Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Numbers 21 tells of the attack by the King of Aram and his defeat and utter destruction.  Once again, the Israelites become upset with their long journey before they can enter Canaan.  This causes Jehovah to send poisonous snakes to kill them.  On God’s instructions, Moses makes a statue of a snake and places it on a pole.  All the people must do is look at it and they will be rescued.

They went on until they came to Ammon.  They requested to pass through and once again were refused permission.  This time they attacked and defeated the Amorites and occupied their territory.  When Og of Bashan heard they were coming, he also attacked, and Yahweh gave victory again.  This area was also taken by Moses and his people.

If you like Doctor Doolittle or cartoons with talking animals, you will enjoy Numbers 22.  Balaam’s donkey talks.  Yes, you read it correctly.  An animal in the Bible talks to its owner.  Balak was the king of Moab.  The Moabites become one of the nations around Israel that is a constant bother.  Balak was afraid of Moses and the Jews.

He sent to the Euphrates River for Balaam who was a seer or a prophet.  Unlike most foreign prophets, he knew Jehovah, the creator.  Balaam refuses to return to Moab at first after consulting Yahweh.  This is repeated and Balaam starts for Balak’s home.  This is where the donkey prevents a messenger of the Lord from killing Balaam but gets beaten for his trouble.  God opens the animal’s mouth and allows him to talk to his master.

The burrow makes some good points with his owner before God allows Balaam to see the angel.  Christians often do the same thing when a brother or sister sees danger in their actions that oppose the Lord’s will.  Often the one trying to prevent a fall from favor is abused, insulted or even accused of being holier than thou.  Many believers shy away from telling what they know because of this kind of treatment.  The story continues tomorrow.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger