(美国阿拉斯加州播音) ©World Christian Broadcasting Shortwave Radio Station KNLS, Anchor Point, Alaska, USA Recording Studios: Franklin, Tennessee, USA
|
||||||
|
Numbers chs. 22-24 By: Edward Short© 1.Numbers 22: Balak Calls Balaam to Curse the Israelites: Look at a map and determine how far the Israelites are from Canaan. Vs. 3: “Moab was terrified because there were so many people,” Did the Moabites need to fear? (No.) Why? Because the Moabites were not the object of Israel’s war attack (see Deut. 2:8-9). Balak, king of Moab, said: “they are too powerful for me,” so what method did King Balak determine to use against Israel? Who did Balak ask to go and curse Israel? Where was he from? Biblical scholars are divided on their opinion of Balaam. Some commentators say that Balaam had faith in the true God. Others say that he had no faith whatsoever in Jehovah God, but that he “used” the name of the LORD to achieve his own ends. Whatever the case, Balaam was used by God to achieve God’s own will; Balaam discovered that man cannot curse a people that God wants to bless. 2.Numbers 22:1-14: A Curse Requested: What pleasing words did Balak, king of Moab, say to Balaam to get him to go? The pockets of Balak’s messengers contained (what) for Balaam? (Historians and archaeologists tell us this was normal practice in those days.) That night, G___ spoke to Balaam and instructed him: “Do n___ go with them. You must n___ put a curse on those people, because they are b______.” The next day, Balaam told Balak’s messengers, “G__ b____ to your own country, for the LORD has r______ to let me g__ with you.” Up to this point, Balak’s attitude is not bad and he seems honest. Actually, this story should end at this point. Since God has already expressed his will and bidding to Balak, the following paragraphs should not have happened. Balaam should have stayed home. 3.Numbers 22:15-41: Opposing God: Balak, king of Moab, has not yet given up on his plan. What did Balak use to entice Balaam? Vs. 18: Balaam clearly understands “Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go b_____ the command of the LORD my God,” but Balaam really wanted to obtain the m_____. Vs. 20: Why did God allow Balaam to go? Vs. 22: Why did God get angry? God fully understood Balaam’s intention. Describe what happened on the road. Balaam saw himself as one “whose eye sees clearly” (Num. 24:3, 4, 15) [but note the translation in the Chinese Union Version: “eyes are closed”; alternate translation says “open” ]. However, on the road Balaam could not see the LORD’s angel; only Balaam’s d_____ could see him. Vs. 31: The LORD o_____ the eyes of he who thought himself to be one “whose eye sees clearly.” Vs. 22: The word “oppose” in the original Hebrew is “satan.” In later years, this word became “Satan”—the one who “opposes” God and man. Reader, perhaps there are things in Numbers 22 that surprise you. Why did God tell Balaam that he could not go and then he allowed him to go? And after Balaam went, God became angry. Ask yourself: are there times today when we know clearly that such-and-such is against God’s will but we really want to do it, does God prevent us from doing these things? (For example: drinking and driving, stealing, lying, cursing people, hitting people, etc, are all things of which God does not approve, but God gives us the freedom and allows us to do them. But we must accept the consequences, no?) 4.Numbers 23:1-26: Balaam’s First Two Oracles: Vs. 3: Balaam said something that was a lot deeper than he realized; what was it? “Whatever he r_______ to me I will tell you.” Balak expected Balaam to curse the Israelites, however what did Balaam say? Explain his oracle sentence-by-sentence. What was Balak’s reaction? Explain Balaam’s second oracle, especially vs. 19-22. Numbers 23:2, 14, 29, 30, etc: Why did Balaam offer sacrifice? (See Num. 24:1.) Memorize v. 19: “God is not a m___, that he should l___, nor a son of man, that he should c_____ his mind. Does he speak and then not a____? Does he promise and not f______?” Note: On May 24, 1844, Samuel F. B. Morse sat in the Capitol in Washington, D.C., USA and sent the world’s first official telegram. The contents were from Numbers 23:23: “What hath God wrought.” 5.Numbers 24:1-25: Balaam’s Third and Fourth Oracles: Describe Balaam’s third oracle and Balak’s reaction. Vs. 11: When Balak sent Balaam home, he said, “Now l____ at once and go home! I said I would r_____ you handsomely, but the LORDS has k____ you from being r_______.” Num. 24:12-13: Balaam knew the truth and the true situation but he allowed his avarice [greed or covetousness] to overcome everything. Num. 24:15-25: Read Balaam’s fourth oracle. Vs. 17: “I s____ him, but not n____; I behold him, but not near. A s____ will come out of Jacob; a s______ will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth.” This statement clearly is a prophecy. When would it be fulfilled? 1) When D____ became king; 2) When the Messiah J_____ became king. 6.Balaam: If there is anything praiseworthy about Balaam, it is (what) (see Num. 22:18; 23:3, 26; 24:12-13)? However, from Numbers 24:1, we know that deep in his heart, Balaam did not want to serve the LORD, but rather he c______ m______. Balaam’s end is recorded in Numbers 31:7 and Joshua 13:22; what was his end? What lessons should we learn from Balaam? (2004.10.24)(2005.5 Rev.) License Agreement for Bible Texts These Scriptures: • May not be altered or modified in any form. They must remain in their original context. • May not be sold or offered for sale in any form. • May not be used for commercial purposes (including, but not limited to, use in advertising or Web banners used for the purpose of selling online add space). • May be reprinted without modification for non-commercial use. • May be distributed without modification in electronic form for non-commercial use. A copy of this license (without modification) must also be posted with the text. • Are copyrighted by World Bible Translation Center. • Are not public domain. Any use of these Scriptures other than those listed above is prohibited. For additional rights and permission usage, or for clarification of any of the above, please contact World Bible Translation Center. Copyright © 1995, 2000 by World Bible Translation Center All rights reserved. World Bible Translation Center P.O. Box 820648 Fort Worth, Texas 76182 Telephone: 817-595-1664 Toll-Free in US: 888-54-BIBLE E-Mail: info@wbtc.com http://www.wbtc.com
|