March 5 - Morning
"When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then theLord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors. The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live."
- Deuteronomy 30:1-6
- Deuteronomy 30:1-6
What We Know and What We Have Not Been Told
Israel has been told some information about the “secret things” of the future.
First, God will give them the prosperity of the blessing, but also the curses according to his covenant when they enter the Land.
Second, the curses will eventually overtake Israel because of their rebellion. They will be removed from the Promised Land and will be scattered into all the nations.
Third, Israel will never be utterly abandoned as if they were a pagan or Gentile nation. God will come and get them from the nations and bring them back into the Promised Land. Fourth, Israel of the distant future will again possess the Promised Land of their ancestors. They will again prosper in the Promised Land. In fact, future generations will prosper to an even greater extent than their ancestors in the Promised Land.
Fifth, the Lord will provide a spiritual change in the soul of this people. Like their flesh had been circumcised, in the future the Lord will circumcise their hearts. This new spiritual nature will allow Israel to love the Lord with all their heart and soul. Then Israel will Live!
Qadosh (Hb) – Holy (Eng) – qadosh is the Hebrew word that is translated “holy” with emphasis on religion. Qadosh means a thing or a people are devoted to a purpose of God. The Sabbath day is qadosh for rest in Isaiah 58:13-14. In Exodus 19:6 the entire nation of Israel was to be qadosh with the purpose of ministering the knowledge of God to the nations.
Do I understand how to present proof of God's existence?
If someone asked, "Is there really a God?", could I present an intelligent response based on facts and logic,and not mere feelings or blind faith?
I will gather a few basic points to defend my personal faith and use them to empower others to understand the logic of God's existence. Details.
If someone asked, "Is there really a God?", could I present an intelligent response based on facts and logic,and not mere feelings or blind faith?
I will gather a few basic points to defend my personal faith and use them to empower others to understand the logic of God's existence. Details.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Neighbors
Church
Vision of potential
Nation
Education
World
Belarus
Someone to Quote
“The Christians are right: it is Pride which has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began.”
― C.S. Lewis
Something to Ponder
Masoretic Text
The Masoretic Text is a product of Jewish scribes in 500 AD.
The scribes systematically sorted and compared the various manuscripts. They wrote variant readings in the margins. There are about 1,200 variant readings, or one per page. We have approximately 1,000 Masoretic manuscripts. The oldest is from 916 AD. There is basically no variation in these texts.
Here’s a Fact
Refuting Higher Criticism’s Claims Against the Old Testament
Here is Example #4:
CRITIC: Fulfilled prophecy is also a miracle, and therefore impossible. Any miracle or prophecy in the Scripture is a fabricated legend and destroys the validity of the scriptural account.
RESPONSE: Fulfilled prophecy does not have to be limited to events in the Bible. We see prophecies given in Scripture being fulfilled in our own day and age: the Jews, the church, etc. These give credence to the prophecies made and fulfilled in the past.
Here is Example #4:
CRITIC: Fulfilled prophecy is also a miracle, and therefore impossible. Any miracle or prophecy in the Scripture is a fabricated legend and destroys the validity of the scriptural account.
RESPONSE: Fulfilled prophecy does not have to be limited to events in the Bible. We see prophecies given in Scripture being fulfilled in our own day and age: the Jews, the church, etc. These give credence to the prophecies made and fulfilled in the past.
Proverb
"Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say."
- Proverbs 5:7
- Proverbs 5:7
Coach’s Corner
The most influential virtue is thankfulness. It prevents arrogance, avoids discouragement, leads to generosity and honors a source other than self.
Exodus 20
New International Version (NIV)
The Ten Commandments
20 And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Idols and Altars
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.
24 “‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.’
New International Version (NIV)
The Ten Commandments
20 And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Idols and Altars
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.
24 “‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.’
Deuteronomy 33
New International Version (NIV)
Moses Blesses the Tribes
33 This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. 2 He said:
“The Lord came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes.
3
Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they all bow down, and from you receive instruction,
4
the law that Moses gave us, the possession of the assembly of Jacob.
5
He was king over Jeshurun when the leaders of the people assembled, along with the tribes of Israel.
6
“Let Reuben live and not die, nor his people be few.”
7 And this he said about Judah:
“Hear, Lord, the cry of Judah; bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause. Oh, be his help against his foes!”
8 About Levi he said:
“Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful servant. You tested him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.
9
He said of his father and mother, ‘I have no regard for them.’ He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant.
10
He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11
Bless all his skills, Lord, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Strike down those who rise against him, his foes till they rise no more.”
12 About Benjamin he said:
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.”
13 About Joseph he said:
“May the Lord bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below;
14
with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield;
15
with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;
16
with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
17
In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.”
18 About Zebulun he said:
“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents.
19
They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand.”
20 About Gad he said:
“Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head.
21
He chose the best land for himself; the leader’s portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord’s righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel.”
22 About Dan he said:
“Dan is a lion’s cub, springing out of Bashan.”
23 About Naphtali he said:
“Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake.”
24 About Asher he said:
“Most blessed of sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil.
25
The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.
26
“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty.
27
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’
28
So Israel will live in safety; Jacob will dwell secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew.
29
Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.”
New International Version (NIV)
Moses Blesses the Tribes
33 This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death. 2 He said:
“The Lord came from Sinai and dawned over them from Seir; he shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with myriads of holy ones from the south, from his mountain slopes.
3
Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they all bow down, and from you receive instruction,
4
the law that Moses gave us, the possession of the assembly of Jacob.
5
He was king over Jeshurun when the leaders of the people assembled, along with the tribes of Israel.
6
“Let Reuben live and not die, nor his people be few.”
7 And this he said about Judah:
“Hear, Lord, the cry of Judah; bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause. Oh, be his help against his foes!”
8 About Levi he said:
“Your Thummim and Urim belong to your faithful servant. You tested him at Massah; you contended with him at the waters of Meribah.
9
He said of his father and mother, ‘I have no regard for them.’ He did not recognize his brothers or acknowledge his own children, but he watched over your word and guarded your covenant.
10
He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar.
11
Bless all his skills, Lord, and be pleased with the work of his hands. Strike down those who rise against him, his foes till they rise no more.”
12 About Benjamin he said:
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.”
13 About Joseph he said:
“May the Lord bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below;
14
with the best the sun brings forth and the finest the moon can yield;
15
with the choicest gifts of the ancient mountains and the fruitfulness of the everlasting hills;
16
with the best gifts of the earth and its fullness and the favor of him who dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.
17
In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.”
18 About Zebulun he said:
“Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and you, Issachar, in your tents.
19
They will summon peoples to the mountain and there offer the sacrifices of the righteous; they will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the treasures hidden in the sand.”
20 About Gad he said:
“Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain! Gad lives there like a lion, tearing at arm or head.
21
He chose the best land for himself; the leader’s portion was kept for him. When the heads of the people assembled, he carried out the Lord’s righteous will, and his judgments concerning Israel.”
22 About Dan he said:
“Dan is a lion’s cub, springing out of Bashan.”
23 About Naphtali he said:
“Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake.”
24 About Asher he said:
“Most blessed of sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe his feet in oil.
25
The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.
26
“There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty.
27
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’
28
So Israel will live in safety; Jacob will dwell secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew.
29
Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.”
Numbers 23-24
New International Version (NIV)
Balaam’s First Message
23 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 2 Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
3 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height.
4 God met with him, and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”
5 The Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”
6 So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials. 7 Then Balaam spoke his message:
“Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.’
8
How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?
9
From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations.
10
Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my final end be like theirs!”
11 Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!”
12 He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”
Balaam’s Second Message
13 Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me.” 14 So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
15 Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there.”
16 The Lord met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”
17 So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”
18 Then he spoke his message:
“Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor.
19
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
20
I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.
21
“No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The Lord their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them.
22
God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox.
23
There is no divination against Jacob, no evil omens against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’
24
The people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest till it devours its prey and drinks the blood of its victims.”
25 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”
26 Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?”
Balaam’s Third Message
27 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.” 28 And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland.
29 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 30 Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
24 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him 3 and he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
4
the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
5
“How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel!
6
“Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters.
7
Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water.
“Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.
8
“God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them.
9
Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?
“May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!”
10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. 11 Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, 13 ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lord says’? 14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”
Balaam’s Fourth Message
15 Then he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
16
the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
17
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
18
Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong.
19
A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”
Balaam’s Fifth Message
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message:
“Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction.”
Balaam’s Sixth Message
21 Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message:
“Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock;
22
yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Ashur takes you captive.”
Balaam’s Seventh Message
23 Then he spoke his message:
“Alas! Who can live when God does this?
24
Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus; they will subdue Ashur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin.”
25 Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.
New International Version (NIV)
Balaam’s First Message
23 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 2 Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
3 Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height.
4 God met with him, and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.”
5 The Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”
6 So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials. 7 Then Balaam spoke his message:
“Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.’
8
How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?
9
From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations.
10
Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my final end be like theirs!”
11 Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!”
12 He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”
Balaam’s Second Message
13 Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me.” 14 So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
15 Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there.”
16 The Lord met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.”
17 So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?”
18 Then he spoke his message:
“Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor.
19
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
20
I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.
21
“No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The Lord their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them.
22
God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox.
23
There is no divination against Jacob, no evil omens against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’
24
The people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest till it devours its prey and drinks the blood of its victims.”
25 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!”
26 Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?”
Balaam’s Third Message
27 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.” 28 And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland.
29 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 30 Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
24 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him 3 and he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
4
the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
5
“How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel!
6
“Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters.
7
Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water.
“Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.
8
“God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them.
9
Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?
“May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!”
10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. 11 Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, 13 ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lord says’? 14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”
Balaam’s Fourth Message
15 Then he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
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the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
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“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
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Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong.
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A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”
Balaam’s Fifth Message
20 Then Balaam saw Amalek and spoke his message:
“Amalek was first among the nations, but their end will be utter destruction.”
Balaam’s Sixth Message
21 Then he saw the Kenites and spoke his message:
“Your dwelling place is secure, your nest is set in a rock;
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yet you Kenites will be destroyed when Ashur takes you captive.”
Balaam’s Seventh Message
23 Then he spoke his message:
“Alas! Who can live when God does this?
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Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus; they will subdue Ashur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin.”
25 Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.