Seder 120: Numbers 23:27-24:2---Turning Curse into Blessing

 After two unsuccessful attempts to influence God to curse the Israelites, King Balak of Moab and Balaam the diviner/sorcerer were not yet ready to give up.  Balak decided to try one more location---"the top of Peor, which overlooks the desert" (Nu 23:28).  Rashi proposed that Balak might have chosen this location because he sensed that the Israelites would run into trouble related to it (see Numbers 25)  

Again, they set up seven altars for the sacrifice of seven bulls and seven rams (verse 29).  No expense would be spared in their efforts to persuade God to change his mind, despite what God had said already about that (verses 19-20).  

Balaam decided to try a different approach this time.  Instead of seeking to interpret omens, he "set his face toward the wilderness" (24:1).  Commentator Michael Morales speculates that this time Balaam wanted to avoid contact with God and hoped to just curse Israel.  In support of his proposal, he points to the wording of verse 1, observing that in the book of Ezekiel, one "sets one's face" before giving a prophecy of doom about some nation (Eze 6:2; 13:17; 20:46; 21:2; 25:2; 28:21; 29:2; 35:2; 38:2).  This phrase in Numbers 24:1 may signal that Balaam intended to prophecy against Israel.  

In any case, God did not allow Balaam to utter curses.  Instead, he overpowered Balaam with his Spirit and forced Balaam to pronounce more blessings upon Israel.  As we read elsewhere, God turned Balaam's curses into blessings (Dt 23:5; Josh 24:10; Neh 13:1-3).  

Seder 5 Sermon: Noah and the Coming of the Son of Man

 In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on November 11, 2023, Kyle Kettering explored Jesus' teaching about his return, recorded in Matthew 24 and Luke 17.

For one thing, Jesus taught that it would be impossible to predict the time of his return (Mt 24:36).  We are to live our lives in readiness for that time.  

Jesus also compared the time before his return to the time before the flood:  "For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man"  (Mt 24:37; cf. Lk 17:26).  

In this saying, Jesus spoke about himself in the third person as "Son of Man," as he often did.  Kyle reminded us that the title "Son of Man" is actually a more exalted title than "Son of God" is.  "Son of God" is a term associated with a Davidic king (2 Sam 7:14).  "Son of Man" can refer to 

• a son of Adam---i.e., a human being, as in the book of Ezekiel.
• Abel, the son of Adam, who in some traditions was expected to return as a Judge (e.g., in the Testament of Abraham).
• the divine figure of Daniel 7:14ff.  

It is this third sense that is in view in Matthew 24 and Luke 17.  

In what sense will the time before Jesus' return be like the days of Noah?  Genesis 6 describes the days of Noah as a time of violence (Gen 6:11 ,13), which was a major reason for the Flood.  God's "soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence" (Ps 11:5).  The king of Tyre, a type of Satan, was "filled with violence," which led to his downfall (Ezek 28:16).   

Jesus taught in Luke 17 and in his Olivet discourse that many would be surprised and caught unawares by his return.  Luke 17 closes with the cryptic saying, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."  

Some see a reference in Luke 17:37 to God's sovereignty as expressed in Job 39:30, or to God's judgment as pictured in Psalm 110:6.  In context, Jesus is referring to the place where those taken in judgment at Jesus' return will be taken.  The Bible pictures birds of prey devouring wicked nations that are gathered against God (Ezek 39:4, 17-20; Rev 19:17-21).

As part of being ready for the coming of the Son of Man, Kyle said, we should 

• not abide violent images, music, or actions in our lives.
• speak out against all forms of violence.
• resist the increasing violence of our times.