Jesus taught that all scripture testifies about him so that in him we might have life (John 5v39-40). King David taught that it is only by living according to God's word that we're kept on the right path (Psalm 119v9). What then could be better than reading the entire Bible? Click the menu to read about the program, choose a month or Bible book - or just work through the blog posts day by day.
BEGIN WITH PRAYER
"Lord open my eyes and my heart."
Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world.
Wisdom to chew on
Understanding to grow in
The plains of Moab are where Israel remain for the rest of Numbers and Deuteronomy. Moab’s terror shows that God’s purpose of bringing the nations to know he is God is being fulfilled. They send messengers to ask Balaam, a pagan prophet, to “curse” Israel. But he can only say or do what God commands, and God commands he doesn’t curse Israel “because they are blessed” - fulfilling God's promise to Abraham (Gen 12v1-3). The point is that no nation or anything else can keep them from their promised land. This is how certain the culmination of God's blessings is for us in Christ (Rom 8v37-39). When offered reward by a second delegation, Balaam goes as God told him to. But God's anger shows that Balaam's intent in going was to curse Israel and so be rewarded (2 Pet 2v15-16). The astonishing event with the donkey confirms this. The text is narrative so intends us to see this as a miracle showing that Balaam was blinder to his spiritual danger than the donkey (22v31). And just as God could enable it to speak, so he could keep Balaam from doing so. It’s a warning to all tempted to nod at God’s commands and then just disobey them.
Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:
1) What’s the main thing it teaches me about God or his purposes in Christ? Then praise him for this.
2) What’s the main thing it teaches me about his will for me or the world? Then pray that home.
Devotion to offer up
You could read this aloud and perhaps as a springboard to further prayer.