Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17 ~ the Spirit of God

Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17

When Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel encamped, tribe by tribe,

    the spirit of God came upon him,

    and he gave voice to his oracle:

    The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,

       The utterance of a man whose eye is true,

    The utterance of one who hears what God says,

        and knows what the Most High knows,

    Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,

        enraptured, and with eyes unveiled

Balaam hoped for the riches of defeating a herd of nomads. They looked like the weak and wretched. Balaam was going to have his words written for millenniums on the walls of caves. These invaders looked like cavemen. This was going to be easy peasy. Balaam's blessings were rolllling in. And then Balaam, his gifts given to him by God of All, found this wasn't going to be Balaam's Day.

Can you imagine? Balaam had won the prize. No more waiting in line. And then he looks at the chumps and realizes, "These ARE the Blessed of God." Balaam must have felt like the world looked out of orbit. No, this couldn't be THE EXODUS???

And really, this is the way the unbelievers see listening to men in robes. Who walked. And got dusty. And we are supposed to see Ancient Wisdom????

And we are supposed to believe this is

the Journey Today?

For the Binary World of TODAY???

    How goodly are your tents, O Jacob;

        your encampments, O Israel!

    They are like gardens beside a stream,

        like the cedars planted by the LORD.

    His wells shall yield free-flowing waters,

        he shall have the sea within reach;

    His king shall rise higher,

        and his royalty shall be exalted.

Then Balaam gave voice to his oracle:

    The utterance of Balaam, son of Beor,

        the utterance of the man whose eye is true,

    The utterance of one who hears what God says,

        and knows what the Most High knows,

    Of one who sees what the Almighty sees,

        enraptured, and with eyes unveiled.

I see him, though not now;

I behold him, though not near

A star shall advance from Jacob,

and a staff shall rise from Israel.

Balaam is recorded in the New Testament. Balaam couldn't turn away from the idea of personal gain. Balaam could see the truth and, yet,  he turned from the truth. Scripture record to see the truth, demons do see and merely shudder.  Balaam plotted to bring the Blessed into ruin. 

When the wind swirls,

we have to have faith.

The Children of Israel already did this ruin to themselves. Thinking unhappy thoughts.  I'm not Blessed. I'm living in a tent. Like Abraham. I might be hungry tomorrow. Why should I fight for my God given blessings. Things used to be easier. They should be easier. I used to be fed all kinds of things, now I have to rely on God to provide for me. I remember back in the day. Life is too fragile.

My family says we can be a Princess with a Pea in the mattress, or we can find ourselves Blessed. Daily.

Balaam plotted and  told the Children of Israel, this: You could be having wild orgies. And having a lot to drink. Let all that is fun be good. You don't have to listen to the old people or that invisible God. Forget the old ways, make life easy. Follow downfall. 

The Children of Israel had real problems. Faith told them not to believe the word about town and the giant golden statue of Bull Market.

What was evil, demanded to have comfort increase. Faith asked to hold on for better Godly circumstances. Faith asked to find the Blessings in Today.  Evil said that's the old path. Evil said have comfort. Faith said fight the good fight.

Balaam knew what was what, he just moved things around to fit his own narrative.  Balaam is not recorded as being eaten by worms. Herod actually was.  This decade, we discovered Herod's tomb.  Balaam kept on going.  The Children of the Blessed just went further. David died in his 6th decade in 1000 B.C., most of the world lived to be 20. Balaam is just words on a wall in a cave in Jordan. Israel exists as a nation. Again after 2,000 years. Be the Children of Israel.

My friend told me, "I just did a Bible Study of seeing what the journey looked like for Israel for 40 years in the desert. I feel so badly. I would have been complaining the most of all of them."

Jesus is Mercy. Jesus would say, 

John 1 

 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

 Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” 

48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” 

Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree,

 I saw you.”

 49 Nathanael answered him, 

“Rabbi, you are the Son of God! 

You are the King of Israel!” 

50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, 

‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? 

You will see greater things than these.” 

And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, 

you will see heaven opened, 

and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

God has given us Grace and Mercy.

Salvation in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2 

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated 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 once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 

15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 

18 For through him we both have 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 members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 

22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Our Daily Bread, Manna

John 6:29 

Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” 

 Micah 6:8 

is a concise but powerful field guide to serving God 

When we act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, He declares this

is “good” and “what He requires.” 

  

  

Lamentations 3:22–24

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him. 

  

 2 Timothy 4:7 

He says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Fighting the good fight of the faith is also about perseverance and continuing, even when the road is hard.  

  

Philippians 4:8

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  

  

Nehemiah 8:10

This day is holy to our Lord. 

Do not grieve, 

for the joy

 of the Lord

 is your strength 

In the World, not of the world.

Jesus is Living Water.

Jesus hovered over the water in Genesis. Jesus delighted to see the circles of the deep. Jesus led His People out of slavery in the water, by His Word.  Jesus parted the water and led the Beloved Children of God on dry land, in sandals that would last 40 years. Jesus was Baptized in the water. Jesus knew the deep and told mankind where to fish. Even as mankind had fears of great waters, all throughout Scripture. Jesus is God. Jesus walked upon the waters. Jesus slept in faith upon the waters and then rose up, to calm the Storm.

In all seasons, Jesus is in our lives. Jesus in your life. Jesus in my life.

 

We are not God. We live in grace by His grace. The wind will blow. And we will let God be God. And in His mercy, we will pray for and give the mercy He gives us. When we are weary, we will rest in Him. God upholds the Universe. He has the whole world in His Plan. He has the whole world in His Plan.

We seek to find what God calls Joyful. And to hold up those who need prayer. To proclaim God as Love. To speak the truth. To acknowledge truth. To pray for strength in His Body. Holy is the Lord.  

Jesus is where we place our trust and are nourished by His Love.

Abba, Father,

Help us to see the wheat

and be the Wheat of God on the days 

the weeds seem to choke out 

faith.

Help us to reach to You

and find Joy.

Dwell in me, Jesus Christ.

Please dwell in those I love.

In Jesus, help us to seek You first.

We will finish well in Jesus Christ. 

Help as our Foundation.

To build and remain in Love.

To accept Love and Know You alone are God.

Not to accept what is not acceptable.

In Joy, to shake off what is not valor.

And in Your Joy

take what the wild winds blow

and find God as Refuge

and Jesus as Peace.

Being bold

and courageous

and enduring in Jesus.

Allowing the difficulties

to give us wisdom

and make way, truth and Life in Jesus Christ

for the people

You have placed in our care.

Let us receive Your Mercy

in our soul

and do as You ask 

each day.

1 John 4:17 

By this is love perfected with us, 

so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, 

because 

AS HE IS

so also are we in this world.

His Mercies Renew

 God is our Joy and Strength.

We do not know all You know.

We do not have the omnipotence for a complete prayer.

We can't surround every person

or every issue

to bring the healing we know Jesus does.

You are the Light of Heaven.

Jesus, You are the Light of Nations.

Jesus Christ,

Only Son of the Most High God,

You are the Light of mankind.

We have a heart for the difficulties

facing our own lives,

the lives of those we love,

This Nation,

and Ukraine 

and the plight of the Russians.

And in the hearts of mankind

You have delighted in,

we ask Jesus Christ

to be our Blessing,

Teacher,

Healer,

Lord of us all.

God of Love.

God of Encouragement.

We Thank You

for the Blessings

You give us daily.

And ask for You

 provide

Grace and Mercy

for our trespasses.

To heal us,

the Healing in our Loved Ones,

to Heal the Nation,

To Bless Ukraine and Russians

with Peace.

Love.

Joy.

Jesus.

Amen in Your Son,

the Highest Name of Jesus,

Amen.

 

God reminds us

Blessing us with prayers for more Heaven on earth,

His Good Will be done.

To You, our Father, be the Glory

Our God is an Awesome God! Amen

and Alleluia

in Jesus Christ and His Glory!

Matthew 13:31,32

Jesus put before them another parable: “The Kingdom of Heaven 

is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.

 Although it is the smallest of all seeds, 

yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, 

so that the birds of the air come 

and 

nest in its branches.”

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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Genesis 49 ~ Listen to your father Israel.

 Jacob Blesses his Sons, painted by Dr. Harry Anderson

 

Genesis 49

Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

2 “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob;
listen to your father Israel.

3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn,
my might, the first sign of my strength,
excelling in honor, excelling in power.
4 Turbulent as the waters, you will no longer excel,
for you went up onto your father’s bed,
onto my couch and defiled it.

5 “Simeon and Levi are brothers—
their swords are weapons of violence.
6 Let me not enter their council,
let me not join their assembly,
for they have killed men in their anger
and hamstrung oxen as they pleased.
7 Cursed be their anger, so fierce,
and their fury, so cruel!
I will scatter them in Jacob
and disperse them in Israel.




8 “Judah, your brothers will praise you;
your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;
your father’s sons will bow down to you.
9 You are a lion’s cub, Judah;
you return from the prey, my son.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until he to whom it belongs shall come
and the obedience of the nations shall be his.
11 He will tether his donkey to a vine,
his colt to the choicest branch;
he will wash his garments in wine,
his robes in the blood of grapes.
12 His eyes will be darker than wine,
his teeth whiter than milk.

13 “Zebulun will live by the seashore
and become a haven for ships;
his border will extend toward Sidon.

14 “Issachar is a rawboned donkey
lying down among the sheep pens.
15 When he sees how good is his resting place
and how pleasant is his land,
he will bend his shoulder to the burden
and submit to forced labor.

16 “Dan will provide justice for his people
as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan will be a snake by the roadside,
a viper along the path,
that bites the horse’s heels
so that its rider tumbles backward.

18 “I look for your deliverance, Lord.

19 “Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders,
but he will attack them at their heels.

20 “Asher’s food will be rich;
he will provide delicacies fit for a king.

21 “Naphtali is a doe set free
that bears beautiful fawns.

22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine,
a fruitful vine near a spring,
whose branches climb over a wall.
23 With bitterness archers attacked him;
they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady,
his strong arms stayed limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father’s God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty, who blesses you
with blessings of the skies above,
blessings of the deep springs below,
blessings of the breast and womb.

26 Your father’s blessings are greater
than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
thanthe bounty of the age-old hills.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of the prince among his brothers.

27 “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf;
in the morning he devours the prey,
in the evening he divides the plunder.”

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.


29 Then he gave them these instructions: “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. 31 There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried, there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried, and there I buried Leah. 32 The field and the cave in it were bought from the Hittites.”

33 When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

Attitudes and Blessings  

Jacob believed, knew, he was the descendant carrying Abraham's blessing. "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” He seems, to me, to be very positive as he wants to bless his children. This is not a man fading away, but relinquishing his spirit in gratitude and verve. The Blessings Thief, interestingly enough, wants all his 12 sons to be blessed.

This summer I was having a emotional day. I went to the grocery store with my son and the clerk said to me, with great enthusiasm and sparkling eyes, "God Gives You What you Need for Each Day, hang on to that." Jacob lived this.

Psalm 68:19
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah
and/or King James Bible
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Jacob is telling us of his life remembrances ~ as a father, as a child of God, and as - Father God.

Jacob is gathering his life together - to go on. Look at this with me a unique way; not as a man with 11 children, but a lifetime of memories.


Biblical illustrations by Balage Balogh

Reuben ~ recall with me, tried to save Joseph. In personality, Rueben stands out in Scripture, however Reuben has laid to waste his relationship with his father over Jacob's concubine, Bilhah. Jacob and Bilhah had two sons, Dan and Naphtali. God is telling us sexual sin can cross boundaries and cause irreparable harm.

Simeon and Levi ~  have astonished Jacob with the ability to have supreme violence towards mankind and animals. How quickly humanity can destroy. Here is Jacob, called Israel, telling us families can have moments that stun and take the breathe away. We can see this two ways, a depressing event in the middle of our Disney 2012 Christmas or we can recall things in our family we would like to have improved, with merely a thought. Even God's chosen saints have these events. Newtown, Connecticut for some of us, has become our town.

Judah ~  The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, is of course, JESUS. And we are celebrating a birthday each year of God willing to come to us. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. We Rejoice in the Days God has blessed us. God is in His Heaven and all is right with the world. He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch. Palm Sunday Events. 

Zebulun ~ a haven. Life forces compel us like the Mighty Mississippi river. We rejoice in the times of haven, days stretching before us like sunlight on water.

Psalm 107:30
They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven

Issachar ~ a work in progress, a work horse.

How good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land. In Ecclesiastes 5 we learn about this. Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot. Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

Dan ~  providing justice for his people. Dan's verse is inspiring, a man of valor. For the days of our lives when we have so much appreciation for being protected and spoken up for.

Proverbs 29:4
By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down.

Matthew 5:25
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison."

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

Gad ~ can be relied upon to give all that back.

James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Asher ~ is gifted. Don't we love to see the gifts our children have.


Proverbs 18:16
A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.

1 Corinthians 12:4
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.

Deer lithograph by Samuel Howell

Naphtali ~ is a doe set free, that bears beautiful fawns. We are, obviously, treated to a moment in Jacob's memories of Naphtali's mercy. And the reward of seeing the unusual and appreciated fawns the next year.

Ephesians 2:4-6
God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Benjamin  ~ Jacob's treasured son with his wife Rachael, this passage seems to suggest Benjamin is a yuppie with determination and skill.  As Benjamin's  life develops - he gives back blessings to others. His life encourages Joseph.

Ephesians 4:13
Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Of all the gifts we could possibly give our children... faith.

Joseph~ here we reach the crux of this passage. Forgiveness. Trust. Blessings.  Jacob, Israel, wrestler of blessings, believed Joseph was killed by a wild animal. His sons are never recorded asking for forgiveness. And yet, importantly, Jacob wishes to bless his sons. An example of Father God.

Jacob had a life with misery, upon occasion, yet he believes himself to be the bearer of Almighty God's blessing. Jacob has joy in discovering, God has raised his beloved son. What has Jacob enjoyed about learning about Joseph, the man? 

But his bow remained steady,
his strong arms stayed limber,

because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

because of your father’s God,

who helps you,
because of the Almighty,

who blesses you
with blessings

The Blessings of Jesus on Palm Sunday, equally shine in the Light with the background of Good Friday as the dark. Palm Sunday is a Blessing, in faith.

Luke 12:32 

The words of Jesus

 “Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom” 

The Blessings of God

are seen clearly in hindsight.

The Blessings Jacob gave his sons are historically accurate.

Yet even seeing the Blessings at the time

of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

The Today of Israel's Blessings to his sons

has to be seen in the Light of Blessings

held up to the dark of the loss of Jacob

upon the family having such new good news.

God gives us the choice

to see the blessing

do deal with the work of faith

and to adopt optimism or faith.

We would all like to have as many blessings as 
Israel had sons.

And Yet, all the sons did have blessings to give and withhold. 

Jesus began with only Mary supporting

Him as an unborn child.

God works His Good Plan

with many

or few.

Abba, Father,

We do not know all You know.

We do not have the omnipotence for a complete prayer.

We can't surround every person

or every issue

to bring the healing we know Jesus does.

You are the Light of Heaven.

Jesus, You are the Light of Nations.

Jesus Christ,

Only Son of the Most High God,

You are the Light of mankind.

We have a heart for the difficulties

facing

our own lives,

the lives of those we love,

This Nation,

and Ukraine 

and the plight of the Russians.

And in the hearts of mankind

You have delighted in,

we ask Jesus Christ

to be our Blessing,

Teacher,

Healer,

Lord of us all.

God of Love.

God of Encouragement.

We Thank You

for the Blessings

You give us daily.

And ask for You

to dwell in us

and provide

Grace and Mercy

for our trespasses.

Dwell in us

and we will see Jesus

Your Help to seek Your first

and we will finish well

In Jesus Christ

To heal us,

the Heal our Loved Ones,

to Heal the Nation,

To Bless Ukraine and Russians

with Peace.

Love.

Joy.

Jesus.

When Jesus as an embryo

had only Mary to rely upon,

The Plans of God held fast.

We trust God to provide a hope and a future

we can hope to find numbers for abundant blessings

or 

we can believe

Jesus was in the Tomb alone 

when the Grace of God

and His Word

caused Jesus Christ to Live Victoriously.

Mary upheld Jesus as a planned child of

God

when only Mary in Nazareth

believed in Jesus to be

God's Son.

Jesus in His beginning

and 

Jesus in His Life

are surrounded by 

His Father

and

The Holy Spirit.

John 15:11 

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and

 that your joy may be complete.

Abba, Father,

Prayer for Zelensky and the government.

Horrible Z painted vehicles.

End the war, end Russian oil sales. Crazy.

We pray for worldwide Peace.

And please pray for my upcoming eye operation

rescheduled to mid-March.

I have not felt well on Saturday and today,

please pray for my good health.

Thank you.

Psalm 33:15

 He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do. 

The Maker of hearts also knows how to remake hearts.

Open hearts, change hearts.

We pray in the Highest Name of Jesus,

Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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