June 25, 2011 – Numbers 22

When you watch Shrek movies, did you ever realize that a talking Donkey is Biblical. Well here you have the talking donkey in the Bible that tries to warn its rider of the deadly angel in their path. I don’t know if this is something that the Shrek creators did on purpose of it is coincidence, but I think it is interesting. There is a bit of a similarity between the two in that the donkey is beat or pushed to the side while trying to help in both cases until finally the person they are trying to help realizes this. The story of Balaam is very interesting and we will hear his oracles, one regarding Christ, in the next chapter I believe. We see in him someone that is very committed to doing God’s will. He has no idea what God is going to tell him to say, yet is committed to speaking it, whatever the cost. I like how he can only guarantee he will say what God wants him to, no more, no less. The King Balak, in his arrogance, is fine with this because he believes Balaam will be on his side. After witnessing or hearing about what Israel has done in the other lands, wouldn’t you think he would be a little more humble or nervous.

Camping in the land of Moab. Moab is just on the other side of the Jordan, so they are on the very border of the land God is going to give them. If the footnotes before were correct, and the sin of Moses and death of Aaron and Marian took place about 3 years after they left Egypt, then many years have passed that isn’t talked about because here we are on the backs of the Jordan which they cross to the Promise land and confront Jericho.