Moses' death is drawing near. The Lord tells him to take revenge on Midian, and then he would be gathered to his people. I sometimes wonder what it might have been like for Moses to know that these were among the final acts he would do before his time to die. Was freaked out at all? Was he glad to go? After all, it hadn't been an easy job leading the Israelites. There were many times he wanted to quit. Perhaps it was a relief, and the only pang was not being able to enter the Promised Land after all this time.
You might remember that the Midianites were the ones who led the people astray into idolatry and licentious acts at Peor. What you may not have known, as I hadn't until reading this passage (how had I missed this before?) that it was on Balaam's advice that Midian enticed Israel. I think that very well may sum up Balaam's character. He had been prevented from cursing Israel as he'd been hired to do, he readily admitted that he couldn't have done otherwise, and yet... seems he wasn't too happy about it. He recommended to the Midianites that they lead the Israelites astray, and it worked. 24,000 Israelites died because of the plague that resulted. Midian was in part responsible, and Israel's action against them was God's punishment upon them. Lest we think that God was spiteful by having all the males and all the women who had had relations with men killed, we must remember one thing: later on in the Bible Saul allows a woman to live when he should have slaughtered the entire nation, and eventually, eventually a descendant lives to harass the Jews in Persia in the form of Haman. He had carried a grudge against them all the way down the generations. That possibility was more than likely now, especially in a woman who's husband or lover may have been killed by the Israelites. Those who were yet unattached may be young enough to learn to forgive and assimilate in the Israelite lifestyle.
But back to Balaam for just a minute. I've corresponded a little bit with a friend on the topic of him, and she gives an interesting insight. Balaam obviously had some sort of relationship with the Lord, but it doesn't necessarily mean he had a close one. Instead, my friend suggests, he may have known the Lord by reputation, after all it was known amongst the neighboring nations what happened at the Red Sea. The Amalekites came out against them before they even reached Sinai (Ex. 17), and since that time the Israelites had defeated not only the Egyptians and the Amalekites through God's blessings, but also the Canaanites at Arad, the kings Sihon, an Amorite, and Og of Bashan (Numbers 21). Their reputation preceded them well before they entered the Promised Land to face Jericho (Judges 2). The God of Israel was known by the name LORD and was acknowledged of as god of great power, if not THE GOD, and was greatly feared, though they did not worship Him. (Ironic, isn't? Those that did worship Him did not fear Him as they should, and those that didn't worship Him feared Him greatly.) Balaam, likely, then knew the Lord by reputation and likely didn't want to cross Him, though he could have been induced (and was induced) for the right price. It would seem, though this is conjecture, that when he didn't gain that price, he stooped to "petty vengeance" by offering advice to the Midianites on how to deal with the Israelites. Rather than curse them outright, he went under the table to give them trouble. So, not, unfortunately, a man who learned to love God when confronted with him, but evil and pagan and chose money over all. It's sad, really. Another example of a man doing good by showing you what not to do.
Tomorrow's Reading: Numbers 32:1-42
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