Refelction

I am not sure what to think about all of this - As of today, my oldest is in the eighth grade (last year of junior high) and my youngest is in the sixth grade (on her way to the junior high school). Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed the journey and am thankful for the young people they have become. It was a just a time a noteworthy reflection.

Kaylee scored very high on her reading test and won a medal at school today. She is an inspiration.

JT is leading in worship, willing to serve, and (almost) all teenage boy!

JT and I will be leaving town tomorrow. We are going on a backpacking trip to another state. While we are gone, we hope to spend time looking for the spirit of mercy. I pray we can both be more forgiving people at the end of the journey.

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15).

-J

Note Those Who So Walk

Balaam - Hearing God

Numbers 22:21-40

There is something appealing to people about supernatural things occurring. Children are often enamored with the tales of super heroes and cartoons that can do things reality simply does not allow. Truth be told, many adults like to hear these stories as well. So many of the Old Testament accounts have supernatural things happening. The New Testament has them as well. These events arouse curiosity in everyone.

One such account is the story of the talking donkey. It is not every day, or any day, for that matter that animals speak language, communicate, and converse with their owners. Unlike the stories of cartoons and super heroes, these accounts are real. A donkey really did speak to Balaam. There is no doubt this would grab attention.

Balak, the king of the Moabites wanted the blessing of Balaam in order to conquer the people of Egypt. He knew of the Israelites conquering the Amonites and knew that those who were blessed by Balaam were blessed and those who were cursed were cursed (Numbers 22:6). He sent messengers asking Balaam to curse the enemy. God told Balaam to stay out and he obeyed. Balak sent more messengers and asked again. God told him if they asked yet again, he could go with them and consult Balak. Balaam went even though this provision was not met and the Lord’s anger was aroused.

The Lord then sent an angel to get in the way of Balaam on his donkey and there were three separate incidents when the donkey stopped. Balaam was so focused on what he wanted instead of what the Lord wanted that he was not able to realize these halts were happening at the hand of God. Finally, the donkey, at the hand of God’s work, spoke out to Balaam. Interestingly, it seems Balaam was not surprised at the donkey’s words but still focused on what he wanted to accomplish. He finally realized (the angel was made visible to him) that these things were the work of God and humbled himself in the sight of God. There are some great lessons to learn from this account.

Balaam’s Actions

It took an interesting sequence of events to convince Balaam that he was focused on the wrong thing — himself. He did what so many people today do when they get frustrated. He took his frustration out on an obedient donkey! Instead of focusing on the source of the frustration — his disobedience — he stayed focused on what he wanted to do and was willing to do whatever it took to get the job done. Notice verse 25: A crushed foot did not convince Balaam that he needed to change his ways.

God sent some indirect signals which still did not convince Balaam that he was acting out of his own volition. An angel tried to stop the donkey in the path. Balaam’s own foot got crushed. They came to a place in the path where the donkey could not get through and the donkey sat down while Balaam was on it. Balaam had plenty of opportunities to change his mind about the matter. Today, through providential means, God may very well be sending message after message trying to convince His people of one thing or another. Yet often times, like Balaam, His children are so focused on what they want to do they miss the point.

The Donkey’s Words

It is an age old fact that God works in mysterious ways. Overpowering a donkey to be able to speak and converse with a human being is most definitely a mysterious way. He accomplished His will through the donkey and finally got through to Balaam. This, of course, supports what the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 1:1. God has communicated in various ways in times past. He communicated his will through a donkey on this occasion.

Many wonder if God can use them in His divine plan. If He can use a donkey, surely he can use rational human beings! He can even use irrational human beings to accomplish his purpose. He used Pharaoh and Rahab in his will at one time (Exodus 10:1; James 2:25). Certainly, he can use His people and even those who are not His people to accomplish and work His will today.

The Angels Commission

Finally, God communicates with Balaam through the angel that stopped the donkey on three different occasions. The angel informed Balaam that he was the one who stopped him and that God was trying to communicate a message to Balaam. He even explains that he could have simply killed Balaam but he did not.

The angel continues by telling Balaam to go to Balak but quickly reminds Balaam that he is only to work and do what God tells him to do. There is, of course, a great lesson for Christians today. They are to only “speak as the oracles of God” (1Peter 4:11). Preachers are commissioned through Paul’s words to Timothy to “preach the word” (2Timothy 4:2). Christians need to take this message to heart and work God’s plan not their own. Peter said it this way: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

Conclusions

God had a plan for Balaam and He certainly has plans for His children today. Yet, a vital lesson to be learned is that every person has a choice. Balaam initially chose not to follow God’s plan. While God worked through miraculous means on this occasion, the Christian can be comforted to know that through His providence, He is still working today His purpose to perform. Also, like Balaam, people today need to change their actions when they learn new information. When Balaam learned it was God all along, he moved to replace his own will with God’s will. Today, God’s followers need to do the same thing. If God can work through a dumb donkey, He can work through His children.

-J

Note Those Who So Walk

Ezekiel - Dry Bones

The idea of someone being raised from the dead is often times intriguing. Perhaps, because of the finality of death, many people are enamored with the idea of someone coming back from the dead. There are several accounts in the Bible of people who were raised from the dead. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in John 11:38-44. Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead in Luke 8:49-56. In Matthew 10:8, Jesus commanded the 12 apostles to go and preach to the lost of Israel and while they were going, he commanded them, among other things, to raise the dead. Of course, all of these happened through the use of miracles. 1Corinthians 13 teaches the age of miracles has ceased and no one is going to be raised from the dead today (see Ecclesiastes 9:6). Ezekiel 37:1-14 records another account of the dead being brought to life. A valley was “full of bones” and the bones were brought to life. Aside from the intriguing nature of the record, the sequence of events has several important lessons to be learned.

One such lesson concerns the faith and obedience of Ezekiel. After Ezekiel noticed the valley “full of bones” and recording “there were very many” and “they were very dry,” the Lord asked him if the bones could live again. His reply was an expression of faith—“O Lord God, You know” (verse 3). The implication of the statement is also intriguing. Ezekiel knew that without God, there was no way the bones could live. Further, he did not know if God was going to allow the bones to be resurrected. Thus, he did not know if the bones could live. Only God knew because only God could make it happen. Today, there are many who may claim to know the future and other information which they do not know. In truth, only God knows. Christians need to follow the example of Ezekiel and realize that only God knows.

Ezekiel’s faith is also seen in his obedience to God’s commands. This obedience is seen even though the Lord asked him to do some very unusual things. How much value is there in talking to dead bones? Even more, these bones were dry indicating the people had been dead for a very long time. God told Ezekiel to prophesy to these bones two times in the record (verses 4, 9, and 11). Each time, Ezekiel obeyed the Lord and did as he was commanded. Both times, Ezekiel says it this way — “So I prophesied as He commanded me…” (verses 7 and 10). Ezekiel obeyed God.

Today, many do not want to obey God even when the commands make sense. God says to attend the worship service of the saints to be encouraged (Hebrews 10:25). God says to pray so that man can have a relationship with Him (1Thessalonians 5:17). God says to be kind to others for in serving other men, Christians are serving God (Matthew 25:31-46). Are these commands obeyed? These commands make sense. Yet, many will not do them. Ezekiel’s faith is seen in the fact that he obeyed God even when the commands did not make sense. The first reason any Christian is to do what God has commanded is simply because God has commanded it.

One of the blessings of this record is that God explains the purpose of the miracle. In verses 12-14, Ezekiel records:

"Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,’ says the Lord.’”

First, the sequence of events was prophetic concerning the children of Israel. God said, “I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves….” Second, the sequence of events was to show the power of God. When God does these things the people will have proof. They will know that He is God.

In the New Testament, one finds this is the very reason miracles were done — to confirm Christ was God’s Son or God in the flesh. John 20:30-31 says: “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” The New Testament miracles are recorded that people today might have proof or believe Jesus is the Son of God. One of the reasons Ezekiel was empowered to raise the dry bones to life was that people may know God is God.

There will be one more miracle seen by men in the second coming of Christ. He will come again in the clouds (1Thessalonians 4:17). The dead will be raised (1Thessalonians 4:16). The earth will be consumed (2Peter 3:10). While this day will indeed declare, once and for all, that Jesus is the Son of God, it will be too late to believe and obey Him then. At that point, He will judge those who are alive and those who have died (2Timothy 4:1). Thus, it is ever so important that people obey Him now while there is still time: “Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2Corinthains 6:2).

-J