What can we expect? What are the signs of the multitude of false teachers flooding the airwaves? Why does it seem that there are so few true teachers of the Word of Jehovah?
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
This is one of the signs of the coming Day of Jehovah and the second coming of Jesus. There doesn’t seem to be any constraints on evil anymore? Have you ever imagined the depravity you are now witnessing in every part of the world?
Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 12:8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven.
12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
In the final days, false teachers will increase and the world will enter into chaos as it blames true Christians for a whole host of problems, that they created.
12:10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.
12:11 "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
In the final days our accuser will engage in his last efforts to defeat Jehovah and all of His people.
12:12 "For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time."
Generally, most believe that the total time of the great Tribulation will be 7 years, with the most fearful part being the last half.
In light of the total time of history, 7 years is a short time.
12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.
12:14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
12:15 And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.
12:16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.
Here we see that the dragon/Satan would first try and destroy the seed mentioned in Genesis, but fail. Herod tried to kill Him and failed. Satan thought he could get rid of Him by crucifying Him. That did not fail as Satan was used to fulfill Jehovah’s plan.
12:17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
So the false teachers are part of Satan’s army, first to deceive and then to persecute unto death.
Yes, churches will join forces with government and all of society to imprison, persecute, and destroy all true believers.
More next Saturday.
We left off with Jude’s warnings about how we are deceived from those within the body. These are the most dangerous types of deceivers. Corrupt government officials, self-righteous professional athletes, and media darlings who live immoral life styles are somewhat easier to see as unholy, unrighteous, and in the ‘dark’. The ones, who are actually one of us, are far more dangerous and harder to discern.
Jude 1:5 Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.
A real warning to all. A whole generation of the nation of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years until all who had rebelled against Jehovah died. This was probably nearly one million adults! The startling facts were that after 10 plagues in Egypt, a miraculous crossing at the Red Sea, the total annihilation of Egypt’s entire army, and Jehovah descending onto Mount Sinai in fire, earthquakes, lightning and thunder, and an ever increasing sound of a trumpet, they still disobeyed Him!
A lesson for all of us would be that it is much harder than we think to leave Egypt and all of its attractions than we imagine. So just substitute your city, state, cultural preferences, family practices, etc. for Egypt and ask Jehovah to reveal your heart to you.
1:6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,
This is as alarming as it is revealing. Angels, created by Jehovah, are His divine messengers and dwell in His presence. Yet, they also disobeyed Him and also will eternally suffer His wrath as a result.
1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
Just in case people have been told lies by their false teachers in regard to Jehovah’s holy, righteous wrath and condemnation of all sinners, Jude reminds all of the lessons from Sodom and Gomorrah. This earthly destruction by fire is one important example of Jehovah’s divine, eternal fire in Hell. But, people don’t like Hell anymore and false teachers oblige by eliminating it from discussions. Why lose members over Hell or sin. Just tell them stories that they enjoy and like to hear. Paul warned Timothy of this exact problem.
2 Timothy 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. You can’t preach both.
You either are a true teacher or a false teacher. There is no middle ground. You can’t flip back and forth. But, false teachers do just that as they always use truth to hide their lies. Sadly, most don’t see the difference and don’t really care either.
1:8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.
1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
You may have heard or listened to some false teachers who claim to rebuke Satan, tell him to leave, or suggest that they alone can exercise control over Satan. It is not our job to rebuke Satan, the Lord will rebuke Satan. Jehovah knows all about Satan and his evil plans. He stands condemned and he knows it. So what must or should we do?
James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Our submission to Jehovah and His Spirit within us will enable us to resist Satan’s deceptions and temptations. Jehovah is all we need.
More next Saturday.
How do false teachers enter into the ‘church’? What are the tactics? What are we to do to keep them from deceiving us? Jude, one of Jesus’ half-brothers, has given us another warning on this important subject.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
Here is an important insight into this worldwide problem. Jude had thought he would write a letter of encouragement. He felt that he would remind everyone about our common salvation.
This would be a message stressing unity of the body. It would most likely remind everyone that this salvation was a gift from Jehovah and could not be earned nor was it deserved. He may also express the wonderful truth that are all equal in their relationship to Jesus through His death and resurrection. Finally, he tells us that we need to strive, work out, and persevere for the faith that has been revealed to all the saints in Christ Jesus.
However, Jude put that plus more, aside to issue a warning.
1:4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Notice how they start to destroy the ‘church’.
First, they destroy from within. I know that we can all see how the world attacks our faith from the outside. During these troubling times, their attacks are coming from all elements of our society. This co-ordinated attack can only be orchestrated by Satan, as it is visible worldwide. But, Jude reminds us that the far more dangerous attacks always come from within.
Secondly, Jehovah has always known these false teachers and has already condemned them. However, they are still actively plying their sinister work from within. They are just out on ‘bail’, but their sentence is final.
Thirdly, they entice the flock to sin without concern or fear. They sell the lie that grace covers all sins and their is no longer any condemnation for sins. So eat, drink, and be merry, you are all going to Heaven! Paul warned of this false teaching as well.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 6:2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 6:3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
Paul clearly expresses the need to stop sinning. Grace does not cover those who continue to practice sin. Sin is lawlessness and will be punished.
6:4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 6:5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6:6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 6:7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
6:8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 6:9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 6:13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 6:14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
These closing strong admonitions are to be carefully applied to our lives. We struggle with our old body and its physical lusts. We need to look deep into our hearts to see just what are our true desires. We need to ask Jehovah to reveal our hearts to us, as we often just deceive ourselves about our self-righteousness. Grace frees us from the curse or penalty of sin, not to continue in sin.
Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we can resist the temptations of sin that lurk within and are broadcasted to us throughout our day. Let us pursue holiness and righteousness.
More next Saturday.
What has Jehovah revealed to us on false teachers? Has this problem gotten worse over time? If Peter can be deceived, could the ‘church’ today be deceived? Remember, this happened right in Jerusalem. It happened while eyewitnesses were still alive. It happened in the very early stages of the development of the ‘church’. Since Satan uses every opportunity to deceive, doesn’t waste any time introducing deceit, we can be certain that it has only gotten worse over the last 2000 years. What has Jehovah revealed to us? What has Peter written for us after this divine encounter with Paul?
2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
Since both Peter and Barnabas both fell for the lies of tradition, Peter knows from personal experience just how easy it is to be deceived by traditions, especially traditions that go back hundreds or even thousands of years. What has he told us?
First, they come from within the assembly.
Second, they begin by slyly introducing small lies and inserting them into truthful messages. This is the cancer of deceit. Secretly suggests that it is not noticeable at first. It even sounds truthful. It gradually descends into outright apostasy. But, by then no one even sees it as lies.
2:2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 2:3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
They feed on emotions and feelings. They create messages that tug at your ‘heart’ rather than your head. They are in it for the money and praise of men, not for the glory and honor of Jehovah.
Paul adds to this warning.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
Doctrine, especially sound doctrine, has fallen out of favor and use in today’s ‘church’. Worship has become defined by music only. Heightened emotions from music/entertainment only deadens everyone to the need or desire for ‘sound doctrine’.
So one verse, out of context, is injected into stories that lull the audience into a comfortable religion, rather than an obedient relationship. They tell them what they want to hear, but deny them what they need to hear.
More on false teachers next Saturday.
How dangerous are false teachers? Don’t they teach from the Bible? How can you know the difference? These are all valid questions and concerns. Once again, we must go to the Words of Jehovah to ascertain the only true answers to life’s questions. Let us go back to what the apostle Paul was instructed to deliver to us. First, we should carefully meditate on the power of traditions. Jesus was very direct in His condemnation of the Pharisees on their reliance on their traditions over the Bible.
Mark 7:6 And He said to them, "Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 7:7 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'
7:8 "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men."
7:9 He was also saying to them, "You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.
You can’t teach both. You can’t maintain they both are true. Only one can be true. Are is the commandments of Jehovah true or the traditions of men? But, traditions have invaded and taken over the ‘church’ ever since the Reformation, which was really just the Revision-ation.
Now back to Paul.
Galatians 2:11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.
How can Paul confront Peter/Cephas right to his face? Where is unity and christian love? Who is Paul anyway? Peter is right here in Jerusalem and he taught the first sermon here which birthed the ‘church’. If Paul had questions, why didn’t he go to Peter personally?
2:12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.
Fear is a very powerful motivator. You can see this today with all the fear of disease that has put the whole world in quarantine. Since Peter is an apostle, shouldn’t everyone obey and even fear him? The problem is that even leaders can make mistakes, be influenced by others, and old habits die hard. Wasn’t this issue put to rest along time ago when Peter visited Cornelius?
Acts 10:24 On the following day he (Peter and some other brothers) entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
10:25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him.
10:26 But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man."
10:27 As he talked with him, he entered and *found many people assembled. 10:28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.
10:29 "That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me."
So Peter went from Joppa to Caesarea to respond to Jehovah’s calling. He clearly reminded all that it is unlawful (that is against the laws of the Pharisees) to meet with, eat with, or show hospitality to Gentiles.
Acts 11:1 Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 11:2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, 1:3 saying, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them."
So the party of the circumcision was waiting for him to return to Jerusalem.
Acts 11:15 "And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. 1:16 "And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
11:17 "Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"
11:18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life."
This seemed to end well. Peter clearly outlined how Jehovah lead him to Cornelius and how He gave them the same Holy Spirit that He had given all of them. All of this without any requirement to follow man’s traditions. So this closed this discussion forever, or did it?
2:13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.
Just like a bad apple can ruin the bushel, too many follow the wrong leaders to the wrong conclusions. See the rest of them were easily led to rejoin the hypocrisy of the few and comfort of their hundreds of years of traditions.
2:14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
Since this was a very public sin, it had to be dealt with publicly. Even Barnabas joined in with Peter. These two were not novices or babes in the faith. They were leaders of the faith. Yet, they all fell into line and moved back from unity in the faith to disunity and two classes of the redeemed.
Paul was right and Peter was wrong. Both could not be right.
More next Saturday.
If the ‘church’ proclaims, much like Martin Luther some 500 years ago, that they are committed to ‘Sola Scriptura’, then how can they disobey Jehovah’s clear commands? While proclaiming and defending their fidelity to Jehovah’s Word, they simply dance around subjects, traditions of men, and doctrines of demons, as they tell people what they want to hear and deny them the truth they need to hear.
While this may seem too harsh and judgmental, even Paul called out false teachers and false teachings. While I will never claim to have the knowledge or authority of Paul, I strive to live to the standards he set forth to all teachers.
First, what did he instruct others to do?
1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, 1:4 nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.
What is Paul telling Timothy and us? It appears that the false teachers that plagued Paul throughout his ministry and travels are now in the very ‘churches’ he had started. They are teaching strange doctrines!
That is doctrines that are not true, doctrines that have been changed or modified from what Paul taught, and are thereby false. They also add myths, false historical context and details, which give rise to speculation or questions and challenges which divide the ‘church’. It is another gospel.
1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1:6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 1:7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
Have you ever listened to someone who spoke eloquently on a subject which you knew was being inaccurately presented? There are people who are enamored with the many words, eloquent statements, and false historical context in which false teachers excel.
1:8 But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
1:9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 1:10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 1:11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.
Once again Paul brings it all back to God’s Law and the need to truly understand it and obey it. Those who change and challenge His Law, fall under the condemnation and curse of the Law, which is death, eternal death.
2 Timothy 2:14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Here we read Paul’s second letter to his beloved son in the faith. Paul tells him what not to do and what to do. There are words, conversations, and disagreements that can be damaging if left to themselves.
It takes perseverance, dedication, diligence, and study to be able to accurately and consistently handle the word of truth. It is a very sacred, holy, divine calling on a few, not on anyone who wants to get back on their ‘natural’ abilities to hold an audience’s attention and devotion.
2:16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 2Ti 2:17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 2:18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.
Here we have Paul calling out and condemning two men. Many would never want to speak ill of anyone self-proclaimed teacher of God’s Word, but is that what God allows or desires? By not offending men, we often don’t even think about how we may be offending God.
These men Paul is referring to are not the last to be singled out. The problem is far worse today than in Paul’s day.
More next Saturday.
Many ‘churches’ today practice religion as if Jehovah does change. They often take a verse totally out of context to confirm what they believe or need to be true. Some just continue as they have been taught and experienced in the ‘churches’ within which they grew up.
I once was one of these deceived, but sincere religious worshippers. But, thanks be to Jehovah, after teaching a Men’s Bible study for over 20 years, I was challenged to seriously reconsider some beliefs that had no basis in Scripture.
Let us start with Jehovah’s displeasure with those who do not teach His Word accurately or completely. Ezekiel was a priest in Babylon.
Ezekiel 1:1 Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. 2-3 (On the fifth of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's exile, the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of the LORD came upon him.)
Jehovah always wants to place His word exactly in history so none can truly question Him. He now lays out His extreme displeasure, anger, and wrath toward the very priests He appointed to instruct and warn His people.
Ezekiel 22:25 "There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in the midst of her.
26 "Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
Serious charges but absolutely true. Have you ever been taught any of these? Certainly, Jehovah rightfully expected His priests to teach the distinctions between the clean and unclean, the holy and profane, and the importance of the sabbaths, His sabbaths. I will attempt to clarify the challenges and confusion of sabbaths later.
27 "Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain.
28 "Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken.
None of the leadership, ordained by Jehovah and put in place by Moses, are obeying Jehovah. In fact, they are defiantly disobeying Him.
29 "The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice.
So, what is the result of the failures of all the leaders? The people have forgotten His commandments, His blessings, and His warnings.
Does this sound familiar? Has this continued forward to today? Are the ‘churches’ truly concerned with holiness, clean and unclean, sanctification, justice, obedience, fidelity, and on and on?
30 "I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.
Is Jehovah saying that He failed in finding them due to their being hidden in congregations? Did He give up too soon? Did He look in the wrong places? No! Jehovah knows the hearts, minds, and actions of everyone for all time. As stated in Romans 3;
Romans 3:10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
Rom 3:11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
13 "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";
14 "WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";
15 "THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, 16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."
18 "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."
No, it is the sad assessment of a world that has forsaken Jehovah. The ‘church’ has mimicked the world rather than imitate Jesus Christ.
31 "Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads," declares the Lord GOD.
Is Jehovah justified? Is He the problem? Has He not done enough lately? Are we approaching the times of Jonah?
More next Saturday.
Satan has many schemes to deceive the whole world. How successful has he been? What are his schemes? The ‘church’ is woefully ignorant of his schemes and therefore vulnerable to being deceived.
2 Corinthians 2:9 For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
2:10 But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
2:11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
We will look deeply into some verses that should reveal just how Satan has deceived the ‘church’ through the Bible.
First, does Jehovah change? Of course, most of us would immediately respond with a determined, resounding NO! But, have we truthfully applied this to our studies and lives?
Malachi 3:6 "For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Isaiah 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.
55:10 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
55:11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Jehovah not only will not change, He will accomplish all He declared He would. Nothing can stop, hinder, or delay His will.
Ezekiel 18:29 "But the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not right.' Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?
Psalms 89:34 "My covenant I will not violate, Nor will I alter the utterance of My lips.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Not only is Jehovah unchangeable, so is Yeshua.
Jeremiah 23:24 "Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?" declares the LORD.
We can’t hide nor escape from Jehovah, so what about His word?
Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
5:18 "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
We all have heard this verse taught and have read it as well. But, have we ever truly contemplated what He said?
First, all of the Law, not just some of the Law will not be abolished, removed, or marginalized in any way.
Second, we read about the necessary requirements for anyone stating the opposite. Only when heaven and earth pass away, could any change take place. That means exactly what it says. All the Law is still in force and necessary. All must still be obeyed.
This we will carefully study over the next few weeks, so we can form a consistent, biblical foundation for our lives. Satan inspired traditions need to be identified and called out.
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.
1 Peter 1:24 For, "ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, 1:25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER." And this is the word which was preached to you.
Has this been preached to you?
More next Saturday.
It is very difficult to read this summary without raising questions about Jehovah using false prophets to work with pagan kings. Here we read the rest of this sad story with Balaam once again speaking truth that even he does not fully believe.
Num 24:1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to seek omens but he set his face toward the wilderness. 24:2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
24:3 He took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened;
24:4 The oracle of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,
24:5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel!
24:6 "Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens beside the river, Like aloes planted by the LORD, Like cedars beside the waters.
24:7 "Water will flow from his buckets, And his seed will be by many waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted.
24:8 "God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows.
24:9 "He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you."
How does the world respond when truth confronts them? How do they react when others don’t follow their orders? They get angry at the message and messenger.
24:10 Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times! 24:11 "Therefore, flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the LORD has held you back from honor."
Apparently Balak is totally oblivious to Balaam’s dilemna and can’t get himself to believe that Balaam wouldn’t want the riches he promised just to curse Israel. It is unbeliveable that both seem to believe that Balaam’s curse would triumph over Jehovah’s blessings.
24:12 Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, 24:13 'Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the LORD, either good or bad, of my own accord. What the LORD speaks, that I will speak'? 24:14 "And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come."
Well, Balaam once again tries to explain that which he doesn’t fully comprehend. If he did he would have forsaken all of his evil divinations and surrendered himself to the one and only GOD.
24:15 He took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
24:16 The oracle of him who hears the words of God, And knows the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered.
24:17 "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth.
Once again he begins to bless Israel and once again Balak leaves in anger. Both departed and went home. But is this the end of this sad story of fighting against Jehovah? No, there are two very important events still to come.
24:25 Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.
Numbers 25:1 While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab.
25:2 For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
25:3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry against Israel.
25:4 The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel."
The very next chapter and recorded event is the temptation, initiated by the daughters of Moab enticing the men, even the leaders, of Israel to engage in the feasting and sexual abominations associated with the worship of their idols. How did Jehovah view their apostasy? He ordered Moses to have all of them killed, immediately. But how did this all come about?
Rev 2:14 'But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.
Satan’s schemes and desires are almost limitless. His servant Balaam did not want to give up the honors Balak promised to him. So, while technically, he no longer could curse them, he counseled them to destroy them from within and without an arrow being fired. The men, especially some of the leaders, were quickly and apparently easily led away to worship idols and indulge in their pagan sexual practices.
It is probable that throughout human history, more men have fallen in adultery and abominable sexual sins, than in battle. But, what about Balaam?
31:1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 31:2 "Take full vengeance for the sons of Israel on the Midianites; afterward you will be gathered to your people."
31:7 So they made war against Midian, just as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they killed every male.
31:8 They killed the kings of Midian along with the rest of their slain: Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword.
Jehovah will not be mocked. He will not tolerate lip service. He will punish sin. He will not let the guilty go free or unpunished.
All too often, since Jehovah’s mercy and patience is misunderstood, people continue with their sin as they mistake His mercy for His indifference to their sin. So this ends this sad story of Balaam and Balak.
But, since their is nothing new under the sun; we can see this once again playing out in our world today. Hasn’t Satan brought this nation far from Jehovah with every kind of detestable sexual practice? Can you watch any TV, ad, or movie that doesn’t chip away at our abhorrence of these practices? Just because in our twisted world something is lawful doesn’t make it holy.
Next week we will study a troubling question within the ‘church’ and the world, which is what to do with Israel? Is Israel a nation, a people group, or the assembly of all of the true redeemed? We will use Jehovah’s inspired Word to help us biblically bring understanding to this often confusing and contradicting area.
We will begin next Saturday.
We left Balak and Balaam at odds. While both seemed to acknowledge Jehovah, neither really honored Him or worshiped Him. They had their other gods and traditions of men that were more important and real to them. Remember, Satan’s false religions and false teachers always seem to be more interesting, more accommodating, and more powerful. Sadly, this was not the end of this story of deceit and evil desires.
Numbers 23:13 Then Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place from where you may see them, although you will only see the extreme end of them and will not see all of them; and curse them for me from there." 23:14 So he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Balak’s belief that Balaam’s curse would protect him from Jehovah and His people is astounding. So once again, seven altars are prepared and sacrifices are offered. Does this repeated appealing to their false god sound familiar? King Ahab was evil, wicked, and sinful. Elijah was sent by Jehovah to bring this into the open when he challenged all the false prophets of Baal.
1 Kings 18:24 "Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, He is God." And all the people said, "That is a good idea."
18:25 So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it."
18:26 Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, "O Baal, answer us." But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made.
While Satan must have at some time showed these Baal worshipers some evidence of his reality, this time Jehovah prohibited it from His revelation.
18:27 It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened."
18:28 So they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them.
18:29 When midday was past, they raved until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.
So could Balak and Balaam believe that they just had not gotten their god’s attention, after all gods are busy with other requests, aren’t they? Maybe they need to just up the ante.
23:15 And he said to Balak, "Stand here beside your burnt offering while I myself meet the LORD over there."
23:16 Then the LORD met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak." 23:17 He came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the leaders of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, "What has the LORD spoken?"
Incredible, Balak still wants to know if Balaam had received permission to curse Israel, even though Balaam had already said that was not going to happen. But, did Balaam really believe that? Why did he once again have to ask Jehovah? Just like with his second request to got with the princes to Balak.
The world today treats Jehovah exactly the same way. He is given lip service and treated as some divine genie from whom to request and fulfill their desires.
23:18 Then he took up his discourse and said, "Arise, O Balak, and hear; Give ear to me, O son of Zippor!
23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
23:20 "Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it.
23:21 "He has not observed misfortune in Jacob; Nor has He seen trouble in Israel; The LORD his God is with him, And the shout of a king is among them.
23:22 "God brings them out of Egypt, He is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
23:23 "For there is no omen against Jacob, Nor is there any divination against Israel; At the proper time it shall be said to Jacob And to Israel, what God has done!
23:24 "Behold, a people rises like a lioness, And as a lion it lifts itself; It will not lie down until it devours the prey, And drinks the blood of the slain."
Once again, Balaam really is not in charge of the very words he speaks. He wants to curse them, as that is what he will be paid for doing. He feigns righteousness while depicting unrighteousness.
The world does the same. The most self-righteous people in the world all seem to bring Jehovah into their conversations and declarations, while denying Him the worship due only to Him.
23:25 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them at all nor bless them at all!" 23:26 But Balaam replied to Balak, "Did I not tell you, 'Whatever the LORD speaks, that I must do'?"
There is truth in Balaam’s reply, Jehovah is entirely in total control of this event, Balaam’s pronouncements, the entire Moabite and Midianite nations, and His plan to bring Israel into the ‘promised land’.
More next Saturday.
We left just as Balaam arrived at Balak’s request. Balaam knew what was expected from Balak, but now must carefully walk and talk as not to once again anger Jehovah.
Numbers 23:1 Then Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here." 23:2 Balak did just as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.
What is Balaam instructing Balak to do and why? Do they actually think that this veiled attempt to worship Jehovah will actually convince Jehovah that they are really worshiping Him? “There is no feast, festival, or sacrifice of this type given by Jehovah to His people, but seven is a oft referred to number of wholeness or completeness.
23:3 Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go; perhaps the LORD will come to meet me, and whatever He shows me I will tell you." So he went to a bare hill.
Was he really going to do Jehovah’s will or just leaving to start his idolatrous divination to his god, Satan?
23:4 Now God met Balaam, and he said to Him, "I have set up the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on each altar." 23:5 Then the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus."
So Balaam had to bring attention to his burnt offering, as if to appease Him as he must have often appeased his gods. What ever Balaam expected, Jehovah came to him with a warning and command.
23:6 So he returned to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, he and all the leaders of Moab.
23:7 He took up his discourse and said, "From Aram Balak has brought me, Moab's king from the mountains of the East, 'Come curse Jacob for me, And come, denounce Israel!'
23:8 "How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?
23:9 "As I see him from the top of the rocks, And I look at him from the hills; Behold, a people who dwells apart, And will not be reckoned among the nations.
23:10 "Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, And let my end be like his!"
As Jehovah said, you will only speak the words I put into your mouth. In comparison, Balaam’s donkeys could only speak because Jehovah put words into his mouth as well. It is not as if, Balaam truly desired to honor Jehovah. He sounds like an unprepared and even unwilling instrument of Jehovah’s plans.
23:11 Then Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have actually blessed them!"
23:12 He replied, "Must I not be careful to speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?"
So neither seems reluctant to acknowledge Jehovah, neither worshiped Him either. Regardless, Balak expected Balaam to honor and obey him. In fact, he is quite upset at Balaam’s dishonoring of him and failure to do what he expected Balaam to do. After all he promised much to Balaam, sent two different envoys to appeal to him, and promised him all that the world desires.
The world can’t and won’t understand anyone who doesn’t strive for, seek after, or desire what they have to offer. A world without Jehovah, simply goes to the highest bidder, strongest army, or most powerful leaders.
More next Saturday.
So Balaam continued on his way to meet with Balak. Even though he was a false prophet, Jehovah was going to use him in a manner that glorified HIM!
Numbers 22:36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the Arnon border, at the extreme end of the border.
22:37 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not urgently send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really unable to honor you?"
As we read, Balak did not or could not believe that Balaam would refuse his generous offer to come and curse Israel. His questions are very enlightening.
Balak urgently called Balaam. Balak perceived that he and his kingdom were in grave danger. To him, this was urgent.
Secondly, he could not understand Balaam’s reluctance and delay in coming.
Third, he had the financial resources that should have immediately attracted Balaam and Balaam should have known this.
In this narrative we can see how this type of exchange plays out even today. Balak is the typical worldly leader, devoid of Jehovah and full of himself. Balaam is a typical well-known, spiritual, religious advisor to heads of state, also completely devoid of Jehovah. He is in it for the prestige, money, and praise of men. Paul warned of these deceivers to Titus.
Titus 1:10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 1:11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.
They are in it for what they get out of it, as worldly desires. All worthless.
22:38 So Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak."
22:39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
It would seem that Balaam suddenly become acutely aware of his false beliefs and unholy divinations. He now quotes Jehovah as if he worships Him.
22:40 Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.
22:41 Then it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from there a portion of the people.
In this context, sacrificed does not have any unique spiritual connotations. It could also be translated slaughtered or killed, as for a meal.
So far, Balak hasn’t backed down on what he wants and Balaam is carefully choosing words so as not to once again anger Jehovah. But, as we will discover, Jehovah knows their hearts, and neither is close to Him. This is in effect lip service to Jehovah.
Matthew 15:7 "You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you:
15:8 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.
15:9 'BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'" In vain pertains to something totally worthless.
Balaam is feigning honor to Jehovah, but in his evil, wicked heart he is worshipping himself and his gods.
More next Saturday.
Why would Jehovah let Balaam now go to Balak? He had already clearly told Balaam that the people of Israel would be blessed by Him and no one could curse them. But, this is exactly what Balak was asking him to do! What did Jehovah really think of Balaam’s second request?
Num 22:22 But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him.
Jehovah was justifiably angry with Balaam for even thinking of asking Him again, but He let him go? What can we learn? We all know that we can be and are tested by Jehovah. Balaam failed this test! He shouldn’t have even asked again. He should have refused to go again. He should have repented immediately. Jehovah told him to go to show him that he wanted the praise of Balak more than the praise of Jehovah. When we try to appease men or not offend men, we most often are offending Jehovah.
22:23 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the way.
22:24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.
22:25 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall, so he struck her again.
22:26 The angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left.
22:27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick.
Three times the donkey, a dumb animal, saw the angel of the LORD, and three times he tried to keep Balaam from harm. Why did the donkey see; but Balaam was blinded from seeing?
22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"
22:29 Then Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now."
22:30 The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?" And he said, "No."
This is incredible, Balaam is holding a conversation with his donkey and doesn’t seem to be astonished! Why would he not stop and seriously consider what he was doing?
22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground.
22:32 The angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me.
22:33 "But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live."
Jehovah was merciful to this sinful, disobedient, false prophet. He was going to use him even though he was a false prophet for hire. Just like He has used pagan kings and nations for His purposes and even judgment upon Israel and Judah.
22:34 Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back."
Wow! What a carefully contrived act of false repentance. If Jehovah had not made the donkey turn, Balaam would have died immediately. So, he again tests Jehovah and fails Jehovah’s test of him. ‘If it is displeasing!” Really, did he even after to ask that?
22:35 But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you." So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak.
This is somewhat similar to Jehovah’s warning and restriction to Satan in the first chapter of Job.
Job 1:8 The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil."
1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 1:10 "Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 1:11 "But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face."
1:12 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.
Satan thought he knew Job better than Jehovah knew him. Satan thought Job was more like him. Jehovah knew Job was more like Him. Satan failed in his temptation or attack on Job. Job passed this horrific test and was restored.
How will Balaam perform to his test from Jehovah?
More next Saturday.
So we left off with Balaam sending Balak’s dignified entourage back home with a ‘no’ answer to his request. So that should close this chapter in Jehovah’s story of Balak and Balaam. But, it did not! Satan does not give up that easily and he knows what temptation has worked in the past, as he is a very astute observer, as are all of his evil servants. How does Satan respond to a no?
Numbers 22:14 The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former.
Just like when Satan tempted Jesus, if the first temptation doesn’t work, just up the ante. Satan, as he lied to Jehovah about Job, believes that all men are just like him. They don’t really honor Jehovah for who He is, but for what He has given them in blessings and honor.
Balak sent a larger, more dignified group and brought more wealth and promises of honor. Remember, Balak is a king and not accustomed to asking, begging, or pleading with anyone. What did he really know about Balaam? This was not just a few hours trip, but Balaam actually lived in Assyria/Babylon. So this distinguished caravan must have made an impression on the surrounding people and even Balaam.
22:16 They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me; 22:17 for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.'"
Can a curse from Balaam overcome the blessings and power of Jehovah? Apparently Balak thought so and even Balaam may have thought the same, since that was his principle source of fame and income.
22:18 Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God. 22:19 "Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me."
Why would Balaam think he had to ask Jehovah again? Was he really expecting a different answer? Or, did he believe that when circumstances change so does the correct answer?
Is Balaam more like us than we want to truly contemplate? Do we actually look for the loopholes in Jehovah’s Word? Do we believe because Jehovah hasn’t exactly detailed the problem or opportunity we are presented with, that we can make it holy in our own minds? Aren’t Jehovah’s words enough? Aren’t His principals enough? Aren’t His commandments clear enough?
22:20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do." 22:21 So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab.
This remains a troubling dialogue, as Jehovah can’t even look at evil, yet He is communicating with a false, greedy, even prideful man! Yet, the first chapter of Job leaves us with the same questions.
1 Kings 22:20 "The LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said this while another said that. 22:21 "Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD and said, 'I will entice him.'
22:22 "The LORD said to him, 'How?' And he said, 'I will go out and be a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Then He said, 'You are to entice him and also prevail. Go and do so.'
22:23 "Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you.
We know that this spirit is not a holy angel, as they would never do evil or tempt anyone to do evil. Jehovah would never tempt any of His children to do evil. But, would He allow an evil spirit to deceive an evil king?
More next Saturday.
How did the Israelites join themselves to Baal-Peor? With all of Jehovah’s warnings and Moses leadership, what or who tempted them to disobey? Let us discover together how this all came about.
Numbers 22:1 Then the sons of Israel journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho. 22:2 Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 22:3 So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel.
Why was Balak so fearful?
Numbers 21:3 The LORD heard the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites; then they utterly destroyed them and their cities. Thus the name of the place was called Hormah.
21:23 But Sihon would not permit Israel to pass through his border. So Sihon gathered all his people and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. Numbers 21:24 Then Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon was Jazer. 21:25 Israel took all these cities and Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all her villages.
Numbers 21:33 Then they turned and went up by the way of Bashan, and Og the king of Bashan went out with all his people, for battle at Edrei. 21:34 But the LORD said to Moses, "Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon." 21:35 So they killed him and his sons and all his people, until there was no remnant left him; and they possessed his land.
Balak had heard and seen the military success and might of the Israelites. He felt he would be next and believed that he would suffer the same fate.
22:4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.
22:5 So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me. 22:6 "Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."
Interestingly, Balak knew alot about Balaam. He knew where he lived. He knew what he had done. He believed in his power to curse and contain Israel. He also knew what the fees should have been.
22:7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak's words to him.
22:8 He said to them, "Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as the LORD may speak to me." And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam.
Balak sent a dignified group with the fees for divination. Let us not dismiss this power of divination. Satan does have enormous power to produce signs and wonders. There is a real spiritual danger in this witchcraft and Jehovah detests it and forbids it.
Deuteronomy 18:9 "When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations.
18:10 "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 18:11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
18:12 "For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you. 18:13 "You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.
18:14 "For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the LORD your God has not allowed you to do so.
Clearly the nations around them did indeed practice such detestable things. Also, it is equally clear that Jehovah condemns them.
22:9 Then God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?" 22:10 Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me, 22:11 'Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.'"
This is a very confusing and disturbing passage. Here we read that Jehovah did indeed talk with Balaam, an evil, false prophet and diviner of spirits. Balaam knew enough about Jehovah to petition Him. He may have once believed in Him as the one and only GOD. But, clearly as we see though out this story, Balaam only truly considered Jehovah one of many gods.
22:12 God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." 22:13 So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, "Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you."
Jehovah spoke to Balaam and he did exactly as he was told. He obeyed, at least for the moment.
22:14 The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
So the entourage returned to king Balak and told him the bad news. Kings are not accustomed to being refused.
More next Saturday.
We have studied a number of passages of Jehovah’s great displeasure in disobedience. All but one of the 10 commandments incurs the death penalty. Why is Jehovah so adamant about obeying His commandments? Where is forgiveness? Where is a second chance? Where are the allowances for those who haven’t heard or didn’t quite understand?
Deuteronomy 4:24 "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. 4:25 "When you become the father of children and children's children and have remained long in the land, and act corruptly, and make an idol in the form of anything, and
do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD your God so as to provoke Him to anger,
4:26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will surely perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to possess it. You shall not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed.
13:5 "But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk.
So you shall purge the evil from among you.
17:6 "On the evidence of two witnesses or three witnesses, he who is to die shall be put to death; he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.
17:7 "The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people.
So you shall purge the evil from your midst.
What is Jehovah making very clear to all of us? Just like a bad apple can spoil the entire bushel, so can one evil deed lead to another and another evil deed. This is especially true when a leader does the evil! Let us look at yet another example of this.
Numbers 25:1 While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. 25:2 For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 25:3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the LORD was angry against Israel.
You shall no other gods before Me. What is so hard to understand in this phrase or better said, warning? They, as do we, all know that the land promised to them by Jehovah was entirely filled with idolatrous nations. Jehovah warned them to not participate in their evil deeds, but destroy all shrines to their demonic gods.
Exodus 34:10 Then God said, "Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the LORD, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you.
Exodus 34:11 "Be sure to observe what I am commanding you this day: behold, I am going to drive out the Amorite before you, and the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite.
34:12 "Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst.
34:13 "But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim
They were commanded to remove all evidence of this demonic worship. If not, it will come back to ensnare them. Was Jehovah right?
34:14 —for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God—
34:15 otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice,
34:16 and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods.
Even with this warning from Jehovah, Israel ignored it and fell for the apparent attraction of this pagan, highly sexualized, immoral, ungodly worship.
Numbers 25:4 The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel." 25:5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each of you slay his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor."
Wow!!! Take the leaders and kill them in front of everyone! What kind of barbarous response was this? Isn’t Jehovah a god of love, forgiveness, kindness, and blessings?
25:6 Then behold, one of the sons of Israel came and brought to his relatives a Midianite woman, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, while they were weeping at the doorway of the tent of meeting.
The people were confessing, weeping, and repenting of this terrible sin and Jehovah’s wrathful and righteous condemnations. When this one man boldly walked by them to have sex in his tent with a Midianite harlot.
This is outright insubordination. For those of us who have been in the military, is insubordination allowed or tolerated? No, of course not! It is dealt with swiftly and completely. So, if the world knows the problems of not dealing with insubordination, we can not fault Jehovah not dealing with it either. Remember, He knows the heart of everyone. No one claim ignorance or innocence in His presence.
25:7 When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he arose from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand, 25:8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and pierced both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman, through the body.
So the plague on the sons of Israel was checked. When good men do nothing, evil prospers. Here we have Phinehas doing exactly what Jehovah requires all true believers to do, rid evil from their midst.
Now, we must also remember that this theocracy is not in existence today. Yet, we are still told to remove sinners from our gatherings if they will not acknowledge their sin before Jehovah and repent, which leads to restoration to the gathering.
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
The very first response is to go to him and try to restore him. But, not everyone can do this, especially some who may have been once tempted by the very same sin. As an example, we would not send a recovering alcoholic into a bar to try and restore a brother. We would send those who would not be tempted in the same manner.
1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife.
5:2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.
Their are many gatherings who will not condemn any sin, as being judgmental. This is a false, deadly compassion.
5:3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.
5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5:5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
5:9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 5:10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
Many go too far in this separation. As if any difference would corrupt them. We need to be discerning and not make a spec into a log. Our mission field is the very world around us.
5:11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.
5:12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 5:13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.
Jehovah’s warnings have not changed, but His retribution is now entirely in His hands, not ours.
Hebrews 10:30 For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." 10:31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
25:9 Those who died by the plague were 24,000.
These 24,000 fell into the hands of Jehovah for condemnation and eternal punishment.
Jehovah’s view of sin, displeasure with sin, and punishment of sin have not changed and never will.
More next Saturday.
Blasphemy is an oft mentioned, but often misunderstood term. In the Greek it means to curse. So those whose words use Jehovah’s name in a curse, or curse Him are blaspheming Him. What will Jehovah do to those who curse in this manner?
Leviticus 24:10 Now the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the sons of Israel; and the Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel struggled with each other in the camp.
As we remember, many others from Egypt joined with the Israelites when they left Egypt. Here we see that some even intermarried.
24:11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed. So they brought him to Moses. (Now his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)
24:12 They put him in custody so that the command of the LORD might be made clear to them.
This is very similar to the problem from last week when they discovered a man gathering wood. They knew enough to ask Jehovah, probably through Moses, what should be done?
24:13 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24:14 "Bring the one who has cursed outside the camp, and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then let all the congregation stone him.
We have a little rhyme that goes something like this, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” However, that is not true in many situations. Many words spoken can actually cause pain to the recipient. Words can be hurtful, painful, and even cause physical harm. How does Jehovah look at our words?
Matthew 12:36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 12:37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
So we now read that Jehovah records every ‘careless’ word we speak! Our words now can hurt us! Most people go through life without any care or consideration of what they actually say to others. At judgment, they will be condemned by the very words they may have used to condemn or curse others.
24:15 "You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'If anyone curses his God, then he will bear his sin.
Exodus
20:7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
This means in a totally worthless or evil manner.
24:16 'Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.
Jehovah is very serious about the commandments He has given us.
They are meant to save us from harm.
They are intended for our own good.
They are meant to make our lives fuller, safer, more joyful, and complete.
More next Saturday.
How holy is Jehovah? What does He require of all of us? Has His view of sin softened? Will He look at sin differently today vs. in the time of Israel? He doesn’t change nor does His holy requirements, regardless of what the false teachers proclaim. Sin will always be an affront to our Holy GOD.
Numbers 15:32 Now while the sons of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering wood on the sabbath day.
This is a very unique and somewhat troubling incident. What is so wrong with gathering wood for a fire? There is a winter period in the Mideast and it will get cold at night in the desert, as many of us have experienced ourselves. So does Jehovah expect us to shiver in the cold? Some scholars believe that this is actually a reference to someone gathering wood so they could work, as with shaping metal.
15:33 Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation; 15:34 and they put him in custody because it had not been declared what should be done to him.
While we have studied just how ungodly these people continued to be, they were quick to see someone who seemed to violate Jehovah’s 4th Commandment. This is a problem we all must fight against, that is, seeing the sin is someone else but excusing or rationalizing our own sin. Jesus taught that there was a right way and a wrong way to judge anyone else.
Matthew 7:2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
7:3 "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
7:4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?
7:5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
We are to judge one another in the faith, but not in a very hypocritical manner. First, look realistically at our own sin, which we cannot do without asking Jehovah to reveal it to us.
What was the problem with their understanding of what Jehovah had commanded them?
Exodus 20:8 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
20:9 "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 20:10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.
20:11 "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.
Genesis 2 is referenced here by Jehovah. This is also the longest of all of the 10 commandments. While is is difficult to research the frequency of the first 3 commandments, the Sabbath is mentioned in 116 verses of which 55 are in the New Testament.
15:35 Then the LORD said to Moses, "The man shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp."
Moses, which was his practice, inquired of Jehovah, who confirmed His holy commandments and His righteous wrath upon any and all who disobey them. Violation of 9 of the 10 commandments is death.
15:36 So all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Why would all the congregation be required to participate in the stoning of anyone? A number of possible reasons come to mind.
First, as a very visible warning to all.
Second, to emphasize that there is no room for violating any of Jehovah’s Laws.
Third, because sin can slowly creep into an entire group of people, it has to be dealt with swiftly and completely.
Ecclesiates 8:11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.
More next Saturday.
We left off with what we could learn from the deaths of Nadab and Abihu. Context is always important when trying to understand the lessons Jehovah is providing us. How much time has elapsed since they left Egypt?
Numbers 9:1 Thus the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 9:2 "Now, let the sons of Israel observe the Passover at its appointed time.
9:3 "On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall observe it at its appointed time; you shall observe it according to all its statutes and according to all its ordinances."
9:4 So Moses told the sons of Israel to observe the Passover. 9:5 They observed the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, in the wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did. As you recall, they left Egypt right after the first Passover.
Now one year has passed, Jehovah has given them the ten tablets of His commandments. They experienced the destruction of Egypt through the 10 plagues. They saw Jehovah destroy the entire Egyptian army by drowning them in the same Red Sea they had just crossed safely. They have heard His voice and trembled. They were led by a cloud by day and fire by night. They have received water from a rock, manna from heaven, and yet, they continued to grumble and complain.
Numbers 11:1 Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. 11:2 The people therefore cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the LORD and the fire died out. 11:3 So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD burned among them.
It would seem that they were never really thankful or even acknowledged the blessings that Jehovah continued to pour out to them.
Numbers 11:4 The rabble who were among them had greedy desires; and also the sons of Israel wept again and said, "Who will give us meat to eat? 11:5 "We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic, 11:6 but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna."
11:7 Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its appearance like that of bdellium. 11:8 The people would go about and gather it and grind it between two millstones or beat it in the mortar, and boil it in the pot and make cakes with it; and its taste was as the taste of cakes baked with oil. 11:9 When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it.
So the mixed multitude, which included the Israelites and all who came with them continued complaining. In reality they were accusing Jehovah of withholding blessings from them. They were even beginning to think being slaves in Egypt was better than being the people of Jehovah.
It is a very sad deception when we begin to reminisce about the ‘good old days’ that really weren’t all that good.
Numbers 11:10 Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each man at the doorway of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased.
11:11 So Moses said to the LORD, "Why have You been so hard on Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me? 11:12 "Was it I who conceived all this people? Was it I who brought them forth, that You should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a nursing infant, to the land which You swore to their fathers'?
11:13 "Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me, saying, 'Give us meat that we may eat!' 11:14 "I alone am not able to carry all this people, because it is too burdensome for me. 11:15 "So if You are going to deal thus with me, please kill me at once, if I have found favor in Your sight, and do not let me see my wretchedness."
Moses was not one to be consumed by self-pity, but you can read that their constant complaining, Aaron’s disobedience, and the weight of being in total charge was weighing him down. It would seem that he forgot the power of Jehovah as well.
Numbers 11:16 The LORD therefore said to Moses, "Gather for Me seventy men from the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and their officers and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you. 11:17 "Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit who is upon you, and will put Him upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you will not bear it all alone.
Jehovah was going to give Moses some much needed help to share the burden of judging these 2+ million people. But, that was not all!
Numbers 11:18 "Say to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, "Oh that someone would give us meat to eat! For we were well-off in Egypt." Therefore the LORD will give you meat and you shall eat. 11:19 'You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, 11:20 but a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you; because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before Him, saying, "Why did we ever leave Egypt?"'"
11:21 But Moses said, "The people, among whom I am, are 600,000 on foot; yet You have said, 'I will give them meat, so that they may eat for a whole month.' 11:22 "Should flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to be sufficient for them? Or should all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to be sufficient for them?"
11:23 The LORD said to Moses, "Is the LORD'S power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not."
It is interesting that the people’s knowledge of Jehovah as quite limited and faulty. They apparently did not know that He could hear their grumbling. They may have thought, even though that is hard to believe, that they were grumbling only to Moses. Jehovah even had to remind Moses, by asking if Moses thought His power was in any way limited.
Numbers 11:31 Now there went forth a wind from the LORD and it brought quail from the sea, and let them fall beside the camp, about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side, all around the camp and about two cubits deep on the surface of the ground. 11:32 The people spent all day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers) and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp.
11:33 While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very severe plague. 11:34 So the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had been greedy.
Just for understanding, an homer is about 3.7 quarts, or almost a gallon. So the greedy gathered 10 gallons of quail from the first opportunity.
How did Jehovah respond to their grumbling, irreverent comparison to life in Egypt, and lack of any sense of thankfulness? He sent a severe plague with the quail. They had just put the first bite in their mouths when the plague struck them.
What lessons can we learn from this sad episode in the lives of the Israelites?
First, grumbling and complaining is really an indictment against Jehovah; He has not done enough for us, or so we think.
Secondly, an incomplete knowledge of Jehovah leaves us prone to follow the wrong leaders.
Thirdly, failure to both remember and praise Jehovah for all that He had done, leads us away from Him and into the powers of Satan and all his deceivers.
Let us never forget all that He has done for us and continues to do for us!
His power is without limits as is His knowledge of us.
More next Saturday.
We left off with the death of Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron’s sons. There were two things, that I never really connected until last week, that had troubled me for years. The first, how did Aaron escape punishment as he led the people in idol worship? The second, how could Abihu and Nadab not follow Jehovah’s holy requirements on their first day of service? Let us tie this all together. First, the setting for the coming of Jehovah, all of which we had studied before.
Exodus 19:9 The LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever." Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.
19:10 The LORD also said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; 19:11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
19:12 "You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, 'Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.19:13 'No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.' When the ram's horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain."
9:14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. 19:15 He said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman."
19:16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 19:17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
9:18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19:19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. 19:20 The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
It is quite clear that this event would be impossible to forget and all were there to witness it. Secondly, Jehovah invited Moses and others to confirm the covenant He created between them. A covenant is confirmed when there is an oath, a sacrifice, and a meal. The covenant was the oath, Moses performed the sacrifice, and now the meal with Jehovah.
Exodus 24:1 Then He said to Moses, "Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and seventy of the elders of Israel, and you shall worship at a distance. 24:2 "Moses alone, however, shall come near to the LORD, but they shall not come near, nor shall the people come up with him."
This is a very specific gathering of men, but only four are named.
Exodus 24:9 Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,
24:10 and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.
24:11 Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.
Jehovah ate with them but did not kill any of them. What they saw is not really revealed, but it would have to be a life changing event. He came down in glory and was revealed in a manner that is very like the passage in Revelation 4.
Exodus 24:12 Now the LORD said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction."
24:13 So Moses arose with Joshua his servant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. 24:14 But to the elders he said, "Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a legal matter, let him approach them."
24:15 Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.
24:16 The glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. 24:17 And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top.
24:18 Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
Everyone saw the appearance of Jehovah which was like a consuming fire. Moses put Aaron and the elders in charge during his absence. How well did Aaron do?
Exodus 32:1 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him."
Exodus 32:2 Aaron said to them, "Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." 32:3 Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron.
32:4 He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, "This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt."
32:5 Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD." 32:6 So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.
In just 40 days, everyone, including Aaron seemed to forget all that Jehovah had done. In fact, they are probably just four months or less out of Egypt. But, here we read that the future high priest, violated the first commandments spoken to all just 40-50 days earlier. Jehovah wanted to destroy all of them.
Exodus32:21 Then Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you, that you have brought such great sin upon them?"
32:22 Aaron said, "Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil. 32:23 "For they said to me, 'Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'
32:24 "I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.' So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."
2:25 Now when Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies— 32:26 then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!" And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him.
32:27 He said to them, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Every man of you put his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother, and every man his friend, and every man his neighbor.'" 32:28 So the sons of Levi did as Moses instructed, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day.
Moses rightly accused his brother of bringing such a great sin into the camp. Moses knew Aaron had both led them and allowed them to get out of control. Aaron fabricated a lie about the creation of the calf and blamed the people. He was put in charge and failed. He really deserved the death penalty. Now fast forward to Leviticus 10.
Leviticus 10:1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. Lev 10:2 And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
As we studied last week, Aaron was not to even mourn the death of his sons, who died in front of his very eyes. What lessons can we learn from this?
First, Aaron’s sin and lies were witnessed by his sons.
Second, why didn’t the 70 elders or Nadab and Abihu caution Aaron?
Third, Aaron’s example of sinful disobedience was not punished, so could his sons now view obedience as optional and not mandatory?
Fourth, who is watching us as we live out our testimony in front of them? Who are under our influence either directly or indirectly?
Fifth, Jehovah would not let Aaron mourn his sons, which could be viewed as putting his sons disobedience above Jehovah’s righteousness.
Lastly, Aaron’s sons death may indeed been Aaron’s punishment. But, his sons willfully disobeyed. They were not innocent of ignorant.
Who is watching how we live out our faith? Do we take full responsibility for out sins?
More next Saturday.