Numbers 22-24

  • Numbers 22:1-4 – Balak was scared of Israel’s army.
    • See Numbers 26:51 regarding the size of Israel’s army – over 600,000 men capable of going to war.
  • Numbers 22:12 – THIS is the bottom line from God. They are blessed – do not curse them.
  • Numbers 22:19 – Trouble starts. Balaam decides to see what else God will say. See II Peter 2:15-16; Jude 1:11.
  • Numbers 22:20 – God allowed Balaam to use his free will and go anyway.
  • Numbers 22:22-35 – The angel and donkey intervene to work against Balaam.
  • Numbers 22:41-23:12 – Balaam’s first blessing.
  • Numbers 23:13-26 – Balaam’s second blessing.
  • Numbers 23:27-24:13 – Balaam’s third blessing.
    • Numbers 24:9 – See Genesis 12:1-3. God was working to protect them. See Deuteronomy 23:3-6; Joshua 24:9-10; Micah 6:1-3.

Numbers 25

  • Numbers 25:1-9 – The Israelites start to turn toward Baal, but Phineas kills a man and woman caught in sin, stopping the plague. See I Corinthians 10:8.
  • Numbers 25:10-18 – God promises a priestly lineage through Phineas because of his zeal. God orders violence against the Midianites.
    • Numbers 31:7-12; Revelation 2:14 – Balaam apparently advised Balak how to get Israel to sin.
  • Lessons for us:
    • Beware of the danger that comes from inside.
    • We should line our morals up with our religion instead of “religion” up with our morals.