Dear class,
Today's readings are taken from Numbers 23-25 and Matthew 1
The account in Numbers continues and rounds off the "Balaam incident". As a good reminder and for the benefit of the newcomers, I attach a previous post on the "Doctrine of Balaam" below.
Besides this, one very striking statement from the inspired mouth of Balaam is from Num 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Before we we go into this, let us notice an important fact here - was Balaam a willing prophet in this case? Most certainly not! He had greed all filled up in his mind, yet under the influence of the Holy Spirit, he prophesied exactly what God wanted the people to hear. This illustrates an important point - the influence of the the Holy Spirit has always been for a specific, miraculous purpose and it did not necessarily imply of anything with regards to the medium. The Holy Spirit did not and does not come upon any individual to affect him morally! Balaam was obviously morally mal-guided. Why, the donkey was not even a moral being! (c.f. Num 22:28-30) Yet both spoke as inspired of the Spirit. So the point here is that Holy Spirit influence, as with all miracles, were for a specific purpose from God to establish His will. In the case of Balaam, the message is clear - no one can go more or less of the Word of God. (c.f. Num 22:18, 38; 23:12; 24:12-13) Miracles were not a "given" to be used "as and when" one feels like. The Holy Spirit guides us today through and only through the Word but will not and has never directly influenced our moral behaviour. It is still up to us to exercise our will to allow ourselves to be guided by God through His Word. The grace and providence of God certainly opens up avenues to the pure in heart, such that they become convicted by the Word. But God's mercy will drip off the cynical and stone-hearted like water off a duck's back.
"God is not a man...neither the son of man" seems to be a "no-brainer". At the very least, the fact that we attribute the title "God" obviously shows a significant difference.
Yet we note that the norm since to be contrary to that. Observe what the psalmist wrote:
Psa 115:2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?
Psa 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
Psa 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
Psa 115:5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
Psa 115:6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
Psa 115:7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
Psa 115:8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
And we are all quite familiar with the multitude of legends, fables and mythologies across all cultures that very often depict "gods" like humans. As bro Yong Yaw pointed out in his powerful sermon yesterday, such are those with that the atheists would label as religion being a "psychological crutch". And what a big and "comprehensive" (aka Kiasu!) one for some! (c.f. Act 17:22,23)
The God of the Bible, the Alpha and the Omega, the Creator of the universe, our Great Saviour, is not like those! Simply because, He wasn't conceived of and created by the imaginations of man. This fundamental fact is often overlooked when man at times tries to reason out God's actions. The prophet Isaiah couldn't have put it any better in Isa 55:8,9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Just imagine - if the foolishness of God is wiser than man (1Co 1:25), how can man hope to fully comprehend the wisdom and glory of God? What we can appreciate is what God would reveal to us and that is His love and of our obedience to His Word. Beyond that, we find ourselves in self-defeating speculation that can only lead to confusion, cynicism and ultimately, death (Pro 14:12; 16:25).
Just in case some of us might be left scratching our heads by the part about God not needing to "repent", when there seem to be clear instances where the bible says God "repents" (e.g. Gen 6:6,7; Ex 32:14), the very concept that God is not a man and 1Co 1:25, explains the apparent discrepancy. Just as one could jump at 1Co 1:25 to claim that God could be "foolish", one certainly can use the verses in Gen 6:6,7, etc to claim that God did repent! As we've mentioned on a couple of occasions in class, 1Co 1:25 points to the fact, just as Isaiah did in Isa 55, of the great contrast and disparity between God's wisdom/thoughts and man's. Thus it is with this concept that we can correctly understand what the writers are trying to portray in using "repent" as applied to God.
To give an illustration in the style of 1Co 1:25, if we understand "repent" as some sort of "regret" as a result of doing something without foresight, then the other extreme end would be an action taken with great wisdom and careful consideration. Thus the "repentance" of God would be far better than man's most well thought out actions. In those instances where God "repented", it was not a case of God's "plan B" but rather either due to man's failings resulting in a detracting from God's desired will for man or the mercy of God that put man back on track. The concept of "repent" is thus brought down to man's level of understanding to show God's perfect control over all circumstances. Note it's the circumstances, but not man's actions that are controlled.
Let us be always reminded of the profoundness in Num 23:19 and not go about establishing our own misconceptions of God but look to the final disposition of Job and ever be in awe and reverence of our Creator and Saviour.
in Him
Paul
Doctrine of Balaam
What is the doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicolaitans? The doctrine of Balaam should sound familiar. (Remember the Balaam puzzle??? :))If you recall,Balaam, son of Beor, was the prophet who was hired by Balak the King of Moab to curse the Israelites (Num 22-24). After failed attempts as we read of the the account, greed drove him to finally succeed in causing the people to sin, indirectly causing the death of 24000 Israelites! (Num 25:9, c.f. Num 31:16) As illustrated in Rev 2:14b, the doctrine of Balaam is basically that of worldliness and greed. Here was a church which had all the bells and whistles with their proclamation of faith, yet allowed members to continue in worldly practices like fornication. Remember that sin is not only in commission but also omission! If we fail to convict erring brethren, it is as good as being an accomplice!
As for the doctrine of Nicolaitans, there are a number of views. Barnes suggests that the Nicolaitans were a specific group of people who held the doctrine of Balaam. Clarke wrote in his commentary that the Nicolaitans were possibly a gnostic sect (people who believed in worldly knowledge in salvation), subscribing to polygamy and mixing of pagan rites. But he too is of the opinion that those who held the doctrine of Balaam and Nicolaitans and the Gnostics as a whole belonged to the same group. It seems unlikely that the inspired writer would have left something of importance to speculation, especially when it was mentioned previously in Rev 2:6. When we examine the progression of the argument in Rev 2:14,15, it seems to support what the commentators suggested. v. 14 was a broad reference to an OT example and v.15 describes a specific group in their time. Essentially, we need to beware of worldliness that has so often crept into the church. It does not help matters that some of the "mega churches" peddle the "prosperity gospel" and perpetuate the bombardstic, ra-ra element of the entertainment industry, making a huge mockery of the sobriety, purity of the gospel truth. Nicolaitans of today are alive and all around! We will all do well to identify such and beware of them.
2Pe 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2Pe 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
2Pe 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
2Pe 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
2Pe 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
2Pe 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
2Pe 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
Jud 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
--
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ~ 2Timothy 2:22
