Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-10-30

LESSON TEXT--Numbers s2;1-6. s4.i0
10. Read Numbers chs. Plea
GOLDEN TEXT-"A double-miudet
man, unstable In all his ways Jas
lis.
Following our last lesson the 1sreal
ties marched along the borders of ths
wilderness meeting with much opposi
ton. In Mum. 20 we are told oil
the death OF Aaron. They met Arad
t21:1-3) and overthrow him. Moving
around Edom was difficult process
and the people became discouraged
Again they murmured against God
and against Moses. Swift punishment
followed in the form OF fiery serpents
Mum. 21:4t1. Confessing their sins
Moses interceded on their behalf and
the look at a bra2en serpent suggest
ed to them the necessary attitude oil
faith towards God. After sundry wan
behring's, the dwelling among the
Amorites and the overthrow OF sun
dry tribes, we come to their encoun
ter with Balak. As they journeyed
the report of their Victories preceded
them and Balak sought to protect
himself against these strange .'peo
pie come out OF Egypt" by other
means than that of war. for, said he
they are covering the face OF the
earth" See Elk. 1915.
Little Known About Baiaam.
Here Balaam appears upon the
scene. Little is known about him
He evidently had knowledge OF
| Jehovah and yet was sorcerer OF
spiritist, dealing with evil spirits. and
was. probably. a Midianite.
|. The Call to Curse, Oh. 22:t-6
There are six personal pronouns In
verse; Balak sought to fight fire with
fire, to save his own face. He feared
those whom God blessed. The world
today hates those whom God blesses
Had Balak been wise he would have
cast in his lot with Israel and not
have miserably persisted in battle
along with his unwilling tool. Balaam
(See Mum. 31:8, Josh. 1899
BaIaam at first refused Balak's in.
vitation ". 13), but Balak sends more
exalted messengers and greater offers
of honor and rewards, promising him
honor in the kingdom II he would but
curse Israel ". III. Balaam again
returns word that this Is impossible
tv. 1S) Cor he cannot 60 beyond the
word of Jehovah. not that he was in
sympathy with that word at all. but
he was conscious of Jehovah's power.
However, he asked Balak's messen-
gers to tarry over night that perhaps
Jehovah would permit him to go.
condition that he speak only the word
he should receive from God Eagerly
Clearly In the morning" v. 2I taking
advantage OF this permission, but not
yet knowing what word 1t is that Je-
hovah would have him speak, he
starts upon his Journey. Hence IT is
written that Gods anger was kindled
against him as he went" Balaam
wanted to go, for The loved the wages
of unrighteousness" G. Peter 2:15.
Jude III, but had felt that he WIS
held in leash by the power of Je.
hovah.
u. A Challenge by the way. Oh. 20:
22-35. The angel of Jehovah, as the
agent of his anger, interposed to save
BALKAN from himself Lust had SO
blinded his eyes that even an ass
saw more clearly than he. Gcd re-
buked him and those who trafflcked
with evil spirits in order to produce
results are Knocked by the fact that a
dumb ass found voice and spoke.
Finally, after repeating his condi-
tional permission that he was to
speak only the word Jehovah was to
give him, he is permitted to proceed
with the princes OF Balak."
BALKAN Prophet.
III. The changeless message, Oh. "a.
Read carefully the intervening chap
tiers. In them we have the account Of
Balaam meeting Balak and of his
brief but wonderful prophecy concern
ing Israel. BALKAN gives us won
derful description OF one who is a
prophet (24:16). He "a "heareth
the words of God" ~ "knoweth the
knowledge of the most high" (3)
"seeth the vision of the almighty"
Verse II Is a wonderful phophecy of
the Lord Jesus, who is "a star" for
he "lighteth every man who cometh
into the world" (See also Pet
1:19.) He is called "a sceptre' be-
cause Of his kingly sway (see Lk. 1:
80, SO, Heb. 1:8). From the context
MO raad bou, cpoa bfu lfnc xraro onap
ed he declared wonderful prophecy
concerning these whom Balak consid-
cred his enemies and with prophetic
eye he sees the coming glory OF
Israel. Balak's anger Is kindled, and
he seeks to drive BALKAN away, but
each time there comes forth from his
lips one Of these unwelcome prophe-
cies. These marvellous prophecies
which fell from Balaams lips, as an
instrument, taught that this entire I'M
der world of evil is under control of
Jehovah and its curses upon his peo-
pie are important. He may even com
pei unwilling instruments, If needful,
to become agents for the accomplish
ment OF his purposes. Balaam's sad
end strikingly illustrates the fact that
man may admire the ideal Of right
eousness and the beauty OF holiness
and yet falling to yield his own life
to those principles fail utterly in the
consummation of his life and his in
fiuence. He taught Israel to sin
(Num 31;16 and Rev. 2:10), yet he
failed to curse them. How often this
is true of unrighteous Christian head
ers. God opened to BALKAN a door To