an elevated position... probably about the same height as someone elevated on a cross!

Jesus invites all to enter God's presence, but He effectively says, "Come on up and make My Cross your cross, for it is from here we get to God."

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? [Luke 9.23-25]

God's presence is just as holy, and therefore just as dangerous, as it ever was. There is only one Way, one portal to God; His name is Jesus and His footsteps lead to a cross for it was via His Cross He entered God's throne room. Oh, the significance of Jesus walking to Calvary! If we are truly followers of Him, His footprints will lead us nowhere else but to His Cross - our cross!

The revelation of just how holy and dangerous God is, is seen in Numbers 4.20. The path Jesus walked to get to God from the earth to the cross, from the cross to the veil, and from veil unto God, shows us the dangerous but only way to God. No one should attempt to get to God any other way than from their cross in Christ (His Cross).

I hope this ignites as much meditation and reflection in every reader as it has me in writing it!

Father, thank You for Jesus Who showed me the way to You. May I more fully understand each and every day that there simply is no other way to You ...where Jesus' footprints lead me to His cross, and therefore, my cross, so that I might enter Your presence every day! So be it.