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"Through the Bible" Week 11

"Through the Bible" Week 11. Balaam - Good Prophet, Bad Prophet Numbers 22-24. The church has always been of the opinion that the priority is with the death and resurrection of Jesus, certainly more significant than His birth. .

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"Through the Bible" Week 11

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  1. "Through the Bible" Week 11 • Balaam - Good Prophet, Bad Prophet • Numbers 22-24

  2. The church has always been of the opinion that the priority is with the death and resurrection of Jesus, certainly more significant than His birth.

  3. Three chapters in the book of Numbers are given over to tell the story of a colorful but non-Israelite prophet, Balaam.

  4. Balaam was a Mesopotamian prophet whose name literally means, • "not (of the) people, i.e. foreigner."

  5. It is very possible that Moses, who we believe wrote the book of Numbers, had access to memoirs left behind and discovered after the death of Balaam.

  6. Balaam's oracles - a drama in Three Acts • Act I - A King's Request • Act II - A Talking Donkey • Act III - Blessings Pronounced

  7. Oracle One - • not a curse but a blessing, ending with, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my end be like theirs!" (23:10)

  8. Oracle Two - • "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (23:19)

  9. Oracle Three - • a greater blessing than previously given: "How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel! May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse • you be cursed!“ • (24:5-9)

  10. Oracle s Four and Five - • contain clear Messianic prophesies.

  11. For some readers of Numbers, it may come as a surprise that Balaam knew God, calling him by the very same name (YHWH) that was revealed to Moses.

  12. A list of non-Jewish godly men of the Bible include: • Nahor, Laban, Job, • Melchizedek, Jethro, • and the Magi.

  13. God is available to anyone and everyone, for as Paul wrote, • "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 8:13)

  14. When we look further in to Scripture, we find that in the end, Balaam does not get a very good report.

  15. Balaam provided the advice for the women of Midian to seduce the men of Israel to worship their many gods – • "You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing • sexual immorality." • Revelation 2:14

  16. According to several Old Testament references, it becomes clear that Balaam wanted very badly to comply with the request of Balak to curse God's people. • (Deuteronomy 23:4, 5; Joshua 24:9, 10; Nehemiah 13:2; • Micah 6:5)

  17. Both Peter and Jude give grave warnings to the Christians of their day who apparently were coming under the influence of false teachings. In describing these false teachers, the apostles liken them to Balaam. • II Peter 2:15, 16

  18. The sad truth is that Balaam knew God, but his heart was unchanged. He was in it for himself, ready to compromise for the sake of personal gain. Lured by the promise of financial prosperity, Balaam foreshadows • Judas.

  19. Matthew 7:22, 23 • "Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. • Away from me, • you evildoers!'"

  20. Luke 13:24-30 • "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, • `Sir, open the door for us.' • "But he will answer, • `I don't know you or • where you come from.'

  21. Balaam, was a Good Prophet, Bad Prophet. Yes, he knew God; he talked with God; and at least gave the appearance of obeying God. But in the end, Balaam was the man who built his house on sand, and certainly he will be among those to whom will be spoken the • terrible words, • "Away from me, • you evildoers!"

  22. I don't want to be in that group!

  23. The time has now come: • to restore the fear of God.

  24. The time has now come: • to stop mouthing the words.

  25. The time has now come: • to stop presuming upon the grace of God.

  26. The time has now come: • to truly repent from our self-centered ways.

  27. The time has now come: • to be Holy Spirit energized doers of righteousness.

  28. Do not think that this call is only for the godless population living around us. • Peter said, "For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God." • I Peter 4:17

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