In Numbers 23 we see Balaam speaking to the Lord for Balak. Balak is not pleased with what he is hearing from Balaam. Balak is wanting Balaam to curse the Israelites and Balaam can not do that. Balak tries once again in a different location to get Balaam to curse the Israelites. The Lord speaks through Balaam once again and tells Balak that he can neither curse nor bless the Israelites as they are protected by the hand of God.
Numbers 24 is much the same as the previous chapter.
Numbers 25 has the Israelites once again not following the commandments the Lord gave them. This time 24,00 Israelites die because of their worshiping of other gods. I just do not understand how they can see all of these people in their community die and still not follow what the Lord has told them to do.
Mark 16, one of the greatest chapters in Mark. Why? Well, lets see we first come to find out that the stone has been rolled away and Jesus is no longer in the tomb. What! I know right, giant stone rolled away somebody is playing an evil trick. No, no trick here Jesus did exactly what He said He was going to do. He rose on the third day. He visited His disciples one more time before ascending to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God. In that last visit with his disciples he told them "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15, 16) What better instructions could He have given them, I do not think there could have been anything better to say.
One more book completed. Oh, and guess what? We get to start the book of Luke just in time for the Christmas season. I am rather excited for that.
Tomorrow's reading is:
Numbers 26, 27 and Luke 1:1 - 20
23. Balak seems determined, but it seems like he's doing more harm to his cause then good.
ReplyDelete24. It's funny to me that Balak thought there would be some different outcome the third time he tried to get Balaam to curse the Isrealites.
25. Based on all the offerings they are doing you would think there would be time for little else, but they still manage to find time to get themselves in trouble.
16. I loved that this chapter ends with an Amen. Very fitting.