Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022
This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.
Bible Readings: Numbers 21-25
After many days of struggling through difficult readings, today we are blessed with three riveting stories!
Background:
The first story we encounter here is that of the bronze serpent which was lifted up to protect the Israelites from the poisonous serpents that were coming against them. The symbolism is strong there. The serpent attacking? Pretty obvious, isn't it? Satan's attacks are venomous. And as the serpent was lifted up for the salvation of the people. Christ was lifted up for us.
The story of Balaam and his attempt to curse the Israelites covers chapters 22-24.
In chapter 25, the Moabites seduce Israel after Balaam fails to curse them and God brings on them the judgment Balaam couldn't induce.
The story of Balaam and his attempt to curse the Israelites covers chapters 22-24.
In chapter 25, the Moabites seduce Israel after Balaam fails to curse them and God brings on them the judgment Balaam couldn't induce.
Daily Devotional: Seduced by Evil
Though Balaam is not mentioned in Numbers 25, this sad story is the final act of his strange ministry. We learn from other Scriptures what is not mentioned in this passage, that this sinful episode was actually the idea of the prophet. He tried repeatedly to bring a curse on Israel but each time the curse became a blessing and Barak, the king of Moab was increasingly frustrated. He had paid good money to get Balaam to curse Israel and he expected results. Balaam failed in his duties and was facing the prospect of not getting paid.
We learn in Numbers 31:16 the rest of the story. Balaam, determined to leave with coins in his pocket, figured out another strategy. He could not curse the Israelites but he could entice them to sin in such a way that God would bring on them the destruction that he had not been able to accomplish. That is precisely what happened.
The Moabites paraded their prettiest young woman in front of the Israelite men and they responded with lust instead of righteousness. They committed adultery with the Moabite women in direct violation of the commands of God's law. And they demonstrated the reason that God had given that command. As soon as they began to fraternize with the pagan women they were seduced into idolatry. Israel ignored God's commands, violated God's law, committed adultery with the Moabite women, and began to worship Baal of Peor.
Balaam's plan was genius and it worked. Now, the God who had turned every curse into a blessing brought down judgment on Israel himself. He did to his people what no prophet, what no pagan king, what not the Devil himself could do. He brought a plague on them and 24,000 Israelites died.
This has always been Satan's strategy. He lies to God's people in an attempt to draw us away from obedience to God. When we sin, we forfeit God's blessings on our lives and come under his discipline and correction. Satan was not able to force Adam and Eve out of the Garden, but he could seduce them to sin so that God would drive them out. He could not curse Israel, but he could entice them to sin so that God would bring the plague on them that he could not.
If I am not walking in the blessing of God, experiencing his grace, power, and presence daily, it is not Satan's fault. He cannot rob me of God's blessing. It is not the world's fault. It is not this person's fault or that circumstance's fault. Nothing or no one can rob me of my joy in Christ or the daily experience of the blessing of God. No one. That comes from God! But I can forfeit that blessing (not my salvation - that is eternal - but the joyful experience of God's grace) by my own sin. By walking in the flesh, by loving this world, by ignoring God's Word, and by embracing the lies of Satan I can give up what no one can take away from me.
And the shame is that like Israel we do that far too often. We give up the blessings God has for us to walk in the empty glory of sin.
We learn in Numbers 31:16 the rest of the story. Balaam, determined to leave with coins in his pocket, figured out another strategy. He could not curse the Israelites but he could entice them to sin in such a way that God would bring on them the destruction that he had not been able to accomplish. That is precisely what happened.
The Moabites paraded their prettiest young woman in front of the Israelite men and they responded with lust instead of righteousness. They committed adultery with the Moabite women in direct violation of the commands of God's law. And they demonstrated the reason that God had given that command. As soon as they began to fraternize with the pagan women they were seduced into idolatry. Israel ignored God's commands, violated God's law, committed adultery with the Moabite women, and began to worship Baal of Peor.
Balaam's plan was genius and it worked. Now, the God who had turned every curse into a blessing brought down judgment on Israel himself. He did to his people what no prophet, what no pagan king, what not the Devil himself could do. He brought a plague on them and 24,000 Israelites died.
This has always been Satan's strategy. He lies to God's people in an attempt to draw us away from obedience to God. When we sin, we forfeit God's blessings on our lives and come under his discipline and correction. Satan was not able to force Adam and Eve out of the Garden, but he could seduce them to sin so that God would drive them out. He could not curse Israel, but he could entice them to sin so that God would bring the plague on them that he could not.
If I am not walking in the blessing of God, experiencing his grace, power, and presence daily, it is not Satan's fault. He cannot rob me of God's blessing. It is not the world's fault. It is not this person's fault or that circumstance's fault. Nothing or no one can rob me of my joy in Christ or the daily experience of the blessing of God. No one. That comes from God! But I can forfeit that blessing (not my salvation - that is eternal - but the joyful experience of God's grace) by my own sin. By walking in the flesh, by loving this world, by ignoring God's Word, and by embracing the lies of Satan I can give up what no one can take away from me.
And the shame is that like Israel we do that far too often. We give up the blessings God has for us to walk in the empty glory of sin.
Father, forgive me for my rebellious heart. I thank you that the blood of Christ has cleansed my sin. I pray that I may walk in your grace that I might experience the blessings of your presence and power day to day. May I never choose the plague of sin over the blessings of obedience.
Consider God's Word:
Are you walking in the blessing of God?
Are you allowing the enemy to seduce you into making bad choices that bring God's discipline in your life instead of God's blessing?
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