AWAKE BIBLE IN A YEAR MARCH 3
Read Numbers 25-28
Balaam has pronounced the final victory. He has declared the dominion of Israel and the Kingdom of David is forshadowed. However Balaam loves the wages. Not good. He technically says what God had him say, however he offers some advice that is detrimental to the tribes.
In Numbers 31:16 They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the LORD in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people. The Peor account is a pretty severe indiscretion. Defiance and contempt for God’s authority is shown by doing what ought NOT to be done. While Moses and the leaders are weeping for their sin an Israelite commits the very sin they are weeping over. OUCH. A slap in the face to God’s directives and chosen leader. Phinehas is jealous with God’s jealousy and takes some drastic action. God gives him a covenant of peace and perpetual priesthood. The whole event makes me think of the New Testament incident with Jesus and the whip, saying ‘my father’s house would be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves.’ Matt. 21:13 His zeal for God brings peace.
What should be said when the enemy desires to entice you? You know, when the lure is there and you are tempted. Follow Joseph’s example RUN.
Joseph says in Gen. 39:9 …’ How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?’
The premise for our self-control– more of the Spirit of God. How could I? I am God’s temple. GOD IS NOT withholding anything from me! I have enough. 1Tim. 6:6 is right : ) godliness with contentment is great gain. And if you think otherwise take sometime to pray. Jesus exhorts Peter to pray. Jesus would exhort us to do the same. And Jesus would say to us like he did to Peter before the whole sifting, ‘but I have prayed for you’. Luke 22:32 So YES JESUS IS PRAYING, however we should pray too.
‘Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Matt. 26:41
