Numbers 22c Commentary
Talking serpents and talking donkeys. The talking serpent of Genesis 3 is an old folktale, so we think. The talking donkey is too off to be factual, so we conclude. But the holy script reports it as a historical fact. Talking animals!
Logic versus Fact is an interesting battle. Logic and Fact don’t often stay in the same room.
If I cannot see it, or feel, touch, taste, smell, or hear it, then it probably doesn’t exist. Logic has a simple way of concluding arguments. If I cannot resolve it logically, it probably doesn’t exist. At this point, Logic and Fact differ irreversibly and conclusively!
And we must watch this battle and decide who is right between the two!
We are probably grateful to God that we don’t hear donkeys and trees and bedroom walls talk!
Isn’t the LORD God supposed to be at the Sanctuary waiting for Aaron’s sacrifices? What business has God to do with Balaam?
We learn a few lessons from this story. There are battles away from our battlefront. How God contends with Balaams, (including angelic barricades and talking donkeys) isn’t for humans to see.
God isn’t limited to my small world. He is the God of creation. His decision to bless Israel is a global decision to be respected by His creation. We also learn there are pockets of resistance everywhere beyond the magicians of Egypt.
The magical powers of Balaam are real. The magical powers of Egypt’s magicians are also real. These events are recorded so that the saint is aware of these battles and can trust the God of Abraham.
The chapter closes with verse 41: Balak takes Balaam up to Bamoth-Baal – it’s a high place of Baal worship. It’s not a military vantage point! It’s a place of Baal worship. Sacrifices are made here but not in honor of the God of Abraham. You can tell there is a parallel worship system out there in the world designed to honor satan and his representations.
Chapter 23 continues the story and we shall see the outcome. But that is for tomorrow.
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