JESUS and the Donkey (Num.22)

As the Israelites journeyed into the plains of Moab, the people of that region saw them, and feared them so much that King Balak sent some men to a wicked prophet named Balaam, who was offered money to curse the Israelites.  Balaam told the men to stay overnight while he made some "inquiries"...

     (Numbers 22:9-13)  Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me, 11 ‘Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” 12 God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”  13 So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak’s leaders, “Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”

When the men gave this message to King Balak, he sent more important men to Balaam, asking him to return with them and the king would honor him very richly.  Balaam spoke with God again, and this time God said that he could go back with the men - but Balaam was ONLY to do what God told him.  So in the morning Balaam saddled up his donkey and set off with the men.

Right away, we see that this action angered God.  Why?  Well, 2 Peter chapter 2 gives us insight...

     (2 Peter 2:1..., 12-16)  But false prophets also arose among the people...  But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, 13 suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; 15 forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet...

God knows our hearts and intentions;  and knowing Balaam's, angered Him...

     (Numbers 22:22-23)0  But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand...

The LORD opened the donkey's eyes to see THE angel of the LORD (Jesus of the Old Testament) standing in its way... with a drawn sword.  Much later, when Jesus came to earth as 100% man and 100% God, He came in humility - Mary was put on a donkey for the trek to Bethlehem - to be born in a stable... Later, near the end of His ministry on earth, Jesus rode in on a donkey - signifying "peace", Jesus was offering Himself to the Israelites as their perfect King;  BUT the people rejected Him.  They were wanting the mighty warrior King with the sword.  Jesus was going to show His strength and power by doing something so much greater.  And then, one day, at the end of the Tribulation, Jesus will ride in on a war horse.  More on that much much later.  The point is - here with Balaam, Jesus demonstrates His fiery strength and power with a sword!

The donkey veered three times, refusing to move forward any further.  When Balaam started to beat the donkey...

     (Numbers 22:28-30)  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 Then Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.” 30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?” And he said, “No.”

What I find amusing is that Balaam thinks nothing of arguing with the donkey.  And even loses the argument.  Of course, it's not really the donkey speaking, it's the LORD.  Ah, I would think I'd be wondering what was REALLY going on.  Perhaps this is what happens when people become blinded by anger and greed???  Anyway, the LORD then opens Balaam's eyes.  As Balaam speaks, he still sounds wishy-washy about what he should or should not do.  THE angel of the LORD tells him that he's only alive thanks to his donkey, and says that Balaam can still go to the city, but should only do what the LORD tells him to do.

King Balak asks Balaam to curse the Israelites three times, but  just as God spoke through the donkey, God spoke through Balaam and blessed Israel instead - THREE times.  And even though Balak was furious, Balaam helplessly explained yet again that he could only speak the words that God gave him... then Balaam prophesied what would become of king Balak and his people...  NOT good news for them.

What is our take-away from this?  I've been meditating and praying about this, and there could be several take-aways, but since I'm focusing on Jesus, I would say - MY take-away is that I want to be on Jesus' side... with a pure heart and pure motives, I want to serve the victorious LORD of lords and KING of kings who is in control!!!

     (Matthew 8:24-27)  When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. 25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” 26 He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. 27 The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

JESUS and the Bronze Serpent (Num.21)

While wandering in the wilderness, there arose another occasion for the Israelites to grumble.  This particular time they took things too far...

     (Numbers 21:5-9)  The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.”  6 The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and you; intercede with the Lord, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. 8 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.”  9 And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.

The people who had faith and obeyed - lived.  God gave them a visual, but they were not to worship the bronze serpent - they were to obey God and have faith.  We get further insight in the New Testament when Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus, a Pharisee who knew the scriptures well...

     (John 3:5-15)  Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born [again.’8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;  15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life..."

We often use the cross as a visual symbol of our belief.  We do not believe in the CROSS (structure itself)... but we believe in JESUS' work on the cross.  And the following scripture sums up everything I've covered thus far... the aspect of how the Abraham covenant would bless all nations... how the Israelites were chosen to demonstrate to the world God's power... how the coming Messiah, Jesus, would bring a New Covenant... how Jesus would bring about salvation to anyone who believes... how the Old and New Testament work together...

     (Ephesians 2:11-25)  Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

JESUS and Judgement (Num.15-16)

Moses continued leading the Israelites according to the LORD's instructions, but Korah and a few other men challenged Moses' authority and leadership, and then incited the people.  These men's hearts were not right with God.

     (Numbers 16:19-24)  Thus Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the doorway of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation.  20 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.” 22 But they (Moses and Aaron) fell on their faces and said, “O God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?”  23 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”

Let's not feel too badly for Korah and the few men who did this.  There are a few things we need to understand about God and what it means to be a believer.  Firstly, it's our sinful nature to desire power and position.  When we become believers, we learn the lesson that Jesus had to teach His disciples (who were constantly trying to prove that they were better and above the others)...

     (Matthew 20:25-28)  "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

We should also understand that God is all-knowing, fair and just.  Besides punishing the wicked in due time, we must be aware that God disciplines His children accordingly...

     (1 Corinthians 11:32)  ...when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

As well, understand that God does not punish or forsake a believer or even someone who will one day become a believer.  This is evident in Jesus' parable ...

     (Matthew 13:27-29)  The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them..."

Interestingly, the event described in Numbers 16, where the LORD tells the people to "Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram’” in order to destroy only the people in those camps - parallels what Jesus will do in the end times...

     (Matthew 25:31-33)  "...when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left..."

This even happens AFTER the Tribulation, before taking all believers into the Millennium for the Thousand Year Reign... (FYI:  these believers are the people who became Christians during the Tribulation, since all Christians just before the Tribulation are "raptured" - caught up in the air with Jesus.)

But what does that mean for us now... Just knowing who Jesus is, we can be confident that He has our best interesting at heart, for Jesus Himself - GOD - says...

     (John 10:27-30)  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

JESUS and Faith (Num.13-14)

The Israelites reached the land of Canaan, the land that God promised to them.  Moses then sent out 12 men to spy out the land.  When they returned, ten of the men were afraid and gave a bad report about what they had seen and what they thought, advising that it was a very bad idea to go into the land, which got the people anxious and riled up.  Two of the men, Joshua and Caleb, had a lot of faith in the LORD and gave a truthful report,  advising the people that they should move forward.

      (Numbers13:8-11)  "If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord; and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey. Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.” 10 But all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of the Lord appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel.

11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?..."

This totally parallels how some people respond to Jesus.  They think they need more proof.  IF they would just see a miracle, THEN they would believe... yet in both the Old and New Testament times, people got to see these miracles, and still chose not to have faith, not to believe, not to accept Jesus.

Back to the scripture passage, the Israelites just saw the "glory of the Lord appear" - right in front of them - but did not trust or believe in the LORD.  And so the LORD was ready to destroy the people, but Moses pleads with Him.  The outcome of that is...

     (Numbers 14:21-23)  So the Lord said, “I have pardoned them according to your word;  21 but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord. 22 Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, 23 shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. 24 But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land..."

This outcome parallels what happens when we DO put our faith in Jesus - we get to see heaven.  If we do not, then we do not get to experience heaven.

     (Numbers 14:36-37)  As for the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land and who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report concerning the land, 37 even those men who brought out the very bad report of the land died by a plague before the Lord.  38 But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive out of those men who went to spy out the land.

Simple as that.  Believe and live...

     (John 1:25-26)  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die..."