crisis of confidence

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

crisis of confidence

devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2334

Numbers 22:34-23:6

Num 22:34 Then Balaam said to the angel of Yahveh, “I have sinned, because I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.”
Num 22:35 And the angel of Yahveh said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.
Num 22:36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the border formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the border.
Num 22:37 And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?”
Num 22:38 Balaam said to Balak, “notice, I have come to you! Do I now have any power of my own to speak anything? I have to speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”
Num 22:39 Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.
Num 22:40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him.
Num 22:41 And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw a fraction of the people.
Num 23:1 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.”
Num 23:2 Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram.
Num 23:3 And Balaam said to Balak, “Stand beside your ascending offering, and I will go. Perhaps Yahveh will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” And he went to a bare height,
Num 23:4 and God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, “I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.”
Num 23:5 And Yahveh put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and this is what you will speak.”
Num 23:6 And he returned to him, and notice, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his ascending offering.

crisis of confidence

Balaam must have been a well-known prophet, but the incident with the donkey had apparently shaken his confidence. He is not at all sure that he is doing the right thing, and he is not sure if Yahveh is going to give him the right words to say. He has been too close to the line for so long, he doesn’t know the outcome of the events set in motion. His skill has only taken him so far, and there is no relationship with Yahveh to lead him the rest of the way.

FATHER GOD, we want to get close to you, so that when all our skill and experience are not enough, we can rely on you completely.

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what the donkey saw

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky March 2018 (27)

what the donkey saw

devotions from Jefferson Vann #2333

Numbers 22:22-33

Num 22:22 But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of Yahveh took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.
Num 22:23 And the donkey saw the angel of Yahveh standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.
Num 22:24 Then the angel of Yahveh stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.
Num 22:25 And when the donkey saw the angel of Yahveh, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again.
Num 22:26 Then the angel of Yahveh went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.
Num 22:27 When the donkey saw the angel of Yahveh, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
Num 22:28 Then Yahveh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
Num 22:29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, because then I would kill you.”
Num 22:30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”
Num 22:31 Then Yahveh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Yahveh standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.
Num 22:32 And the angel of Yahveh said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? notice, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse in the sight of me.
Num 22:33 The donkey saw me and turned aside in the sight of me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”

what the donkey saw

The story of Balaam and his donkey is one of those that easily makes its way into Sunday School lessons. Who can resist a biblical story that features a talking animal? But the irony of the story does not stop at that point. Balaam is supposed to be a seer, but he does not see the avenging angel — his donkey does. Balaam thinks that God’s permission is God’s will –it is not. God permitted him to go to Balak, but God did not want it.

Likewise,many of the things that happen to you and me today will be permitted, but God still opposes them.

LORD, give us the vision to see what direction you really want us to go, and the wisdom not to stubbornly oppose your will.

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enough rope

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky March 2018 (26)

enough rope

devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2332

Numbers 22:14-21

Num 22:14 So the princes of Moab got up and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
Num 22:15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and higher ranking than these.
Num 22:16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak the son of Zippor says: ‘Let nothing keep you from coming to me,
Num 22:17 because I will surely treat you with great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.'”
Num 22:18 But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of Yahveh my God to do less or more.
Num 22:19 So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more Yahveh will say to me.”
Num 22:20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”
Num 22:21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

enough rope

So far, Balaam is acting with integrity, only doing what he is specifically instructed to by the LORD, and not promising what he cannot deliver. He is being tested — being given enough rope that he will eventually hang himself, and his true loyalty will be revealed.

We must be wary of new opportunities that come our way. Not every new opportunity is destined to bring God glory, and benefit us.

LORD, give us the wisdom to stay far away from new opportunities that might end in disgrace for us, and dishonor for you.

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bless or suppress?

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky March 2018 (25)

bless or suppress?

devotions by Jefferson Vann # 2331

Numbers 22:1-13

Num 22:1 Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
Num 22:2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
Num 22:3 And Moab was very afraid the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.
Num 22:4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This collected assembly will now chew up all that is around us, as the ox chews up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
Num 22:5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, and this is what he said “notice, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the land, and they are staying just opposite me.
Num 22:6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Maybe I will be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, because I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
Num 22:7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message.
Num 22:8 And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as Yahveh speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
Num 22:9 And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”
Num 22:10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, and this is what he said,
Num 22:11 ‘notice, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the land. Now come, curse them for me. Maybe I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.'”
Num 22:12 God said to Balaam, “You will not go with them. You will not curse the people, because they are blessed.”
Num 22:13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, because Yahveh has refused to let me go with you.”

bless or suppress?

Barnes comments that Balaam had learned “some elements of pure and true religion,” but that prophesying was to him only a “mere business.” That business awareness of Yahveh had led Balaam to pray to Yahveh before considering whether to curse the Israelites. Yahveh answers his prayer, telling him not to make the fatal mistake of attempting to curse those whom he has chosen to bless. No good can come with collaborating with God’s enemies.

LORD, give us the wisdom to know who to bless, and who to suppress.

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when his enemies attack

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky March 2018 (24)

when his enemies attack

devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2330

Numbers 21:21-35

Num 21:21 Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, and this is what he said,
Num 21:22 “Let me pass through your land. We will not turn aside into field or vineyard. We will not drink the water from a well. We will go by the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.”
Num 21:23 But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. He gathered all his people together and went out against Israel to the wilderness and came to Jahaz and fought against Israel.
Num 21:24 But Israel defeated him by the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites, because the border of the Ammonites was strong.
Num 21:25 And Israel took all these cities, and Israel took possession of all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages.
Num 21:26 Because Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon.
Num 21:27 Therefore the ballad singers say, “Come to Heshbon, let it be built; let the city of Sihon be established.
Num 21:28 Because fire came out from Heshbon, flame from the city of Sihon. It devoured Ar of Moab, and swallowed the heights of the Arnon.
Num 21:29 Tragedy has come to you, O Moab! You have been destroyed, O people of Chemosh! He has made his sons fugitives, and his daughters captives, to an Amorite king, Sihon.
Num 21:30 So we overthrew them; Heshbon, as far as Dibon, was destroyed; and we laid waste as far as Nophah; fire spread as far as Medeba.”
Num 21:31 This is how Israel came to possess the land of the Amorites.
Num 21:32 And Moses sent to spy out Jazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.
Num 21:33 Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.
Num 21:34 But Yahveh said to Moses, “Do not fear him, because I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you will do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.”
Num 21:35 So they defeated him and his sons and all his people, until he had no remaining survivor. And they possessed his land.

when his enemies attack

After so much failure, complaining, rebellion and judgment, the Israelites finally get around to fighting their way to the promised land. The kings of the Amorites and Bashan would be celebrated as great victories for Israel for centuries to come. In both cases, the kings themselves made the first aggressive move.

The conflict that ensued was not a mistake. God intended his people to fight for what he had promised them. He intends for us to do the same — on our knees.

LORD, prepare us to do battle in prayer when your enemies attack us.

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bless us with boring

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky March 2018 (23)

bless us with boring

Devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2329

Numbers 21:10-20

Num 21:10 And the people of Israel set out and camped in Oboth.
Num 21:11 And they set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness that is opposite Moab, toward the sunrise.
Num 21:12 From there they set out and camped in the Valley of Zered.
Num 21:13 From there they set out and camped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites, because the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
Num 21:14 Therefore it is recorded in the Book of the Wars of Yahveh, “Waheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,
Num 21:15 and the slope of the valleys that extends to the seat of Ar, and leans to the border of Moab.”
Num 21:16 And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well at which Yahveh said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.”
Num 21:17 Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well!– Sing to it!–
Num 21:18 the well that the princes made, that the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter and with their staffs.” And from the wilderness they went on to Mattanah,
Num 21:19 and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth,
Num 21:20 and from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah that looks down on the desert.

bless us with boring

This is a refreswhing little section — not because anything spectacular happened — but because there was no crisis. Travels, celebration of a good water supply — nothing much to write home about. But, having travelled a great deal as a missionary, I have learned to be extremely grateful when “nothing happens.” We are not promised a lifetime free from problem or incident. But it is very nice to have some memories of boring times when nothing in particular happens.

LORD, bless us with boring. Bless us with times when we require no chastisement, and need no forgiveness.

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recover, remember

Posted on March 22, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky March 2018 (22)

recover, remember

devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2328

Numbers 21:4-9

Num 21:4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way.
Num 21:5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? Because there is no food and no water, and our souls loathe this worthless food.”
Num 21:6 Then Yahveh sent fiery snakes among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.
Num 21:7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against Yahveh and against you. Pray to Yahveh, that he take away the snakes from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
Num 21:8 And Yahveh said to Moses, “Make a fiery snake and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, will live.”
Num 21:9 So Moses made a bronze snake and set it on a pole. And if a snake bit anyone, he would look at the bronze snake and live.

recover, remember

Moses interceded once again for the rebellious, complaining people of Israel. But notice, God did not give the people what they asked for. They asked for God to take away the snakes. But God told Moses to have a bronze snake constructed. It would give the people relief, but it would also serve as a reminder of their mistakes.

We don’t want that, do we? We want the healing, and also to forget why the sickness came. There is a man who went to the cross to be brutally crucified on our behalf. He is God’s remedy for us, but also a reminder of our mistakes.

LORD, thank you for the recovery that is ours because of Christ. May we always remember why he had to die.

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faith to destroy

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky March 2018 (21)

faith to destroy

devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2327

Numbers 21:1-3

Num 21:1 When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.
Num 21:2 And Israel pledged a solemn pledge to Yahveh and said, “If you will really give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.”
Num 21:3 And Yahveh heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites, and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So the name of the place was called Hormah.

faith to destroy

I’m thinking about the solemn pledge that the Israelites made. They promised to destroy the cities occupied by the king of Arad and its people. The vow could be taken as simply the rage of vengeance. But I think there’s more to it.

Completely destroying the cities may actually have been an act of faith. Rather than looting them, they sought to wipe out their influence completely. They trusted God for the strength and time to build new cities.

LORD, give us the faith to change the landscape around us, wiping out all that does not conform to your will… trusting you to give us strength to build upon your foundation.

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last climb

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky March 2018 (20)

last climb

devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2326

Numbers 20:22-29

Num 20:22 And they journeyed from Kadesh, and the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.
Num 20:23 And Yahveh said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom,
Num 20:24 “Let Aaron be gathered to his people, because he will not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the water of Meribah.
Num 20:25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to Mount Hor.
Num 20:26 And strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron will be gathered to his people and will die there.”
Num 20:27 Moses did as Yahveh commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
Num 20:28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.
Num 20:29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron had perished, all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days.

last climb

Aaron is one of the few people in the world who knew exactly when and where he would die. The LORD told Moses to bring Aaron and Eleazar with him for one last climb up Mount Hor. There, Aaron removed his high priestly garments, and watched his son dress in them. There Aaron died, and as soon as Moses and Eleazar came down the mountain alone, the Israelites knew he had died. Moses also knew that his time was coming as well, because both of them had rebelled against God’s command at Meribah.

LORD, we are all mortal and will eventually die. Give us the wisdom to obey you, so that we live and die with honor.

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request refused

Posted on March 19, 2018 by Jefferson Vann

marmsky March 2018 (19)

request refused

devotions from Jefferson Vann # 2325

Numbers 20:14-21

Num 20:14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “This is what your brother Israel says: You know all the hardship that we have encountered:
Num 20:15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians treated us and our fathers cruelly .
Num 20:16 And when we cried to Yahveh, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.
Num 20:17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from a well. We will go along the King’s Highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.”
Num 20:18 But Edom said to him, “You will not pass through, or else I will come out with the sword against you.”
Num 20:19 And the people of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway, and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then I will pay for it. Let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.”
Num 20:20 But he said, “You will not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force.
Num 20:21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.

request refused

The Israelites had no quarrel with their relatives — the Edomites (descendants of Esau), and had no desire to take their land. But the Edomites refused their request to simply walk through Edom. This choice would set the Israelites back, and there seemed no reason for it.

During our lives we will often face times of meaningless hardship, and we will struggle to understand those times. We have to trust God — that he is with us — even when our plans do not work out. It is all part of the journey.

FATHER, in those times when we do not understand and our way seems to be unnecessarily blocked, give us the wisdom to continue to trust you, and keep walking, no matter how bad we feel.

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