"The Anchor Holds In Spite of the Storm"
Pastor: Gaylen Jones
Sunday Service 10:30 A.M.
Wednesday Evening Bible Study and Prayer 7:00 P.M.
PO Box 1926
Clute, Texas 77531
[Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:1-13; Mathew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 10:1-33]
Pastor: Gaylen Jones
Sunday Service 10:30 A.M.
Wednesday Evening Bible Study and Prayer 7:00 P.M.
PO Box 1926
Clute, Texas 77531
[Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:1-13; Mathew 28:18-20; I Corinthians 10:1-33]
An Anchor, when properly placed, holds a marine vessel securely in one location and keeps it from drifting away from the captain’s desired position. Under the teachings of the Holy Spirit of God, what in Hebrew is called the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), the Five books of Moses serve us as an Anchor to keep us from drifting away from God's good, acceptable and perfect will for our lives.
(Romans 1:1-17; Romans 5:1-2; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-8; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:1-13
At the Anchor, we have come to the understanding, that the daily study of these books, along with the rest of the Scriptures, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit is the way God promised and systematically does place His Word (the oracles of God – see Romans 3:1) in our minds according to the covenant promise. As we go about practicing what He says for us to do, and not practicing what he says for us not to do, these same words become attached or grafted into our hearts. We discover that as we hear and practice doing what we hear [The shema of God - Mark 28:28:34, James 1:21-25), He becomes more and more pleased with what He does through us. Therefore to Him (יהוה) , LORD, YHVH, Yahveh, Jehovah be all the glory for the things He is doing.) As followers of Jesus the Christ (Hebrew – Yehshua Ha Mashiach), our desire is to regard the Law of God (the Torah) in the same way Jesus (Yeshua) did; when he was here. And learn to teach the same specific instructions that his disciples received from him. To continue to practice the same works that he taught them, until he returns. [I John 2:1-16] His disciples were commanded to go into all nations and make disciples. Jesus/Yeshua did not say go into all the nations and make Christians and build churches. Jesus/Yehshua said; "go and make Disciples, teaching them to do what so ever I have commanded you to do." (Mitzvot = "good works")
(Romans 1:1-17; Romans 5:1-2; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-8; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:1-13
At the Anchor, we have come to the understanding, that the daily study of these books, along with the rest of the Scriptures, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit is the way God promised and systematically does place His Word (the oracles of God – see Romans 3:1) in our minds according to the covenant promise. As we go about practicing what He says for us to do, and not practicing what he says for us not to do, these same words become attached or grafted into our hearts. We discover that as we hear and practice doing what we hear [The shema of God - Mark 28:28:34, James 1:21-25), He becomes more and more pleased with what He does through us. Therefore to Him (יהוה) , LORD, YHVH, Yahveh, Jehovah be all the glory for the things He is doing.) As followers of Jesus the Christ (Hebrew – Yehshua Ha Mashiach), our desire is to regard the Law of God (the Torah) in the same way Jesus (Yeshua) did; when he was here. And learn to teach the same specific instructions that his disciples received from him. To continue to practice the same works that he taught them, until he returns. [I John 2:1-16] His disciples were commanded to go into all nations and make disciples. Jesus/Yeshua did not say go into all the nations and make Christians and build churches. Jesus/Yehshua said; "go and make Disciples, teaching them to do what so ever I have commanded you to do." (Mitzvot = "good works")
|
Bamidbar (Numbers)
Balak 22:2-25:9 |
Meaning
Balak |
Day One
10th day of 4th Month 5785 6 July 2025 
|
Haftara
Micah 5:6(7)*-6:8 |
B'rit Hadashah
Matthew 21:1-11 |
1 Our Father, we receive Your Words and hide Your commandments with us; 2 we incline our ear unto wisdom, and apply our hearts to understanding; 3 We cry after knowledge and lift up our voices for understanding; 4 we seek it as silver; and search for it as for hidden treasures; 5 We declare that we shall understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Declaration of Proverbs 2:1-5
Modeh Ani (ּמודה אני)
Pronounced moe-DEH ah-NEE, this Hebrew phrase literally means "I give thanks" and refers to the prayer traditionally recited upon awaking in the morning.
Pronounced moe-DEH ah-NEE, this Hebrew phrase literally means "I give thanks" and refers to the prayer traditionally recited upon awaking in the morning.
Numbers 22:2-20 (NASB)1
2 Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel. 4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me. 6 "Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed." 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 repeated Balak's words to him. 8 He said to them, "Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as the LORD may speak to me." And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 Then God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?" 10 Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me, 11 'Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.'" 12 God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." 13 So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, "Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you." 14 The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us." 15 Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former. 16 They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me; 17 for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.'" 18 Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God. 19 "Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me." 20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men
have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do."
have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do."
It's a bit of a dull morning here on the homestead. It rained intermittently all morning yesterday. My grandson and his little family were camping northwest of our location about an hour away but came home early due to the threat of tornado activity. This summer has been one weather anomaly after another. I've been asking around to folks in my age bracket, “Do you ever remember ever hearing news of tornadoes in this area?” The answer across the board is no. Because we formed ties with folks in the Texas Gulf, the news from Central Texas this weekend is crushing. The Guadalupe River rose thirty feet in an unimaginable short time in the middle of the night and its rushing waters caused an unprecedented death toll in Kerrville! It's a given that this news day is rather distracting from the usual routine around here.
In our Torah journey, we've seen fledgling Israel celebrate an amazing victory on the land east of the Jordan. They've slain giants and have defeated the very ones that their parents were so certain would destroy them all. So, for a time, they've taken a bit of a rest and their huge population is causing some strain on the neighbors to the north of Israel. I did a look-up on Balak in the American Tract Society Dictionary and found this:
“King of Moab, when the Israelites were drawing near the promised land. He was filled with terror lest they should attack and destroy him, as they had Sihon and Og, and implored the soothsayer Balaam to come and curse them. His fears and his devices were both in vain, De 2:9. See BALAAM. He found he had nothing to fear from Israel if at peace with them, and nothing to hope if at war with them.”
Balak found that “he had nothing fear from Israel if at peace with them, and nothing to hope if at war with them”. How about that? It appears that nothing has changed from that day to this. No country has to fear if it's at peace with Israel. We've seen as much, as far as Iran (ancient Persia) is concerned, in our own time. They've been fighting a proxy war with Israel through Hamas, Hezbollah, and other militant organizations for years and finally, Israel had enough! The “two state solution” proved it would never work as of October 7, 2023.
Albert Barnes considered that Balak may have been a Midianite prince who was not the hereditary king of Moab, but was placed there by Sihon when Sihon wrested the land from the Moabites. If so, then it's understandable that Balak wasn't so sure of himself and his mini-kingdom after Sihon was soundly defeated. If Israel could soundly defeat his boss, Sihon, along with Og, it didn't assure him that he'd have any success in coming against Israel. We can presume that Balak was a figurehead and enjoyed the perks of being 'king' but had little experience or desire to be an effective leader.
Balaam has always been an enigmatic character in our Torah Bite Project. He always came across to me as a “game-player”. I've never had patience with game-players, and I was always so “not impressed” with this Balaam. The Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament has a thorough write-up on Balaam, the so-called 'prophet' who was more a psychic seer with delusions of grandeur than a true 'prophet'.
“The rapid defeat of the two mighty kings of the Amorites filled the Moabites with such alarm at the irresistible might of Israel, that Balak their king, with the princes of Midian, sought to bring the powers of heathen magic to bear against the nation of God; and to this end he sent messengers with presents to Balaam, the celebrated soothsayer, in Mesopotamia, who had the reputation of being able both to bless and curse with great success, to entreat him to come, and so to weaken the Israelites with his magical curses, that he might be able to smite them, and drive them out of his land (Nu 22:1-7).”
I suppose that it says so little about any 'leadership' ability of Balak that he was so swiftly led to this 'heathen magic'.
“From the very earliest times opinions have been divided as to the character of Balaam... Some (e.g., Philo, Ambrose, and Augustine) have regarded him as a wizard and false prophet, devoted to the worship of idols, who was destitute of any susceptibility for the true religion... Others (e.g., Tertullian and Jerome) have supposed him to be a genuine and true prophet, who simply fell through covetousness and ambition... In its true meaning, the name is related to that of his father, Beor... (Note: The form Bosor, which we find instead of Beor in ς áù?ø αωψαςεψ , from á?òø , to burn, eat off, destroy: so called on account of the destructive power attributed to his curses (Hengstenberg). It is very probable, therefore, that Balaam belonged to a family in which the mantic character, or magical art, was hereditary. These names at once warrant the conjecture that Balaam was a heathen conjurer or soothsayer.”
Keil and Delitzsch also point out that Balaam is always called a soothsayer.
“Moreover, he is never called נביא , a prophet, or חזה , a seer, but הקסם , the soothsayer (Jos 13:22), a title which is never used in connection with the true prophets. For קסם , soothsaying, is forbidden to the Israelites in De 18:10., as an abomination in the sight of Jehovah, and is spoken of everywhere not only as a grievous sin (1Sa 15:23; Eze 13:23; 2Ki 17:17), but as the mark of a false prophet (Eze 13:9; 22:28; Jer 14:14, and even in Isa 3:2, where קסם forms the antithesis to נביא).”
Soothsayer from the original Hebrew is קָסַם qâçam, kaw-sam'a primitive root; properly, to distribute, i.e. determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine:—divine(-r, -ation), prudent, soothsayer, use (divination). Verb.
Prophet from the original Hebrew is נָבִיא nâbîyʼ, naw-bee' from H5012; a prophet or (generally) inspired man:—prophecy, that prophesy, prophet. Masculine noun.
What made Balaam a soothsayer and not a prophet is that Balaam used enchantments, spells, and divined his information. He was not inspired by God as true prophets were. So, after all these years of looking at this story of Balaam, I think that we can conclude without doubt that he was a conjurer and the epitome of a user of divination, which is קֶסֶם qeçem, keh'-sem from H7080; a lot; also divination (including its fee), oracle:—(reward of) divination, divine sentence, witchcraft. Masculine noun. The Hebrew root of H7080 is קָסַם qâçam, kaw-sam' a primitive root; properly, to distribute, i.e. determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine:—divine(-r, -ation), prudent, soothsayer, use (divination). Verb.
Until now, I've been quite diplomatic as to the source of Balaam's abilities because he did prophecy some pretty accurate content relating to Israel. But as we know, God uses many things, and even people, to get a job done. In the text today, “Let the games begin!”
7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. Numbers 22:7.
Balaam refuses to go with this retinue and they must return to Balak after staying for the night.
15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. Numbers 22:15.
Balaam replies that all the silver and gold in the house of Balak would not be enough because the LORD, “his God”, has forbidden him to leave with them. “Your” God? Seriously, Balaam? And of course, the king's retinue that he sent the second time, stayed overnight again. But this time, through the night, Balaam gets the green light to go to Balak but he is only to speak what God says to say. Did Balaam delay because he was merely “playing the game”? Or was it a case of God hardening his heart? Maybe it was as some might say: “Fifty-Fifty”! But God will act and use who or what He will use.
In our Torah journey, we've seen fledgling Israel celebrate an amazing victory on the land east of the Jordan. They've slain giants and have defeated the very ones that their parents were so certain would destroy them all. So, for a time, they've taken a bit of a rest and their huge population is causing some strain on the neighbors to the north of Israel. I did a look-up on Balak in the American Tract Society Dictionary and found this:
“King of Moab, when the Israelites were drawing near the promised land. He was filled with terror lest they should attack and destroy him, as they had Sihon and Og, and implored the soothsayer Balaam to come and curse them. His fears and his devices were both in vain, De 2:9. See BALAAM. He found he had nothing to fear from Israel if at peace with them, and nothing to hope if at war with them.”
Balak found that “he had nothing fear from Israel if at peace with them, and nothing to hope if at war with them”. How about that? It appears that nothing has changed from that day to this. No country has to fear if it's at peace with Israel. We've seen as much, as far as Iran (ancient Persia) is concerned, in our own time. They've been fighting a proxy war with Israel through Hamas, Hezbollah, and other militant organizations for years and finally, Israel had enough! The “two state solution” proved it would never work as of October 7, 2023.
Albert Barnes considered that Balak may have been a Midianite prince who was not the hereditary king of Moab, but was placed there by Sihon when Sihon wrested the land from the Moabites. If so, then it's understandable that Balak wasn't so sure of himself and his mini-kingdom after Sihon was soundly defeated. If Israel could soundly defeat his boss, Sihon, along with Og, it didn't assure him that he'd have any success in coming against Israel. We can presume that Balak was a figurehead and enjoyed the perks of being 'king' but had little experience or desire to be an effective leader.
Balaam has always been an enigmatic character in our Torah Bite Project. He always came across to me as a “game-player”. I've never had patience with game-players, and I was always so “not impressed” with this Balaam. The Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament has a thorough write-up on Balaam, the so-called 'prophet' who was more a psychic seer with delusions of grandeur than a true 'prophet'.
“The rapid defeat of the two mighty kings of the Amorites filled the Moabites with such alarm at the irresistible might of Israel, that Balak their king, with the princes of Midian, sought to bring the powers of heathen magic to bear against the nation of God; and to this end he sent messengers with presents to Balaam, the celebrated soothsayer, in Mesopotamia, who had the reputation of being able both to bless and curse with great success, to entreat him to come, and so to weaken the Israelites with his magical curses, that he might be able to smite them, and drive them out of his land (Nu 22:1-7).”
I suppose that it says so little about any 'leadership' ability of Balak that he was so swiftly led to this 'heathen magic'.
“From the very earliest times opinions have been divided as to the character of Balaam... Some (e.g., Philo, Ambrose, and Augustine) have regarded him as a wizard and false prophet, devoted to the worship of idols, who was destitute of any susceptibility for the true religion... Others (e.g., Tertullian and Jerome) have supposed him to be a genuine and true prophet, who simply fell through covetousness and ambition... In its true meaning, the name is related to that of his father, Beor... (Note: The form Bosor, which we find instead of Beor in ς áù?ø αωψαςεψ , from á?òø , to burn, eat off, destroy: so called on account of the destructive power attributed to his curses (Hengstenberg). It is very probable, therefore, that Balaam belonged to a family in which the mantic character, or magical art, was hereditary. These names at once warrant the conjecture that Balaam was a heathen conjurer or soothsayer.”
Keil and Delitzsch also point out that Balaam is always called a soothsayer.
“Moreover, he is never called נביא , a prophet, or חזה , a seer, but הקסם , the soothsayer (Jos 13:22), a title which is never used in connection with the true prophets. For קסם , soothsaying, is forbidden to the Israelites in De 18:10., as an abomination in the sight of Jehovah, and is spoken of everywhere not only as a grievous sin (1Sa 15:23; Eze 13:23; 2Ki 17:17), but as the mark of a false prophet (Eze 13:9; 22:28; Jer 14:14, and even in Isa 3:2, where קסם forms the antithesis to נביא).”
Soothsayer from the original Hebrew is קָסַם qâçam, kaw-sam'a primitive root; properly, to distribute, i.e. determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine:—divine(-r, -ation), prudent, soothsayer, use (divination). Verb.
Prophet from the original Hebrew is נָבִיא nâbîyʼ, naw-bee' from H5012; a prophet or (generally) inspired man:—prophecy, that prophesy, prophet. Masculine noun.
What made Balaam a soothsayer and not a prophet is that Balaam used enchantments, spells, and divined his information. He was not inspired by God as true prophets were. So, after all these years of looking at this story of Balaam, I think that we can conclude without doubt that he was a conjurer and the epitome of a user of divination, which is קֶסֶם qeçem, keh'-sem from H7080; a lot; also divination (including its fee), oracle:—(reward of) divination, divine sentence, witchcraft. Masculine noun. The Hebrew root of H7080 is קָסַם qâçam, kaw-sam' a primitive root; properly, to distribute, i.e. determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to divine:—divine(-r, -ation), prudent, soothsayer, use (divination). Verb.
Until now, I've been quite diplomatic as to the source of Balaam's abilities because he did prophecy some pretty accurate content relating to Israel. But as we know, God uses many things, and even people, to get a job done. In the text today, “Let the games begin!”
7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. Numbers 22:7.
Balaam refuses to go with this retinue and they must return to Balak after staying for the night.
15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. Numbers 22:15.
Balaam replies that all the silver and gold in the house of Balak would not be enough because the LORD, “his God”, has forbidden him to leave with them. “Your” God? Seriously, Balaam? And of course, the king's retinue that he sent the second time, stayed overnight again. But this time, through the night, Balaam gets the green light to go to Balak but he is only to speak what God says to say. Did Balaam delay because he was merely “playing the game”? Or was it a case of God hardening his heart? Maybe it was as some might say: “Fifty-Fifty”! But God will act and use who or what He will use.
20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do. Numbers 22:20.
1 NASB www.lockman.org for daily reading and KJV in commentary unless otherwise stated.
*The Torah and Haftara chapter/verse numbering taken from the Hebrew Bible (Christian-published chapter/verse numbering indicated within parenthesis)
*The Torah and Haftara chapter/verse numbering taken from the Hebrew Bible (Christian-published chapter/verse numbering indicated within parenthesis)
Daily Torah Bites ©
anne@anchorchurchsurfside.com
“Vehalachta Bidrachav—you shall walk in His ways!”
Ten Commandments
1
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
5
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
6
13 Thou shalt not kill.
7
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8
15 Thou shalt not steal.
9
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10
16 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Ten Commandments
1
2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
5
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
6
13 Thou shalt not kill.
7
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8
15 Thou shalt not steal.
9
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10
16 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.