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Post by Josh on Jun 19, 2007 20:20:21 GMT -8
Post your comments and questions on Numbers chapters 22-24 as replies here.
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Post by Josh on Jun 25, 2007 11:02:25 GMT -8
Some points about the Balaam stories:
This is one of those fascinating stories in the OT about God interacting with non-Israelites. I think it reveals that although God chose to reveal Himself more fully and unveil His plan for all humanity through His chosen people, God is ultimately no respecter of persons (a phrase from James, I think).
That said, Balaam is not an exemplary character. If you think Numbers 24 leaves him on decent footing, just check out Numbers 25, where we find out that he did try to thwart God's people after all- not by calling curses down on them but by enticing the Israelites to marry Moabite women who would then infect Israel with their pagan beleifs and practices (see Numbers 31:16 where it says that Balaam was behind this). The Israelites ended up killed Balaam for this treachery (31:8).
Still, God speaks to Balaam and through him in some intersting ways- even waxing prophetic of Christ in chapter 24. As Don Francisco wrote:
The Lord's the one who makes the choice of the instrument He's usin' We don't know the reasons and the plans behind His choosin' So when the Lord starts usin' you don't you pay it any mind He 'could have used the dog next door if He'd been so inclined
It's also interesting from a literary perspective that for the first substantial time in the Biblical narrative since Abraham, the setting/ point of view changes from the Israelites to a foreign nation and people. That leads to the question, "How did the Israelties ever find this stuff out?"
I think the answer could be that Balaam's Moabite women infiltrators (Numbers 25) might have told the Israelites these stories to flatter and seduce them!
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