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Numbers Chapter 24

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¹ And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.

² And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

³ And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

⁴ He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

⁵ How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!

⁶ As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

⁷ He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

⁸ God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

⁹ He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

¹⁰ And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

¹¹ Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.

¹² And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,

¹³ If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?

¹⁴ And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.

¹⁵ And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

¹⁶ He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

¹⁷ I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

¹⁸ And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.

¹⁹ Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

²⁰ And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

²¹ And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.

²² Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.

²³ And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!

²⁴ And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.

²⁵ And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.

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GiGi's Numbers Chapter 24 comment on 7/11/2023, 10:33pm...

NUM. 24

cont.

The Star comes from Jacob, the Sceptre, comes from Israel. Balaam saw Christ in a vision, but said He is not to come now. He beholds Him, but His coming is not nigh. The Messiah will smite Moab and destroy the children of Sheth. He shall possess Edom and Seir and Israel shall do valiantly (overcome them). The Messiah will dominion and destroy those who still remain (at His second coming)

Balaam prophesies concerning Amalekites and the Kenites (Midianites). They both will perish and be wasted. He speaks of Chittam (Cypress or Greece) coming against Asshur (Assyria) and Eber (I don't know who Eber is as a nation nor Sheth of vs. 17)

After completing his prophecy, Balaam left Balak and returned home. Balak went home, too.

It is really awesome to see in this account how God MADE Balaam speak what He willed and Balaam could not do otherwise!

God's power is overwhelmingly great and able to accomplish whatever God wills. No one can stay His hand, nor truly oppose Him without being judged to enter the lake of fire in the end. Some may think that they can outsmart or overpower God's will, but they are wrong and deceived to think so. This chapter names nations that the Messiah will judge and waste, But I think this is a way of speaking that those who oppose God will be wasted as these nations were wasted.

The rebellious who dig in and resist God's will to the end of their life or at the second coming will be spending eternity in the lake of fire experiencing unending torment. So, we must pray for those without Christ to be saved and speak to them what God's Spirit tells us to say to them. We who have come to faith and taste of the goodness of God and His grace towards us have a responsibility to share how we came to be blessed with salvation and forgiveness of sins. We need to explain what happens at the final judgment to encourage those who believe and prompt those who don't to turn to Christ to be saved from our sins, death, and the lake of fire.

GiGi's Numbers Chapter 24 comment on 7/11/2023, 10:04pm...

NUMBERS 24 CONT.

Fist, Balaam speaks about his eyes being opened. Since he was not blind, I think he is referring to a spiritual "seeing' or acquisition of knowledge of God he did not previously possess. Then he speaks of his vision. Then his words turn to Israel, speaking of the goodness of Israel's dwelling place-tabernacles, tents. I think he is speaking of Israels place of favor and blessing with God, not the physical tents. ballam speaks admirable words about Israel (vs. 5-7) prophesying that Israel will be great-exalted int the land.

Vs. 8-9 Balaam speaks of the strength given to Israel by YHWH and how Israel will defeat their enemies thoroughly. ballam proclaims: Blessed is he that blesses Israel and cursed is he that curses Israel. God had promised this to Israel in Genesis 12:3 and Genesis 49:9

Balak was furious and took Balaam to task about how he had hired Balaam to curse Israel but blessed them instead once again, this third time Balak tells Balaam to flee from him to his home. Perhaps this was a threat that he may be harmed if he does not leave Balak right away. Balak mentions how he wanted to promote Balaam to greater honor but blames YHWH for preventing it. Balaam answers that Balak's honor and treasures could not make him go against the of YHWH. Balaam say he could not do either good or bad in his mind, but only what the LORD saith, he must speak. God compelled Balaam to do this. If Balaam could have done bad he would have, but the LORD costrained his mind to only obey YHWH's command to bless Israel with the word God gives him and the power of the Holy Spirit makes him carry out God's will.

Balaam then tells Balak to listen while he advertises (announces) what Israel will do to Balak's people (Moabites) in latter days.

Then Balaam again speaks of his vision, opening of his eyes spiritually and the knowledge he acquired from the Spirit.

In vs. 17 YHWH gives a magnificent prophecy through Balaam concerning the coming of Jesus...cont..

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