“Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more.”
Mark 4:24 NLT
it’s so important that we listen because when we listen we can better understand what’s being said.
My thought in reading it is that there is no record that Aaron argued or balked. There was a willingness and obedience to what God had said. My thought was about how often I struggle with obedience and here God said “Aaron, go up the mountain, pass the his priest role to your son, and die.” And Aaron did just that.
Does anyone know if Aaron had a physical ailment, or was his death just punishment for disobedience and the Lord was taking him away to his people? This was a hard, sad passage for me to read. Any thoughts?
an angel of the Lord appeared to Balaam but he could not see the angel right away. His anger at the donkey grew until he finally saw the angel. do we get mad at others even though we cannot see the whole picture? Let’s take time to really pay attention and be aware of our surroundings
I know I am like a grumbling child of Israel often in my heart. God has led me to where I am, and has done nothing but provide for me in abundance and goodness. Yet I can still grumble against him and about my circumstances. Thankful for God’s mercy. May I be meek and humble to listen to and honor him.
I believe that it has to do with the fact that he tells the men that he can’t go with them because he can only do what the Lord tells him but then he says stay and see what the Lord says to him (even though the Lord has already told him not to go the first time). Perhaps he was hoping the Lord would change his mind or maybe he was testing the Lord in his heart.
I like this story of Balaam here. He was not an Israelite, yet God spoke to him, and he submitted to the Lord. When he leaves to go with Balak’s people, I wonder why the Lord is angry with him when He told him to go… is there something about Balaam’s heart or actions I’m missing?
Hey Michelle, the confused me too. I think it might have to do with verse 20. God says “IF the men come and call you” and then in the next verse Balaam just gets up and goes with no men calling him to go.
I’m 22 and underemployed (currently by choice and going through physical therapy), and it’s encouraging to read about 40 years before the Israelites get to the promised land, but with continuing signs of God’s power and working along the way, even if it wasn’t directly what they’re looking for. Also humbling to see them keep complaining about their boredom with their food when God is providing
This truly spoke to me. I’m very happy that the Lord sent this App to me, and I’m grateful for all of your comments that also give me further understanding! God bless you all!
Does anyone have insight on the disobedience of Moses and Aaron at the waters of Meribah? It could just be my translation isn’t very clear but it seems to me that they followed the Lord’s commands on obtaining water from the rock, yet they were not allowed into the promised land for disobedience. ??
Verse 8 says that Moses was supposed to speak to the rock in front of everyone, and the water would start flowing. Instead, Moses basically says “You want water, I’ll give you water!” And then beats the rock with his staff. I’m guessing beating the rock symbolizes Moses providing the water, while talking to a rock and the rock actually obeying is obviously a God thing.
10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.
I understood it as they took the credit of GOD’s Glory by saying “shall we bring water for you out of the rock” instead of GOD. This is how it was explained to me.
The passage about the snakes spoke to me today… The people asked for the snakes to be taken away, but this time God didn’t remove them. Those snakes were a consequence of sin. We often want the consequences of sin to be removed. But this time, God provided an atonement (on a pole similarly to Jesus on the cross) for them to look to in order to be healed if the snakes/consequence harmed them. In our lives, the snakes (consequences of sin) may not go away, but when we look to Jesus (who took on our sin on the cross), we can be healed when sin comes back to bite us. Grace.
Amen! I was wondering about this, especially because one of the 10 Commandments is that they were to make no images in the form of anything in heaven or on earth. But it is a foreshadowing of Jesus and a picture of grace.
Did anyone catch that tid-bit in Mark? “The secret of the kingdom of God”. What is the secret?! Actually, THAT is the secret: Asking questions. To seek understanding one must first ask questions. It seems so simple, but it is so, so important! After reading and finally understanding this, I try to ask more questions rather than just assume things. You would be surprised by the results of good question asking.
It’s funny how people outside the church tend to think the church holds creativity out of of bounds, don’t the first words of the the bible state, God CREATED the heavens and the earth? Hasn’t anyone noticed Jesus never cured any disease the same way twice. It may seem redundant but it’s amazing. Some people say Jesus was solely humble. How can that be true if God is a jealous God. Jesus wasn’t just humble he was fancy, he didn’t just calm the wind and waves, he WALKED on them, I think he liked to show off a bit. To be honest, I’m glad he did. Jesus is just plain old cool. I’m so happy he is the lord and saviour of my life. :)
I also have a bible called the Jesus centred bible. It has blue lettering, questions and a small paragraph about how to find Jesus in every book, (example: Jesus in Exodus). It’s pretty cool, you guys could check that out too.
Reading the wandering of the Israelites is really challenging me about waiting on the Lord. The Israelites had to wait for nearly 40 years and I can’t imagine the difficulty of their day to day lives of hunger and thirst and exhaustion and trying to keep all these new complicated rules. Part of me sympathizes with their constant grumbling but part of me realizes that this shows me we are to strive towards patience and focus on development of our Christ-like character in times of waiting and difficulty. It’s amazing how after all God had done they approached Moses with hard hearts instead of ‘making their requests known to God with thanksgiving and praise’ (Phil 4). I wonder if things would have turned out much differently for them if they had just brought their troubles to God with different softer hearts
Thank you for sharing that, it’s well put. I too was confused about this and it concerned me so I started to research this to see if other bible scholars had a different take on it. God said i’if’ in other bible translations this version we have ‘since’. If these men summon you go with them. Balsam didn’t wait that morning to be summoned he just got up in haste saddled his donkey. Didn’t wait for the men to come to ask Balaam what was Gods decision he just hastily prepared himself to go. God knew it would be a very difficult journey for Balaam to have to bless Israel instead of cursing 3 times in front of all the nobles and King. So God had to slow him down to stress how important it was to only speak God’s words. Knowing how hasty Balaam was because secretly his heart was full of greed Only God can see these things. He saw his inner condition of greed. The Angel was sent to stress the severity of the situation that he must obey God.
The Angel came to put fear into Balaam in order to respect Gods holiness.
I’m so confused. God tells B that its okay to go, but then gets mad at him and sends an angel to kill him? But then tells him its okay again? It just doesn’t make any sense to me. I’m trying to find purpose in it but I just continue to be confused by it
Imagine you had a young brother or sister. They wanted to do something, but you knew it wouldn’t be good for them. You know you can’t change their mind, so you have to let them go. Would you still feel okay about it? No. But you have to let that person go down that path and face the outcome. God loves us so much and He wants us to follow him whole heartedly. However sometimes in our own stubbornness we choose not to listen.
At this point God has to let us do what we think is best. However, God still covered B. He sent an angel to show B that the destination he was going towards was not needed. The angel was not sent to kill him, but only to open B’s eyes to the glory of God. B needed to be reminded that it is God who has the final say.
Remember God already told him that he should not go, however the second time the Moabites came B said he will wait to see what The Lord says. Was B truly being obedient to what God told him the first time?
It may seems confusing, but God always wants the best for us. But sometimes, because of our own self, we have to take the long route to get to our chosen destination.
Am I the only one who finds its funny that Balaam just casually responds to the donkey? If I donkey spoke to me I would probably be speechless. Definitely wouldn’t threaten to kill him lol!
Yes! it’s even funnier that the donkey and him carry on in conversation… and Balaam still isn’t in awe of the talking donkey. Definitely made me chuckle this morning
Numbers 20:10 “and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” Moses got fed up with the people. Over and over God had provided, yet they kept doubting and rebelling. So Moses got mad and basically said, “do I have to make this work again?!” He took credit for what God had done. And God didn’t like that. At all. Goal in life should be to give/bring glory to God! Not heap it to ourselves.
And wow, what a coincidence that tonight is Maundy Thursday, the night of Passover and Jesus’ betrayal. The ones who clearly did not hear and did not see God, took Jesus. But he shows love during the whole thing!
I think Mark 4:12 has to do with the same idea as 1 Cor 1:27. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. ” those who real want to know God and seek Him will find Him and understand His Word. Going from “outside” to one of those who are “converted” takes a change that God has promised with the reward of finding Him.
Morning ladies! I was wondering if I could call on some of your wisdom, I’m having a hard time with this verse:
12 so that,
“ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’ ”
But doesn’t God want us to turn and be forgiven? I know some of His reasons for speaking in parables and see the beauty in them, but this reason I don’t understand.
12. that seeing they may see, and not perceive] At the beginning of His ministry our Lord did not teach by Parables. “The Sermon on the Mount may be taken as the type of the ‘words of grace’ which He spake ‘not as the Scribes.’ Beatitudes, laws, promises were uttered distinctly, not indeed without similitudes, but with similitudes that explained themselves.” And so He continued for some time. But His direct teaching was met with scorn, unbelief, and hardness. From this time forward “parables” entered largely into His recorded teaching, and were at once attractive and penal. (a) Attractive, as “instruments of education for those who were children in age or character,” and offering in a striking form much for the memory to retain, and for the docile and truth-loving to learn; (b) Penal, as testing the disposition of those who listened to them; withdrawing the light from such as loved darkness and were wilfully blind, and protecting the truth from the mockery of the scoffer; finding out the fit hearers, and leading them, but them only, on to deeper knowledge. See Article on Parables in Smith’s Bible Dict.
When I read that verse, I always understood it as that we just don’t see and perceive..maybe look at a few different versions and how they phrase it for clarification. Whenever I read that I tend to pray that I would have ears to “hear” Him, a heart open to Him and eyes to see. It is like to know about God isn’t the same as knowing God..at least that is how I have thought of it.
To me it shows that God knows whom He chooses to bring into His kingdom by knowing who is really willing to take heed to His Word. A lot people say they will do, but won’t because flesh gets in the way. They don’t have a heart after God. They will sit and listen thinking that’s all they have to do to inherit the Kingdom of God, but won’t dig deeper for true revelation. They don’t want the relationship and the sufferings that comes with it. That’s like church now. People will come thinking that they’ll get cookie points for going, however they really lack faith and keep sinning refusing the power of the Holy Ghost to Heal or Cleanse them.
I am glad He opposes my pride even though it may hurt. I am also grateful for His mercy because I deserve so much worse than what I’ve been given . Often times he sends blessings my way even though I may have sinned and that immense love draws me back to Him and makes me desire to obey and love Him .
For those of you who are goal-oriented like me…we have read a quarter of the whole Bible as of today!!! :) I am so thankful to have found this app, I have always struggled with having solid, constant time in the word, and now I am enjoying it!!
Yay!! I’ve always struggled myself. I’ve had “read the Bible” as a New Years resolution for probably a decade now. This app is what I’ve needed, I think partly because I needed a community to talk to and partly because I needed a structured plan.
12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”
It was significant to me that God called the Israelites blessed when they were so rude and disobedient. This is a biblical example of God’s forgiveness and acceptance. For though He may be upset or angry with us, he will not abandon us.
This is such a good point. I didn’t even think of that during the reading. Thank you pointing that out! Even though we see a lot of God’s wrath in the OT there are still so many reminders of His grace and mercy!
I agree with Christina – when first reading through I was so focuses on how stubborn the Israelites were that I missed this act of forgiveness and loved that God shows. It’s something that I’ll try to keep at the forefront of my mind the next time I find myself feeling guilty for sharing my burdens and complaints with God. While he is Lord, he’s also the Father, he loves and cares for us and wants to support us when it’s hard to go on. Reading about OT God it can be easy to forget that important fact!
I went to gotquestions.org because I wondered the same thing. Baalam is described as a pagan prophet who practiced divination and other magic arts, led Israel into apostasy, and was identified as a false prophet by Peter and Jude. As he rode, God knew the rebelliousness within him and became angry, sending the angel to block his path. This website has been so helpful for me with the OT!
Good morning friends! Does anyone know why in Numbers 22:20 God tells Balaam to go, but then in vs22 it says God is angry at him for going? I feel like there’s a piece I am missing. There’s so much going on in the OT..I’m grateful for the chance to read through it slowly, but it also makes me realize how much I don’t understand!
In the NKJV it says that God tells Balaam to only go if the men call him in the morning, yet he didn’t let the call him. He got up and got ready and went, so that was disobedience from what God told him to do.
Different translations bring out different meanings and while the NIV is good for bringing things in a different light the most reliable (closest to original language) are the NKJV and the NASB. Hope that helps!
I am glad to hear you say that Leah and Jen bc I had a hard time with the OT today too. So thankful to be reading it in small bites, and for the comments that other gals make bc often that helps me understand even more.
God was frustrated with Balaam because the first time Balaam asked for God’s wisdom about whether or not to go with Balak, God firmly told him that the Israelites were blessed, so he shouldn’t go (vs12). Balak, being persistent and scared, sent back princes to deliver the request to Balaam, and promised Balaam more if he would curse the Israelites for Balak (vs15-17). Even though The Lord was very clear in His first statement to Balaam (the people are blessed, leave them alone), Balaam was hoping God would change His decision (“what more The Lord will say to me”-vs19) since he had more money and honor being dangled in front of his face. God was angry with Balaam because He knew Balaam’s heart was set on the money, rather than God’s direction. Sometimes God has to break us from our stubborn ways to teach us.
Thank you for clarifying this! I got caught up in him giving permission to go the second time he asked but I see now that he should have never asked a second time.
7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
6 Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
Wow, I love how these few verses shows that our words have creative power. In the first part, we only need to release the word to see the miracle, and in the second portion, the power of life and death lies in our tongue.
“Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more.”
Mark 4:24 NLT
it’s so important that we listen because when we listen we can better understand what’s being said.
My thought in reading it is that there is no record that Aaron argued or balked. There was a willingness and obedience to what God had said. My thought was about how often I struggle with obedience and here God said “Aaron, go up the mountain, pass the his priest role to your son, and die.” And Aaron did just that.
The story of Balaam always amazes me!
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You say you will not take from the one whose basket is empty but it feels like that is what happens over and over – so much pain and loss
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Does anyone know if Aaron had a physical ailment, or was his death just punishment for disobedience and the Lord was taking him away to his people? This was a hard, sad passage for me to read. Any thoughts?
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24And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.
an angel of the Lord appeared to Balaam but he could not see the angel right away. His anger at the donkey grew until he finally saw the angel. do we get mad at others even though we cannot see the whole picture? Let’s take time to really pay attention and be aware of our surroundings
25For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
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There is a typo here on Numbers 20:5
I’ve seen quite a lot of typos as I’ve been reading. Probably at least ten up to this point!
So good! Praying we are all ‘good soil’
You need to be good to see good.
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incredibly revealing of his faithfulness and follow-through.
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I know I am like a grumbling child of Israel often in my heart. God has led me to where I am, and has done nothing but provide for me in abundance and goodness. Yet I can still grumble against him and about my circumstances. Thankful for God’s mercy. May I be meek and humble to listen to and honor him.
God tells Moses, “Do not be afraid” as he prepares for battle with some strong nations. It shows how much we can do when our strength comes from God
Day 92 ❤️
Go God’s way
lest they should turn and BE FORGIVEN-ellie
I believe that it has to do with the fact that he tells the men that he can’t go with them because he can only do what the Lord tells him but then he says stay and see what the Lord says to him (even though the Lord has already told him not to go the first time). Perhaps he was hoping the Lord would change his mind or maybe he was testing the Lord in his heart.
May we not receive the Word and put it under a basket, but produce fruit in obedience and disciple making for the glory of our Lord!
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I like this story of Balaam here. He was not an Israelite, yet God spoke to him, and he submitted to the Lord. When he leaves to go with Balak’s people, I wonder why the Lord is angry with him when He told him to go… is there something about Balaam’s heart or actions I’m missing?
Hey Michelle, the confused me too. I think it might have to do with verse 20. God says “IF the men come and call you” and then in the next verse Balaam just gets up and goes with no men calling him to go.
I was wondering this same thing!
I’m 22 and underemployed (currently by choice and going through physical therapy), and it’s encouraging to read about 40 years before the Israelites get to the promised land, but with continuing signs of God’s power and working along the way, even if it wasn’t directly what they’re looking for. Also humbling to see them keep complaining about their boredom with their food when God is providing
This truly spoke to me. I’m very happy that the Lord sent this App to me, and I’m grateful for all of your comments that also give me further understanding! God bless you all!
Does anyone have insight on the disobedience of Moses and Aaron at the waters of Meribah? It could just be my translation isn’t very clear but it seems to me that they followed the Lord’s commands on obtaining water from the rock, yet they were not allowed into the promised land for disobedience. ??
Verse 8 says that Moses was supposed to speak to the rock in front of everyone, and the water would start flowing. Instead, Moses basically says “You want water, I’ll give you water!” And then beats the rock with his staff. I’m guessing beating the rock symbolizes Moses providing the water, while talking to a rock and the rock actually obeying is obviously a God thing.
That makes SO much sense! Thanks, Charity!
10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.
I understood it as they took the credit of GOD’s Glory by saying “shall we bring water for you out of the rock” instead of GOD. This is how it was explained to me.
The passage about the snakes spoke to me today… The people asked for the snakes to be taken away, but this time God didn’t remove them. Those snakes were a consequence of sin. We often want the consequences of sin to be removed. But this time, God provided an atonement (on a pole similarly to Jesus on the cross) for them to look to in order to be healed if the snakes/consequence harmed them. In our lives, the snakes (consequences of sin) may not go away, but when we look to Jesus (who took on our sin on the cross), we can be healed when sin comes back to bite us. Grace.
Amen! I was wondering about this, especially because one of the 10 Commandments is that they were to make no images in the form of anything in heaven or on earth. But it is a foreshadowing of Jesus and a picture of grace.
I really like your thoughts on this. Thanks for sharing them!
Did anyone catch that tid-bit in Mark? “The secret of the kingdom of God”. What is the secret?! Actually, THAT is the secret: Asking questions. To seek understanding one must first ask questions. It seems so simple, but it is so, so important! After reading and finally understanding this, I try to ask more questions rather than just assume things. You would be surprised by the results of good question asking.
It’s funny how people outside the church tend to think the church holds creativity out of of bounds, don’t the first words of the the bible state, God CREATED the heavens and the earth? Hasn’t anyone noticed Jesus never cured any disease the same way twice. It may seem redundant but it’s amazing. Some people say Jesus was solely humble. How can that be true if God is a jealous God. Jesus wasn’t just humble he was fancy, he didn’t just calm the wind and waves, he WALKED on them, I think he liked to show off a bit. To be honest, I’m glad he did. Jesus is just plain old cool. I’m so happy he is the lord and saviour of my life. :)
Blue Letter Bible app is great for relating difficult chapters or stories! :)
I also have a bible called the Jesus centred bible. It has blue lettering, questions and a small paragraph about how to find Jesus in every book, (example: Jesus in Exodus). It’s pretty cool, you guys could check that out too.
Thank you Rachel and Stephanie I am trying so hard to understand but it is very confusing.
Rachel, try watching the bible project’s video on Numbers on you tube. I have found their explanations so helpful!
Thank you!
Could someone possibly explain what’s going on in Numbers right now??
Reading the wandering of the Israelites is really challenging me about waiting on the Lord. The Israelites had to wait for nearly 40 years and I can’t imagine the difficulty of their day to day lives of hunger and thirst and exhaustion and trying to keep all these new complicated rules. Part of me sympathizes with their constant grumbling but part of me realizes that this shows me we are to strive towards patience and focus on development of our Christ-like character in times of waiting and difficulty. It’s amazing how after all God had done they approached Moses with hard hearts instead of ‘making their requests known to God with thanksgiving and praise’ (Phil 4). I wonder if things would have turned out much differently for them if they had just brought their troubles to God with different softer hearts
I think that in all the miracles that Jesus preformed it is crazy that people still wanted to kill him.
Thank you for sharing that, it’s well put. I too was confused about this and it concerned me so I started to research this to see if other bible scholars had a different take on it. God said i’if’ in other bible translations this version we have ‘since’. If these men summon you go with them. Balsam didn’t wait that morning to be summoned he just got up in haste saddled his donkey. Didn’t wait for the men to come to ask Balaam what was Gods decision he just hastily prepared himself to go. God knew it would be a very difficult journey for Balaam to have to bless Israel instead of cursing 3 times in front of all the nobles and King. So God had to slow him down to stress how important it was to only speak God’s words. Knowing how hasty Balaam was because secretly his heart was full of greed Only God can see these things. He saw his inner condition of greed. The Angel was sent to stress the severity of the situation that he must obey God.
The Angel came to put fear into Balaam in order to respect Gods holiness.
Thank you for sharing that, I was so confused also!
Thank you for sharing! I had a hard time
Understanding that part as well.
understanding that as well understanding
I’m so confused. God tells B that its okay to go, but then gets mad at him and sends an angel to kill him? But then tells him its okay again? It just doesn’t make any sense to me. I’m trying to find purpose in it but I just continue to be confused by it
Imagine you had a young brother or sister. They wanted to do something, but you knew it wouldn’t be good for them. You know you can’t change their mind, so you have to let them go. Would you still feel okay about it? No. But you have to let that person go down that path and face the outcome. God loves us so much and He wants us to follow him whole heartedly. However sometimes in our own stubbornness we choose not to listen.
At this point God has to let us do what we think is best. However, God still covered B. He sent an angel to show B that the destination he was going towards was not needed. The angel was not sent to kill him, but only to open B’s eyes to the glory of God. B needed to be reminded that it is God who has the final say.
Remember God already told him that he should not go, however the second time the Moabites came B said he will wait to see what The Lord says. Was B truly being obedient to what God told him the first time?
It may seems confusing, but God always wants the best for us. But sometimes, because of our own self, we have to take the long route to get to our chosen destination.
I hope that brings some clarification
Anyone have some clarity on verse 25?
I thought the Lord said it was okay for him to go in verse 20?
It doesnt say how Aaron died?
I can’t stop picturing the donkey as Donkey from Shrek haha.
I thought the same thing about the talking donkey :)
Am I the only one who finds its funny that Balaam just casually responds to the donkey? If I donkey spoke to me I would probably be speechless. Definitely wouldn’t threaten to kill him lol!
Yes! it’s even funnier that the donkey and him carry on in conversation… and Balaam still isn’t in awe of the talking donkey. Definitely made me chuckle this morning
Ha. Yes, the fact he and the donkey had dialogue like it was no big deal lol
Numbers 20:10 “and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” Moses got fed up with the people. Over and over God had provided, yet they kept doubting and rebelling. So Moses got mad and basically said, “do I have to make this work again?!” He took credit for what God had done. And God didn’t like that. At all. Goal in life should be to give/bring glory to God! Not heap it to ourselves.
And wow, what a coincidence that tonight is Maundy Thursday, the night of Passover and Jesus’ betrayal. The ones who clearly did not hear and did not see God, took Jesus. But he shows love during the whole thing!
Sorry I meant Isaiah 64:4
Jennifer & Terri I agree with both of you! Reminds me of Isaiah 65:4 & 1 Corinthians 2:9 as well.
I think Mark 4:12 has to do with the same idea as 1 Cor 1:27. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. ” those who real want to know God and seek Him will find Him and understand His Word. Going from “outside” to one of those who are “converted” takes a change that God has promised with the reward of finding Him.
Morning ladies! I was wondering if I could call on some of your wisdom, I’m having a hard time with this verse:
12 so that,
“ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’ ”
But doesn’t God want us to turn and be forgiven? I know some of His reasons for speaking in parables and see the beauty in them, but this reason I don’t understand.
I was wondering about that too, April! Looking forward to responses.
April & Lea, here’s one commentary I liked and Matthew Henry has a good one as well…I hope this helps you, sisters!
http://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/mark/4.htm
12. that seeing they may see, and not perceive] At the beginning of His ministry our Lord did not teach by Parables. “The Sermon on the Mount may be taken as the type of the ‘words of grace’ which He spake ‘not as the Scribes.’ Beatitudes, laws, promises were uttered distinctly, not indeed without similitudes, but with similitudes that explained themselves.” And so He continued for some time. But His direct teaching was met with scorn, unbelief, and hardness. From this time forward “parables” entered largely into His recorded teaching, and were at once attractive and penal. (a) Attractive, as “instruments of education for those who were children in age or character,” and offering in a striking form much for the memory to retain, and for the docile and truth-loving to learn; (b) Penal, as testing the disposition of those who listened to them; withdrawing the light from such as loved darkness and were wilfully blind, and protecting the truth from the mockery of the scoffer; finding out the fit hearers, and leading them, but them only, on to deeper knowledge. See Article on Parables in Smith’s Bible Dict.
When I read that verse, I always understood it as that we just don’t see and perceive..maybe look at a few different versions and how they phrase it for clarification. Whenever I read that I tend to pray that I would have ears to “hear” Him, a heart open to Him and eyes to see. It is like to know about God isn’t the same as knowing God..at least that is how I have thought of it.
Totally agree!
To me it shows that God knows whom He chooses to bring into His kingdom by knowing who is really willing to take heed to His Word. A lot people say they will do, but won’t because flesh gets in the way. They don’t have a heart after God. They will sit and listen thinking that’s all they have to do to inherit the Kingdom of God, but won’t dig deeper for true revelation. They don’t want the relationship and the sufferings that comes with it. That’s like church now. People will come thinking that they’ll get cookie points for going, however they really lack faith and keep sinning refusing the power of the Holy Ghost to Heal or Cleanse them.
I am glad He opposes my pride even though it may hurt. I am also grateful for His mercy because I deserve so much worse than what I’ve been given . Often times he sends blessings my way even though I may have sinned and that immense love draws me back to Him and makes me desire to obey and love Him .
For those of you who are goal-oriented like me…we have read a quarter of the whole Bible as of today!!! :) I am so thankful to have found this app, I have always struggled with having solid, constant time in the word, and now I am enjoying it!!
Yay!! I’ve always struggled myself. I’ve had “read the Bible” as a New Years resolution for probably a decade now. This app is what I’ve needed, I think partly because I needed a community to talk to and partly because I needed a structured plan.
Ha! It was fun seeing the 25% today! (I might confess to having instagramed that screenshot!)
12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”
It was significant to me that God called the Israelites blessed when they were so rude and disobedient. This is a biblical example of God’s forgiveness and acceptance. For though He may be upset or angry with us, he will not abandon us.
This is such a good point. I didn’t even think of that during the reading. Thank you pointing that out! Even though we see a lot of God’s wrath in the OT there are still so many reminders of His grace and mercy!
I agree with Christina – when first reading through I was so focuses on how stubborn the Israelites were that I missed this act of forgiveness and loved that God shows. It’s something that I’ll try to keep at the forefront of my mind the next time I find myself feeling guilty for sharing my burdens and complaints with God. While he is Lord, he’s also the Father, he loves and cares for us and wants to support us when it’s hard to go on. Reading about OT God it can be easy to forget that important fact!
I went to gotquestions.org because I wondered the same thing. Baalam is described as a pagan prophet who practiced divination and other magic arts, led Israel into apostasy, and was identified as a false prophet by Peter and Jude. As he rode, God knew the rebelliousness within him and became angry, sending the angel to block his path. This website has been so helpful for me with the OT!
Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/Balaam-donkey.html#ixzz3W9iiUSJ3
Thank you Sherrie!
Sherrie, thanks! I will use that website!
Good morning friends! Does anyone know why in Numbers 22:20 God tells Balaam to go, but then in vs22 it says God is angry at him for going? I feel like there’s a piece I am missing. There’s so much going on in the OT..I’m grateful for the chance to read through it slowly, but it also makes me realize how much I don’t understand!
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who was confused here.
In the NKJV it says that God tells Balaam to only go if the men call him in the morning, yet he didn’t let the call him. He got up and got ready and went, so that was disobedience from what God told him to do.
Different translations bring out different meanings and while the NIV is good for bringing things in a different light the most reliable (closest to original language) are the NKJV and the NASB. Hope that helps!
Thank you Stephanie! That was helpful to me!
That explains a lot. I reread those verses 5 times trying to figure out why God was so mad.
I am glad to hear you say that Leah and Jen bc I had a hard time with the OT today too. So thankful to be reading it in small bites, and for the comments that other gals make bc often that helps me understand even more.
God was frustrated with Balaam because the first time Balaam asked for God’s wisdom about whether or not to go with Balak, God firmly told him that the Israelites were blessed, so he shouldn’t go (vs12). Balak, being persistent and scared, sent back princes to deliver the request to Balaam, and promised Balaam more if he would curse the Israelites for Balak (vs15-17). Even though The Lord was very clear in His first statement to Balaam (the people are blessed, leave them alone), Balaam was hoping God would change His decision (“what more The Lord will say to me”-vs19) since he had more money and honor being dangled in front of his face. God was angry with Balaam because He knew Balaam’s heart was set on the money, rather than God’s direction. Sometimes God has to break us from our stubborn ways to teach us.
Emma, I agree! God was angry because He truly knew the greed, disobedience, pride, etc that was in Balaam’s heart.
Thank you for clarifying this! I got caught up in him giving permission to go the second time he asked but I see now that he should have never asked a second time.
May we see the Lords holiness. His provisions never end. Thank the Lord for His healing and blessed protection
7 The Lord said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”
6 Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
Wow, I love how these few verses shows that our words have creative power. In the first part, we only need to release the word to see the miracle, and in the second portion, the power of life and death lies in our tongue.