Numbers Chapter 22
Omniscient – You know everything. You know Balak’s heart. You know Balaam’s heart. You know Balak will call to Balaam. You know Balak will be persistent and offer Balaam more money. You went to Balaam at night to have him rise up and go with them. You know him. You know why You get angry. You know the donkey and what she will say. You know what Balaam will say, and that he would have killed her. You know Your angel. You know you’re your angel will day. You know Balaam will say that he has sinned and will have a change of heart. You know me. You know my heart. You are all-knowing.
Omnipotent- You can do anything. You led the sons of Israel (Your righteous angels) to the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho. You put it into Balak the son of Zippor to see all that Israel had done to the Amorites. You put fear into Balak’s heart to call on Balaam and know that Israel covers the surface of the land, and to know they are living opposite to him. You went to Balaam. You instruct Balaam. You were angry because Balaam was going. You sent Your angel to him. You made Balaam’s donkey speak. You opened Balaam’s eyes. You put into his mouth what You will speak. You lead me and instruct me. You are all-powerful.
Omnipresent – You are everywhere. You are in the plains of Moab. You are at Pethor. You are at the city of Moab and at Kiriath-huzoth. You are here with me. You are in my heart. You are all-present.
Eternal – You are the cause of time. You are in the morning and at night. You are days and months and years and forever. You are time.
Immutable – You do not change. Moab was in great fear because of the people of Israel, for they were numerous. Balak sent messengers to Balaam to call him. The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. Balaam arose in the morning and was not going to go. Then he arose the next morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the leaders of Moab. Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak. Balaam came to Balak. You will never be made to change.
Self – Existent – You exist by Yourself. You do not need any of Your creation who needs You for them to exist. You make up Balak’s existence and You make up Balaam’s existence. You make Your angel’s existence. You make up my existence. You choose. You decide.
Self-Sufficient – You do not need any of Your creation to bring about Your will or Your purpose. You choose to use Balak, Balaam, Your angel, and the donkey because it is Your good pleasure, not Your need, that governs Your choice.
Infinite – There are no limits or bounds to Your person or dominion. You are forever and ever without any bounds. You are without limits.
Transcendent – You are apart from Your creation. You teach me about You. You have the sons of Israel (righteous angels) journey and camp in the plains of Moab. You have Balak see Israel and all they had done to the Amorites and how they cover the surface of the land and that they are living opposite him. You have the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian hire Balaam to curse Israel. Balaam refused and Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former to convince Balaam to come to him. Balaam arose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the leaders of Moab. You sent an angel to stop him, but Balaam beat his donkey. You had the donkey speak to him and then You opened his eyes to see Your angel. Balak met Balaam at the city of Moab. In the morning Balak took Balaam to the high places of Baal. What does this say about You?
Sovereign – You speak to Balaam. You are angry with Balaam. You could have killed Balaam but You did not. You sent Your angel to stop him. You still had him meet with Balak. You are in complete control and You are doing Your foreknown plan!
Holy – You are a morally excellent, perfect being. Israel is separated for Your purpose.
Gracious – You show Israel Your favor by protecting them from unrighteous people. Moab is afraid.
Merciful – You show Israel Your compassion by dealing with Balaam. Israel would not even know about Balak or Balaam.
Righteous – You are always right and You teach the right way. You send Your angel to kill Balaam but the donkey saves him.
Longsuffering – You are patient with the sons of Israel and slow to anger.
Just – You punish the unrighteous, cover sin, and reward the righteous. Your angel is just because of the donkey.
Loving – You love Israel and You take care of them. You do not want Balaam to curse Israel.
Good – You give Israel a part of Yourself and You have the unrighteous see them and fear them.
Wise – Your wisdom cause You to do what You do to give me information about You and to instruct me. Your wisdom is higher and greater than my wisdom. Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts.
Truthful – You always speak the truth. You speak truth. You ask Balaam who are these men with him. You tell Balaam that if these men have come to call You, rise up and go with them; but only the word which You speak to him shall he do. Your angel says to Balaam he would have killed it and let the donkey live but the donkey saved his life. You are reality.
Faithful – You always do what You promise. You protect Israel and fight for them. Your angel goes before them to clear the way.
Wrathful – You destroy all unrighteousness and would have killed Balaam but did not.
Jealous – You will not share Israel who are rightly and morally Yours with any other creature. You will not have Balaam curse at the high places of Baal.
Incomprehensible – Why do You speak to Balaam and then send Your angel? Was the angel supposed to kill Balaam outright but did not? What does verse 22 mean? ‘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… When the donkey says the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand…’ to me means he was sent to destroy Balaam. What does it mean when it changes from GOD to LORD?
· What does ‘contrary to me’ mean? Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness. Deut 23:4; Neh 13:2; Jude 11; Rev 2:14; 2 Pet 2:13
o ‘But I am not willing to listen to Balaam. So he had to bless you, and I delivered you from his hand.’ Is the angel a priest? Ministering to calm You down because You were angry?
How does this relate to me? What am I supposed to know? What am I supposed to learn? How do I fit it in?
