In a last attempt to get God to curse Israel, Balak takes Balaam to a high area where he can see the entire nation below. He then builds seven altars hoping God will let Balaam curse Israel. Instead, for the third time, Balaam reveals God will bless and protect Israel, including cursing those who curse them! At this, Balak struck his hands together and told him he wasn’t going to honor or pay him. Sometimes the right thing is the hardest thing (Ps. 15:1-4, 84:11). Finally, Balaam speaks for the fourth and last time about Israel’s eventual domination over surrounding Canaanite nations, including Moab. Most of this would happen later during the life of the warrior-king David, the ‘star’ and ‘scepter’ out of Israel (2 Sam. 8:1-5).

When Balaam arrived with his entourage at the border of Moab, the king Balak met him with a royal welcome (Num. 22:36). Balak then took him up to a high place on a mountain so he could see a portion of Israel camped down in the valley. High places were thought to be closer to the gods and where it was easier to read the stars for astrology. The prophet instructs Balak to build seven altars to sacrifice a bull and a ram upon. Throughout history, bulls and rams were expensive and vital to survival, so to sacrifice them was a common form of remorse for sin and asking the gods for help or blessing (Lev. 1:3, 4). The number ‘seven’ represented perfection or completion. So, Balaam hoped the sacrifice would appease God, and Balak hoped they would manipulate God into cursing Israel. God isn’t impressed by performance or ceremony, but desires worship from a true heart (1 Sam. 15:22; Prov. 15:8; 21:3 Is. 1:11). God desires your action and your motivation to match(John 4:23, 24).

When Balaam arrived with his entourage at the border of Moab, the king Balak met him with a royal welcome (Num. 22:36). Balak then took him up to a high place on a mountain so he could see a portion of Israel camped down in the valley. High places were thought to be closer to the gods and where it was easier to read the stars for astrology. The prophet instructs Balak to build seven altars to sacrifice a bull and a ram upon. Throughout history, bulls and rams were expensive and vital to survival, so to sacrifice them was a common form of remorse for sin and asking the gods for help or blessing (Lev. 1:3, 4). The number ‘seven’ represented perfection or completion. So, Balaam hoped the sacrifice would appease God, and Balak hoped they would manipulate God into cursing Israel. God isn’t impressed by performance or ceremony, but desires worship from a true heart (1 Sam. 15:22; Prov. 15:8; 21:3 Is. 1:11). God desires your action and your motivation to match(John 4:23, 24).

When Balak, the king of Moab, sent messengers to the prophet Balaam to come curse Isarel, Balaam asked God. And when God forbid him, he sent them back to Balak (Num. 22:4-6). Balak then sent more men and money, and though Balaam already knew God’s answer, he asked God again. This time, God let him go but was angry he went. Fear the day when what God previously said was wrong, now feels right! Balaam then left with his servants and the messengers from Balak. On the way, the Angel of the Lord (possibly pre-incarnate Jesus; Josh. 5:14, 15) goes to oppose him but the others don’t recognize what God is doing. The worst place for a believer is in rebellion, where God allows the desires of the heart and provides others who back up a rebellious decision (1 Cor. 15:13)! Trusting the heart/feelings rather than God’s word, leads to a seared conscience and a grieving of the Holy Spirit(Eph. 4:25-32; 1 Tim. 4:1, 2)!

When Balak, the king of Moab, sent messengers to the prophet Balaam to come curse Isarel, Balaam asked God. And when God forbid him, he sent them back to Balak (Num. 22:4-6). Balak then sent more men and money, and though Balaam already knew God’s answer, he asked God again. This time, God let him go but was angry he went. Fear the day when what God previously said was wrong, now feels right! Balaam then left with his servants and the messengers from Balak. On the way, the Angel of the Lord (possibly pre-incarnate Jesus; Josh. 5:14, 15) goes to oppose him but the others don’t recognize what God is doing. The worst place for a believer is in rebellion, where God allows the desires of the heart and provides others who back up a rebellious decision (1 Cor. 15:13)! Trusting the heart/feelings rather than God’s word, leads to a seared conscience and a grieving of the Holy Spirit(Eph. 4:25-32; 1 Tim. 4:1, 2)!

At the end of their 40-year wandering the desert, Israel was led by Moses to Canaan, east of the Dead Sea. There, they skirted Moabite land and came to the land of the Amorites. When Moses asked the Amorite king Sihon for peaceful passage, he refused and went to war. Israel then defeated his army and the armies of Bashan who were their neighbors to the north. This gave Israel control of large portions of land east of the Jordan River that they hadn’t intended on taking. When believers are obedient, sometimes they are blessed through those trying to harm them(Gen. 50:20; Rom. 8:28)!

At the end of their 40-year wandering the desert, Israel was led by Moses to Canaan, east of the Dead Sea. There, they skirted Moabite land and came to the land of the Amorites. When Moses asked the Amorite king Sihon for peaceful passage, he refused and went to war. Israel then defeated his army and the armies of Bashan who were their neighbors to the north. This gave Israel control of large portions of land east of the Jordan River that they hadn’t intended on taking. When believers are obedient, sometimes they are blessed through those trying to harm them(Gen. 50:20; Rom. 8:28)!

After two significant military victories (defeat of Jericho and Ai), Israel was now home in Canaan. To honor God’s faithfulness, Joshua built an altar of uncut stones at Mt. Ebal twenty miles north of Ai. A believer’s life should be full of thankful remembrances to God. Joshua then put plaster on the stones and wrote the Law on them, as when Moses got the 10 commandments (Ex. 31:18). On the altar, the priests sacrificed burnt offerings (representing atonement for sins) and peace offerings (representing thankfulness for God’s goodness). So, as the priests went up to sacrifice, they were literally standing on God’s word! Even as a God-ordained leader, Joshua doesn’t make up his own rules but humbly does all things according to God’s word, given through his predecessor (Ex. 20:25; Deut. 27:1-8). God’s men do God’s work God’s way given in God’s word! 

After two significant military victories (defeat of Jericho and Ai), Israel was now home in Canaan. To honor God’s faithfulness, Joshua built an altar of uncut stones at Mt. Ebal twenty miles north of Ai. A believer’s life should be full of thankful remembrances to God. Joshua then put plaster on the stones and wrote the Law on them, as when Moses got the 10 commandments (Ex. 31:18). On the altar, the priests sacrificed burnt offerings (representing atonement for sins) and peace offerings (representing thankfulness for God’s goodness). So, as the priests went up to sacrifice, they were literally standing on God’s word! Even as a God-ordained leader, Joshua doesn’t make up his own rules but humbly does all things according to God’s word, given through his predecessor (Ex. 20:25; Deut. 27:1-8). God’s men do God’s work God’s way given in God’s word! 

Weeks earlier, Joshua completed one of the greatest military miracles in history with the conquering of Jericho. Soon after that, he had his greatest setback, as he failed to take the small town of Ai because God wasn’t with Israel. But after removing Achan, who had broken God’s covenant by taking restricted goods from Jericho, God renewed His relationship with Israel and Joshua (Josh. 7:11, 15). Repentance brings restoration. Knowing Joshua is gun-shy about moving forward, God encourages him to reengage His calling to be courageous and not fearful or dismayed (Heb. khaw-thath', ‘to fall down, give up’).When depressed, remember Whoseyou are and whatyou are called to do. When at the bottom of the pit, look up!