Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Mar 20 2019 - Numbers 22:1-36 – Balaam, his donkey and an angel

The Old Testament is full of wonderful stories. Today we have a donkey with whom its owner holds an animated conversation. It’s a wonderfully memorable story, but it's not told to amuse children, it's far more serious and far more complicated than that.

The Israelites have travelled to Moabite country in preparation for crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. There were hundreds of thousands of Israelites spread across the plains of Moab, so many that Balak, king of Moab, "was filled with dread" (v.3).

Balak is determined to get rid of these people from his territory. It was common in those days to pronounce a curse on your enemies before you engaged them on in battle. Balak had heard of a notable prophet called Balaam who seemed to be effective in pronouncing curses on people – for a price (see v. 6). So Balak sends messengers to Balaam seeking to hire his help.

Here is the first puzzling feature of the story. Balaam asks the messengers to stay with him overnight while he enquires what the LORD would have him do. The name LORD here is Yahweh, the God of Israel, the living God. Clearly Balaam, though a Gentile, knew something of the living God. How he had come by that knowledge we do not know, we can only surmise that Yahweh had revealed something of himself to this man – as he had to Melchizedek, king of Salem.

The Lord tells Balaam not to go with these messengers and curse the Israelites for the Lord has blessed them (v.12). And that would be the end of the story but for the persistence of Balak who sent further messengers with a better offer (v.17) – one which he thought Balaam could not refuse. This time the Lord told Balaam he could go with the messengers but warned him to say only what the Lord gave him to say.

Here is the second puzzle in the story for the Lord is then angry with Balaam for going with the messengers and seeks to stop him, even if it means striking him dead. What are we to make of this apparent contradiction? It seems clear that God knew the prophet's heart and that though he had been told not to go to Balak, yet Balaam was determined to go. So, in effect, the Lord's permission was him saying, "Very well, I have told you not to go but if you are determined to go, be it on your own head." Balaam is a highly conflicted personality, as references to him in the New Testament indicate (2 Peter 2:15, Jude 11, Rev. 2:14). He knew something of the living God but was willing to use his prophetic powers in the service of pagan kings for a suitable fee.

So the Lord sent an angel to stand in the path and prevent Balaam's progress. Gordon Wenham says concerning the donkey, "its acts and words anticipate the problems Balaam is about to face. The ass was caught three times between the angel's sword and Balaam's stick. Soon Balaam will find himself trapped three times between Balak's demands and God's prohibitions."

Despite the drawn sword of the angel, God's primary purpose is to stop Balaam in his tracks and ensure that he understands that he can say nothing against the Israelites whom the Lord has blessed and will bless. No one will be permitted to oppose the purposes of God to bless his people.

The story warns us of the danger of a divided heart that seeks to serve both God and mammon. When rebellious thoughts are entertained in our hearts we are blinded to the reality of God's presence and power. He is a God of burning holiness who cannot be trifled with. To set ourselves against him is to discover that he is against us. That is a fearful prospect.

Father God, we thank you that you have revealed the glory of your holiness but also of your amazing grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. Keep us single-minded in our devotion to you. May we know that we are a people whom you have blessed beyond measure and called to be a blessing to others.

Mar 20 2020 - Acts 16:16-40 – The kingdom of God is … righteousness and peace and joy

In Philippi, Paul healed a girl who had been possessed by a spirit that had enabled her to tell fortunes and to earn fortunes for her masters. Angered by their loss, the owners of this poor girl dragged Paul and Silas off to the public square where they accused them of troubling the city by teaching customs which it was unlawful for the Roman citizens of this proud colony to observe.

The good news about Jesus Christ is more than a promise of personal salvation; it is a declaration that in Christ, God is at work to establish his kingdom in this world. The gospel challenges the culture or cultures of this present world with their focus on money and power – the power which seeks to control and manipulate others to one’s own ends. It promises a radical freedom that threatens to strip the lords of this world of their power. It cannot but provoke conflict even as it offers a better vision for human flourishing.

It certainly provoked conflict in Philippi. The police soon stepped in and, to prevent a public riot. They had Paul and Silas beaten with rods and thrown into the darkest, most secure and most unpleasant part of the city prison. There, among the other prisoners, Paul and Silas were found praying and singing hymns to God in the middle of the night.

When Paul later encourages the Christians at Philippi to “rejoice in the Lord always” this is no shallow and naïve remark; Paul speaks out of the depths of his own experience. Even when covered in the swollen and bloody marks of a beating and sitting in the chains, dirt and darkness of a prison, Paul can praise God for his goodness.

Are we not much more fickle in our praise? I speak for myself: I find it easier to praise God when the sun is shining and all is going well. I forget that God may lead me into situations where I face difficulty and pain and that even there he is still with me and his hand is upon me. My changeable circumstances do not alter the unfailing goodness of God towards me in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no circumstance in which I do not have cause to praise him. And who knows what blessing may come to others through my testimony of praise in times of trial?

The witness of Paul and Silas had remarkable effects. That night a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. Prison doors were sprung open and chains loosened from the walls, yet not one prisoner fled; all were content to remain with Paul and Silas. This remarkable testimony led to the conversion of the jailer and his family. They placed their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ whom Paul preached to them, and were baptised.

On the following morning, when the city magistrates sent a message that Paul and Silas might be released, Paul sent a message back to them, “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out” (Acts 16:37). And so they did!

The gospel challenges the powers of this world, but it does so without using the weapons of this world.  It demonstrates that it is not a threat to good order or to good government but only to disorder, injustice and proud, self-seeking government. 

Lord, help me to praise you today, no matter what the day may bring. Help us also to bear witness to the gracious power of the kingdom which says “No!” to the perverted values of this world, promotes human flourishing and displays the glory of the Servant King.

Peter Misselbrook