Torah Portion:
Numbers 22:2-25:9
Haftorah Reading:
Micah 5:6-6:8
B’rit Chadashah:
I Cor 1:20-31
2 Pet 2:15, 16
Introduction:
This parasha contains an often told children's story because it contains the account of the ass that spoke. While this portion has a great lesson for the believer, the underlying theme comes from the very names of the main characters themselves. The name Balak means “waster, to annihilate.” He was king of and a distant cousin to Israel through Lot, Abraham’s nephew. The name Balaam means “not of the people” or more specifically “destruction of people.” The Hebrew word bela means “destruction, confuse, confound.” The Hebrew word am means “people, tribe, nation.” Thus we have the "waster" (a type of satan) calling upon his hired "prophets" (a type of demon) for the purpose of destroying the people. If we look for and recognize the tactics employed, we'll better understand our enemies ways and his limitations!
Balaam was from the land of Pethor, (22:5) which is “by the River” - a reference to the Euphrates River, the great river of Babylon. Thus, Balaam was a Babylonian. One of the aspects of Babylon of the last days is her religious system (Rev 13:11) the head of which is her false prophet (Rev 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). The Babylonian religious system of the end days is a blend of both good and evil (reminiscent of the tree in the garden by which the serpent beguiled Adam and Eve away from YHVH’s path of truth and righteousness). In the last days, YHVH is calling his people out of that system (Rev 18:4) of mixture with its false prophets. Scripture indicates that Balaam had some knowledge of and even heard the truth of YHVH (2 Pet 2:15). If this is the case, then are there those today who fit this modern scenario? Let us not forget Yeshua’s warning about false prophets arising in the last days who might deceive the very elect (Matt 24:24).
This is a story of carnal men who want to be like YHVH’s Saints, to be recipients of the blessings of Israel, and want to be numbered among YHVH’s chosen, but few want to walk the walk required to receive these blessings and privileges. Today many “court YHVH” by getting as close to him as possible without actually crossing over and surrendering their all to him. The sacrifice of doing so is too great for most. To do so, self must be laid aside and one must become a servant-slave of YHVH. Balaam couldn’t be that slave of anything but his lust. Rev 12:11 says of the end-time Saints that they loved not their lives unto death. Paul declares that followers of Yeshua must become “living sacrifices” in service of YHVH (Rom 12:1). Yeshua gave his very life for you. Let us not hold back some of our life from him. Do the cares, pleasures, material goods, relationships or acclaim of this world still have a grip on our hearts that prevent us from moving into our spiritual calling and destiny—to truly walk by faith? This is the application of this parasha to our lives today! It is a very real reminder if we will hear what the spirit is saying.
1. 22:20–22 Balaam was given YHVH’s perfect will, but God presented Balaam with a test whether he would follow YHVH or his own willful, greedy, arrogant, rebellious and presumptuous mind in the face of YHVH’s revealed will. Balaam was attempting to manipulate YHVH through soulish means for his personal gain. But the moral of the story is that YHVH is sovereign over the affairs of men regardless of men’s machinations. YHVH cannot be manipulated or bent to men’s selfish ambitions. In the end, man will be humbled and YHVH will be exalted as was the case with Balaam. The arrogant and esteemed international “prophet” was made to look like a fool through a talking donkey and all this in front of the accompanying delegation of Moabite leaders and his own servants. It would seem to be evident to all but Balaam that he was but a pawn in the hands of YHVH. If YHVH could make a brute beast speak, then he was certainly capable of putting his words into the mouth of mortal man.
What lessons can we learn here? Is it wise to toy with or tempt YHVH, Elohim by adhering to our own reasoning when we know His true desire? How often do we attempt to bend his will to fit our own? How often do we neglect the “coincidence” of experiences that YHVH shows us only to follow our own carnal and selfish agendas - and then to sometimes attempt to convince ourselves and others that it is the will of YHVH? What have been the consequences of such actions? How many people go through life on this basis and never grow in their walk since they have never learned to distinguish between their will and that of the Almighty? When we finally submit to YHVH and let go of our own agendas it is then that we start to have the breakthroughs in our lives and begin to experience his joy, shalom and victory in an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father.
2. 22:22 Balaam claimed to hear the voice of YHVH. Yet, his claims and the reality of the facts were two different things. YHVH makes a mockery of Balaam’s claims in front of the Moabite delegation when the lowly ass is able to discern the presence of the Messenger of YHVH and Balaam is not (at least until YHVH opens his eyes) able to hear or discern. In this day we need to carefully watch the fruits of someone’s life and ministry when one claims to hear YHVH. Some are so focused on their own agenda; they do as Balaam and reveal twisted words and actions. I hate to keep harping on the Lakeland, Fla meetings of two years ago…but, if the body can not recognize falseness in a man who became fully tattooed after becoming a minister, was physically abusive, self promoting, angelic worshipping, prophetic/evangelistic voice, then how can we claim we are hearing from God?! This should have been a simple fruit inspection.
4. 22:38 What does Balaam finally have to admit? “..have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak”. Wouldn’t our words be fewer and our sin be less if we could get this principal? James says (Jas 3:2) that he who is able to bridle the unruly evil of the tongue and not offend is a perfect man? In contrast, how did Yeshua characterize all the words that he spoke?
It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63)
Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works. (John 14:10)
For I have given unto them the words which you gave me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from you, and they have believed that you did send me. (John 17:8)
What are the consequences of our idle or profaned words? But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
(Matthew 12:36-37)
We must hold ourselves accountable for every word that proceeds from our mouth. If you speak from the flesh and not by the Spirit, repent on the spot and resolve to do better. Resolve to use your words to impart only life to others, not death—to build up and not to tear down, to glorify YHVH, not the world, flesh or the devil. See the difference that occurs in your life, in your marriage, your family, and in your relationship with YHVH.
5. 23:1 Here we see a blend of Yahwehism (offering sacrifices to YHVH on rock altars) and paganism (seven altars instead of one) (Num 23:4). In contrast what “attracts” the Spirit of YHVH? Isn’t it worship, praise, a repentant and humble heart, faith in him with obedience to his Word, and love for him? Or do rituals, mindless incantations, orthodoxy, etc. call unto the Spirit of YHVH?
6. 23:21 Balaam tried to find some iniquity, some perversion in Israel that would give him legal grounds to curse Israel, but could find none. Remember, a causeless curse shall not land (Prov 26:2). Satan, the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10) has no legal grounds with which to buffet the righteous of Yeshua who are submitted to the authority, will, Word and Spirit of YHVH (Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. )and who are under the blood of Yeshua, the Lamb of Elohim (Rev 12:11). We have the authority to overcome the Waster: Luke 10:19. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. How do we stay in such a spiritual state so that the attacks of the enemy have no legal ground to stick in our lives, so that the fiery darts of Satan are instantly quenched? (Read and discuss Eph 6:10–18;) We must especially practice Eph 6:16 to keep the enemies' arrows from landing:Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Eph 6:16
If we are getting attacked, would we dismiss the Word as just “good beliefs”, or begin to seek the Lord “where am I missing the mark that the enemy has a foothold to buffet me?
7. 23:15–25 Balaam calls YHVH “Most High” and “the Almighty.” He had great respect for YHVH (as does Satan - James 2:19, “You believe that there is one Elohim, you do well: the devils also believe and tremble.”), but he did not have enough fear of, faith in and love for YHVH to obey him. Does this describe us at any time? Do any of us still hold back from loving YHVH with all our heart, soul, mind and strength?
8. 23:26 Balaam is desirous of pleasing Balak, even though he pretends to please YHVH. At heart Balaam is a man-pleaser, not a YHVH-pleaser. Yeshua castigated the religious hypocrites of his day for the same thing (John 12:43). We are on dangerous grounds when we are concerned what men think when it comes to obeying the truth of YHVH even though most assuredly we will be persecuted for our obedience. We can’t afford to take the easy way out and the path of least resistance, which pleases the flesh and those around us rather than YHVH’s direction(s).
9. 25:1 Sexual immorality is the downfall of many who consider themselves to be strong and righteous. The enemy knows the weaknesses of the flesh and will do what he can to capitalize on them for our destruction. Romans 13:14 says, “…make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” We must seek to put away all of the enemies’ strongholds in our lives that may be used to keep us under satan's thumb and prevent us from walking in the joy and freedom of the will of YHVH? It is time to cry out to YHVH for help, deliverance and repentance.
10. 25:7 Phineas, the priest, took a stand for righteousness and was commended for it. We also must be willing to put our life and reputation on the line standing for righteousness against the forces of evil. Do we even recognize the forces of evil today? We must know that those voices that would prevent us from obeying and pursuing God are a force against righteousness.
Note: Balaam’s end: YHVH commands false prophets to be put to death (Deut 13:5), and so Balaam's end was recorded in Num 313:8.
Haftorah Reading – Micah 5:6-6:8
What Does YHVH Require of Us?
Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah, lived in the eighth century before Yeshua, and, like Isaiah, prophesied in the Southern Kingdom of Judah, yet he directed some of his prophecies toward Samaria (the Northern Kingdom) and some of the surrounding nations. Samaria fell to Assyria during Micah’s ministry, and Judah would fall to Babylon after Micah had passed from the scene.
During this time, Judah was in a state of spiritual declension due to pagan Canaanite influences infiltrating into the Southern Kingdom from Samaria. Micah prophesied judgment upon Judah unless that nation would wholeheartedly repent and turn to YHVH. Micah offered hope amidst his rebuke of Israel and its leadership. Out of judgment would come deliverance (The message for us today!). Out of the nations into which Israel would be scattered, a faithful Torah-obedient remnant would be redeemed and return to the land of Israel.
1. 5:6 7 The remnant of Jacob. This is referring to a faithful remnant of Israel who would be scattered among the nations. The phrase, As dew from YHVH, is a reference to this remnant’s faithfulness to the Torah since dew is a poetic metaphor for YHVH’s instructions in righteousness (Deut 32:2). Who is that faithful remnant that YHVH is calling out?
2. 5:8 As a lion among the beasts of the forest. The scattered remnant of Israel who are Torah-obedient are like lions among the beasts of the field—a metaphor for the heathen nations. (In Deuteronomy 7:22, we see that the term beasts of the field represent the nations of the earth from which Israel was to stay separate.)
3. 5:10–13 [11–14] I will cut off. Speaking of the greater nation of Israel (as opposed to the faithful remnant to be found within her), YHVH says he will cut off paganism within Israel, and he will judge heathenism. Is there yet a future (end-time) prophetic fulfillment to this prophecy? Who is end-time Israel? Paul clearly states that those who are Believers in Yeshua are Israel, the seed of Abraham (Eph 2:11–19; Gal 3:7,9,14,28–29). Are there pagan influences to be found in Christianity or in the worldwide Babylonian or harlot religious system, that YHVH is pleading for his people to come out of? (Rev 18:4)
4. 6:2–5 He will plead with Israel - My people. Here YHVH is pleading with his backslid people speaking using terms of endearment in a tone not of rebuke, but of affectionate appeal.
5. 6:6–7 With what can I come before YHVH to bow down? Israel’s response was a good one. In light of YHVH’s merciful acts toward us, what can we do to please him? Such is hardly the response we would expect to see in our day in our nation in light of the multitude of blessings and mercies YHVH has granted us. For those who do sense that their unrighteousness is about to yield the calamitous results of divine judgment, what is often one’s response? It is religious activity—the sacrificing of thousands of rams and the giving of rivers of oil. In our day, people are often prompted to attend more religious meetings, to give more charitably, to pray the rosary every day and light more candles. Is this what YHVH is really seeking from his people?
6. 6:8 What does YHVH require of you?
- To act justly involves executing justice toward one’s fellow man in a just, righteous, and respectful way - loving one’s neighbor as the fulfilling of the Torah ( Mark 12:31 a repetition of Lev 19:18),
- To love mercy. The Hebrew word for mercy is chesed meaning “kindness.” Rabbinically, this refers to “the bestowal of acts of lovingkindness” such as clothing the naked, nursing the sick, comforting those who mourn, and burying the dead. (see James 1:27)
- To walk humbly with your Elohim. This is referring to fellowship and communion with your Heavenly Father. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
(Romans 12:1-5)
Shabbat Shalom,
Randy