God doesn't pick sides. He picks His people and delivers victory.           SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground and has entered Canaan, the Promised Land. Joshua 5:2–6:5 (NIV) 2  At that time the L ORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” 3  So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. 4   Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5  All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. 6   The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the L ORD . For the L ORD  had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7   So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8  And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. 9  Then the L ORD  said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal  to this day. 10  On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. 11  The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12  The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan. 13  Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” 14  “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the L ORD  I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” 15  The commander of the L ORD ’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. 6 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. 2   Then the L ORD  said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3  March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4  Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5  When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1 Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own, but belong— body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him. Summary The conquest of Canaan doesn't really begin with a conquest. Instead, the first thing that God commanded of His people after they crossed the Jordan was to participate in several ceremonial reminders of who they were, and more importantly, who the LORD was. They began with a mass circumcision, signifying that the reproach of Egypt had been rolled away . After that, they celebrated the Passover. Finally, the manna the LORD provided each morning ceased; the LORD would still provide food for His people, but now they would eat the produce of Canaan. It's after this series of ceremonies meant to refocus Israel's attention on the true and living God that Joshua looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand . Joshua then asked the same question any of us would ask in this situation: Are you for us, or for our enemies? We talk often of how bifurcated our society has become; people are either for us or against us: if we're on the right, we're leery of those on the left; rural folk are suspect of urbanites; now there's even a growing divide between Americans and Canadians (and all of these divisions cut both ways). But while dichotomies may seem more pronounced now than ever before, Joshua's gut reaction shows that doubt and mistrust are deeply woven by sin into our very nature. But the Man, who identifies Himself here as the commander of the army of the LORD, doesn't fit into our preconceived categories. He's neither for or against us. Rather, His only purpose is to do the LORD's will - the same purpose that this same Man would painfully carry out a millennia later as He painfully prayed not my will, but yours be done (Luke 22:42) . That will of His Father , the LORD, who had sent Him was to raise up all those He has given me ( John 6:39 ) . This included Joshua and the Israelites, and it includes you.   Dig Deeper   Upon hearing this, Joshua immediately recognized that this was no ordinary man, so he fell face down to the ground in reverence. So it makes sense, then, to consider Joshua's next words as prayer, and like so many other Biblical prayers, this one is short and focused: What message does my Lord have for His servant? This is the type of prayer that you can pray all through the day in the midst of your work and activities. It's reasonable to assume here that Joshua hoped this sword bearing Man would now relay some detailed strategies and tactics for how his ragtag bunch of wanderers could successfully wage war against men who were bigger, stronger and had much better technology and weaponry. And that's exactly what Joshua got in response... but it wasn't the answer Joshua expected. The Commander gave one simple - yet quite profound - command: take off your sandals, for the place you are standing is holy. The Commander here wasn't just giving temporary orders to Joshua, He was indicating that Israel's sole strategy would be to completely rely upon their Holy, all powerful God to fight their battles for them. And so it was that their first battle would be won in the most unconventional way imaginable: by simply marching around the amazingly well fortified and defended city of Jericho for six days, with the priests carrying trumpets in front of the Ark. On the seventh day, after marching around the city seven times, they were to sound a long blast on their trumpets and shout loudly, and the city would miraculously collapse. The Commander of the LORD's Army is neither for nor against your particular pet issues. Rather, He has fulfilled our Father's will for you, that you might look to the Son and believe in Him so that you would have eternal life ( John 6:40 ) . AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, whose Army fights the forces of evil that set themselves against Him; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that just like your Commander, that you too would not do your own will but do the will of him who sent Him ( John 6:38 ); A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

God calls you to hurry forward by waiting on Him.           SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Two Israelite spies entered Jericho and were protected by Rahab, who confesses that the LORD has given Israel the land, and asks for mercy for her family. Through her faith and the spies’ safe return, God confirms that the fear of the LORD has already fallen on the land He promised to give His people. Joshua 3:1–17 (NIV) 3 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2  After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3  giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the L ORD  your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4  Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits  between you and the ark; do not go near it.” 5   Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” 6   Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them. 7  And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8   Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’ ” 9  Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the L ORD  your God. 10  This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11  See, the ark of the covenant of the L ORD  of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12  Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13  And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the L ORD —the L ORD  of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” 14  So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15  Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16  the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17  The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. Belgic Confession Article 31: The Officers of the Church So everyone must be careful not to push one’s self forward improperly, but all must wait until called by God, so that they may be assured of their calling and be certain and sure that it is from the Lord. Summary This is the moment the Israelites had been waiting for since the day they were born - quite literally. It was their parents and grandparents who'd been saved from slavery in Egypt by walking through the Red Sea on dry ground. But God caused that generation to wander in the wilderness until they'd died off because of their stubbornness. Those now camped on the banks of the Jordan had all been born along the way to the Promised Land, which they would enter into by also walking on miraculously dry ground. Eager as they were, they needed to wait just a bit longer. After all, the land they'd been promised was currently inhabited by people who were bigger and stronger than they were in every way, so they couldn't just go charging in. They would be led in by the presence of the LORD, following the priests carrying His earthly throne - the Ark of the Covenant. But not too closely... they needed to stay at least a half mile (2,000 cubits) behind its holiness. And once again, there would be a mediator between the LORD and His people. Moses is dead and buried by this point, but God promised to exalt Joshua in the eyes of all the people. Not just because Joshua was an awesome guy, but so that the people may know that the LORD was with Joshua. God has likely exalted you in many ways - blessed you in the eyes of your family, church and community. You may not realize it, but people look up to you and admire you. You're probably pretty awesome, but that's not why... it's because the LORD is with you, and He does amazing things through you. So are you living Soli Deo Gloria - that is, a life that gives all glory to God alone, or are you trying to shine some of His glory back down on yourself?   Dig Deeper   Joshua had already commanded the people three days earlier (near the end of the first chapter) to get their provisions ready to cross the Jordan, which was no small task for such a large camp. It's not hard to imagine the frantic busyness that this would entail, as all of daily necessities can't really be packed up until the last minute. And this wasn't just another in a long line of camp relocations; this time, the men needed to prepare themselves for battle as well. But the day before they were to set out, right when the busyness would have been at its zenith, Joshua reorients their focus, commanding the people to consecrate themselves - to purify themselves physically and spiritually. As we learned in Leviticus, consecration was a detailed, time consuming process! I wonder how many Israelites silently wondered, can't we just skip this step this time? Your life is consumed with daily details and overwhelming tasks as well - worries that never disappear and that you never really seem to get ahead of. But in a very similar fashion, the LORD comes to you every seven days and tells you to set it aside. He commands that you rest and be consecrated - cleaned, purified and made holy - not by the means of complicated rituals and ceremonies, but by God's Word which reminds you of His never ending covenant love and provision for you, as one who's been washed in the blood of Christ. Just as the Israelites weren't to get ahead of the Ark as they eagerly got to work settling the Promised Land, you also need to have your pace set by the LORD, being reminded of His holiness and following His lead. The best way for you to do this is to deliberately set the ever-present busyness aside and gather with the saints in God's house each Lord's Day, so that you are reminded that the LORD is with you. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who leads and provides for His people; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will rest as God commanded, so that you may know that the LORD is with you in the midst of your busyness; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Are you ready to cross into the Promised Land?           Joshua 1:1–9  After the death of Moses the servant of the L ORD , the L ORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2   “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3  I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4  Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5   No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6  Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their fathers to give them. 7   “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the L ORD  your God will be with you wherever you go.” Canons of Dordt Point V Article 14: God’s Use of Means in Perseverance Just as it has pleased God to begin this work of grace in us by the proclamation of the gospel, so he preserves, continues, and completes his work by the hearing and reading of the gospel, by meditation on it, by its exhortations, threats, and promises, and also by the use of the sacraments. Summary The book of Joshua begins on an ominous note: after the death of Moses. Moses has been leading Israel almost since their very inception as a people. The LORD worked His wonders through Moses, beginning with the plagues unleashed upon Egypt, their march to freedom through the opened Red Sea, and continual miracles through the wilderness wanderings, all of which originated with God and were worked through the hand or voice of Moses. Most critically, Moses served as the man in the middle, mediating between the holy God and His sinful, stubborn people. How could this 'movement' survive without Moses' leadership? The LORD's announcement to Joshua is straightforward and to the point: Moses my servant is dead. But God doesn't even skip a beat. Now then, He instructs Joshua, keep the people moving forward. Nothing has changed; the promises God made to Moses - and to Jacob, Isaac and Abraham centuries before - would be fulfilled. Nothing changes here for the Israelites because the LORD God never changes. He was the One who'd carried Israel to the banks of the Jordan, and He is the One who'd settle them in the Promised Land. Notice all of the first person promises He makes to Joshua: I will give you every place you set your foot, as I promised; As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Here's where it's important to see how the entire Bible fits together. These stories of the ancient Israelites being freed from slavery, wandering through the wilderness, and being brought safely into the Promised Land are most certainly historical narrative. These things happened. But at the same time it's a much bigger story that includes you. You've been freed from slavery to sin and protected from judgment under the blood of the Lamb; You're being shepherded into the Promised Land , and while that promise is certain, you're not quite to the banks of the Jordan yet. But you can be certain the LORD will be faithful to the promises He's made to you.   Dig Deeper   God here makes it clear that He will be the One who delivers Israel - not Joshua or even Moses. But in sovereignly working out salvation - for Israel then or us now - God works through people and ordinary means. He issues a series of imperatives that Joshua, the Israelites and us need to follow in order to be prosperous and successful as they enter the Promised Land: Get ready to cross the Jordan River into the Land - moving from the wilderness into the Promised Land requires preparation, focus and determination. Are you ready? Be strong and courageous - The LORD repeats this command three times. Meditate (chew on) these words today. Why do you think the LORD repeats them? Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left - Although we make difficult distinctions in God's Law in the light of Christ , God's expectations for us to obey it have not changed. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it - That humble little word keep keeps showing up in critical places in the Bible, so pay attention to it! As you go through your day, meditate on scripture: read it, pray it, sing it, think about it, and discuss it. Do not be discouraged - Why not? Because the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the unchanging LORD God Almighty, who is bringing His people to the Promised Land; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will be strong and very courageous as you keep God's Word on your lips and in your mind; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Don't be like a mule - confess your sin and find relief. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle  or they will not come - Psalm 32:9           Psalm 32 Of David. A maskil.  1  Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2   Blessed is the one whose sin the L ORD  does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit. 3  When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4  For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5  Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the L ORD .” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. 6   Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. 7   You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. 8  I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. 9  Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. 10  Many are the woes of the wicked, but the L ORD's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. 11  Rejoice in the L ORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! Canons of Dordt Point 5, Article 7: Renewal to Repentance God preserves in those saints when they fall his imperishable seed from which they have been born again, lest it perish or be dislodged. Secondly, by his Word and Spirit he certainly and effectively renews them to repentance so that they have a heartfelt and godly sorrow for the sins they have committed; seek and obtain, through faith and with a contrite heart, forgiveness in the blood of the Mediator; experience again the grace of a reconciled God; through faith adore his mercies; and from then on more eagerly work out their own salvation with fear and trembling Summary This week's psalm opens with the same word that opened the Psalter itself: Blessed . That first psalm initially defined blessedness negatively - that is, it decreed that those who do not walk, stand or sit with the wicked, sinners and mockers will be blessed. But what about those who have wandered off the narrow road - which, of course, is all of us? Is the blessed life that the Psalms sing about out of reach for us? David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, answers our deep longing for blessedness with good news. Yes, for sure that man is blessed who avoids sin and delights in the Law of the LORD, but there's blessedness for the rest of us as well. For us, it comes through the gospel: to those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered and not counted against them, and in whose spirit is no deceit. David writes of the physical effect spiritual guilt has: it wastes bones, and its heavy hand saps strength as in the heat of summer. But notice that these awful effects are not permanent; they only press down upon you when you keep silent! In other words, when you try to bury your sin and hide it from God, your entire life - body and soul - get buried in bone crushing guilt! But you have the ability to free yourself from that burden! All you need to do is acknowledge the obvious: that your life is mired in sin and iniquity. Then simply confess your transgressions to the LORD. When you do this with faith in Christ alone, the LORD forgives the guilt of your sin! No matter how many are your wicked woes, the LORD's unfailing covenant love surrounds the one who trusts in Him.   Dig Deeper   But there's a catch... this tremendous offer of forgiveness is a limited time offer. David here poetically instructs the faithful (that is, those who trust in Christ) to pray to the LORD while He may be found. How many times haven't we read over these past couple of months that the LORD's patience is certainly long, but it's not unlimited? But even as the mighty waters rise, those who've acknowledged and confessed will be protected from trouble, and surrounded by the LORD with songs of deliverance. Imagine how that will sound as the LORD protects those who are hiding in Him by singing! But David knows our stubborn nature. He knows that too often we're like horses and mules which have no understanding and must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to have their burden removed. But you've been freed from this natural stubbornness! The Canons remind us that God, by His Word and Spirit certainly and effectively renews us to repentance so that we have a heartfelt and godly sorrow for the sins we have committed. In other words, He draws us to Him. So as you finish another week, saddled down with guilt and despair, look forward to coming back to the LORD's house, where you'll be reminded of the gospel that the 32nd Psalm points us toward, and where, along with the other stubborn horses and mules God has gathered in your congregation, you can rejoice and be glad that the LORD has forgiven the sin that you confess and acknowledge. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who is our hiding place, who protects us from trouble, and surrounds us with songs of deliverance; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will not be like a stubborn horse or mule and that you will truly confess and acknowledge your sin so that your sin will be forgiven; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

God is sovereign, but you have a choice. FaithLife.com SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Moses, speaking for the LORD, prescribed cities of refuge for those who accidentally caused a death, commanded that justice must be upheld by reliable witnesses, and instructed Israel to show courage and trust in the LORD when going to war. Moses also gave laws that protected the vulnerable and preserved order in Israel’s life—guidance for family relationships, property rights, marriage, and fairness in daily dealings—reminding the people that their conduct must reflect the holiness of the God who dwelt among them. Deuteronomy 30:11–20 (NIV) 11  Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12  It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13  Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14  No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. 15  See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16  For I command you today to love the L ORD  your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the L ORD  your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17  But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18  I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19  This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20  and that you may love the L ORD  your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the L ORD  is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 86 Q. We have been delivered from our misery by God’s grace alone through Christ and not because we have earned it: why then must we still do good? A. To be sure, Christ has redeemed us by his blood. But we do good because Christ by his Spirit is also renewing us to be like himself, so that in all our living we may show that we are thankful to God for all he has done for us, and so that he may be praised through us. And we do good so that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits, and so that by our godly living our neighbors may be won over to Christ. Summary We need to be careful as Reformed Christians that in our appropriate promotion of salvation by grace alone that we don't fall into a couple of traps. Today's passage, which comes near the end of Deuteronomy as Moses gives his final instructions to God's people before he dies and they cross into the Promised Land, helps us spot these pitfalls and avoid them. So many people erroneously think that they need to earn their salvation - that as they stand before the LORD in judgment, their actions will be weighed out on a divine scale, and if they've done more good than bad then God will accept them into heaven. So we're zealous to correctly point out the fallacy in their thinking and remind them that we can never, no matter how hard we try, keep God's Law good enough to outweigh our sins. Rather, we desperately need to rely on the finished work of Christ, whose perfect obedience is imputed (credited) to us . But if we're not careful, this important truth that we can't perfectly keep God's law morphs into the error that we can't keep God's Law at all. A person quickly slides down this slippery slope by concluding that there's really no point in trying to follow God's Law, then, since Christ has already fulfilled it on our behalf. This error has a technical name: antinomianism , a word that simply means against ( anti ) Law ( nomian ). So we need to hear what Moses reminded God's people thousands of years ago: that God's Law is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach . Certainly you can't keep it perfectly, and praise God, your salvation doesn't depend on doing so, but yes you can love the LORD your God, walk in obedience to him, and keep his commands, decrees and laws. As the Catechism reminds, you must do good - that is, follow God's Law - to show that you are thankful to God, praise Him , be assured of your faith by its fruits, and so that by your godly living your neighbors may be won over to Christ.   Dig Deeper   The other trap we're prone to stumble into also begins with the best of intentions: emphasizing the total sovereignty of God over all things. The Catechism reminds us that God upholds and rules all things, so that nothing comes to us by chance, but from His fatherly hand. But if we push this doctrine too far, we become fatalists - people who think that this world is entirely preprogrammed and we're just drones doing what we've been preordained to do; our actions and choices don't really matter. Once again, Moses, inspired by the Holy Spirit, directs us around this error. One of the key messages of the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible) is that the LORD Almighty is faithful to His covenant, and that He sovereignly works out all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose . But God also sets a choice before His people: they can have life and prosperity, but if they choose poorly, they'll experience death and destruction . Moses explains that IF you keep his commands, decrees and laws; THEN you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you. He goes on to make the choice even more stark: if your heart turns away and you are not obedient...  you will certainly be destroyed . He sets before us life and death, blessings and curses , and implores us to choose life . As a faithful follower of God's Word, you must live in tensegrity - that is, a life of integrity achieved by properly holding tension between seemingly conflicting doctrines. Yes, you are saved by grace and not by works. Yes, God sovereignly foreordains all that comes to pass. But at the same time, God expects you to keep His Law, and often (but not always) predicates material blessings upon your doing so. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the LORD our God, who commands us to love and obey Him and to keep His commands ; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will choose life, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Does God still speak through prophets? HeartLight.org SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Moses continues to warn Israel not to make any image of the unseen God and urged them to cling to the LORD who redeemed them. He then called the new generation to covenant faithfulness in the land—pure worship, just leadership, and complete rejection of the idolatry and occult practices of the nations around them. Deuteronomy 18:14–22 (NIV) 14  The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the L ORD  your God has not permitted you to do so. 15  The L ORD  your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16  For this is what you asked of the L ORD  your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the L ORD  our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” 17  The L ORD  said to me: “What they say is good. 18  I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19  I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. 20  But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.” 21  You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the L ORD ?” 22  If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the L ORD  does not take place or come true, that is a message the L ORD  has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 31 Q. Why is Jesus called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”? A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who perfectly reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance; our only high priest who has set us free by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us. Summary Today's Summary and Dig Deeper section are re-posted from February 8, 2024. One of the key traits God desires from His followers is that they live differently than the people around them - people who are infected by what's known as the noetic effect of sin . This impairs people's ability to reason correctly, redirecting their instinct to worship from God to all sorts of other things. This distortion is particularly evident in the lives of ungodly people, which is why God emphasizes the importance of His people leading lives that visibly differ from the world around them. So God came directly to His people, and audibly spoke His commands from the mountain, which terrified those who heard it . The people, afraid they would die from the sound of God's voice, asked Moses to go up the mountain and represent them before God, to listen to His voice himself and then come back and tell the people what God had said, thereby representing the voice of God. This is exactly what a prophet does: he represents God to the people. Moses was the first prophet, but he certainly wasn't the last. In fact, God here promises to raise up a prophet like you [Moses] from among the Israelites . You know the names of many of these prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Elijah, just to name a few. But none of those great men would be like Moses; none of them would lead God's people to the Promised Land. The Prophet that God was predicting through the voice of Moses would be none other than His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.   Dig Deeper   Today's Dig Deeper section is re-posted from July 21, 2023 Lots of men have claimed to be a prophet, and to thereby have the authority to proclaim the word of the LORD. False prophets have swayed countless people away from the Truth, and done so with an eloquence and charisma that seemed nothing short of divine. Moses, this original prophet inspired by the Holy Spirit, anticipates this problem, rhetorically asking, How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD? The proof, Moses goes on to say, is in the pudding (so to speak): If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. Test the word of the Biblical prophets yourself! Have they not all been proven correct? Most of the Bible was written by prophets, and although they represented the voice of God in all sorts of different ways, they all pointed to one thing: salvation through Jesus Christ (even the eschatological (end times) prophecies that have yet to be fully fulfilled point back to Christ). Paul writes, For all of the promises of God find their Yes in Christ . So God's Word is complete! He's told us everything we need to know about Himself and our salvation through His prophets, perfectly recorded in scripture! We don't have anymore need for additional prophets since Christ fulfills all that the prophets promised. This means that anyone else who claims to be a prophet by speaking beyond what the Bible says is doing the opposite of what a true prophet would do; they're pointing people away  from Christ. But you already knew to steer clear of cult like self appointed prophets. What's more critical to understand is that the corollary must be true then as well: anyone who points people away from Christ in any way  is a false prophet. Be careful, because it's this latter group that's far more subtle, pervasive and dangerous! The world is full of false prophets. Use your redeemed minds to test everything you hear against scripture, and flee from everything that points away from Christ! AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, whose Word, delivered by the prophets of old, points us to salvation through Christ; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the discernment to test everything you hear against scripture, and for the courage to live differently than the world around you; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Your faith centers on knowing God and making Him known. FaithLife.com SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Moses reiterated the ten commandments that God had given decades earlier from Mt. Sinai. Deuteronomy 5:32–6:9 (ESV) 32  You shall be careful therefore to do as the L ORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33  You shall walk in all the way that the L ORD  your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess. 6  “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the L ORD  your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2  that you may fear the L ORD  your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. 3  Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the L ORD , the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. 4  “Hear, O Israel: The L ORD  our God, the L ORD  is one. 5  You shall love the L ORD  your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6  And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7  You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8  You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9  You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 103 Q. What is God’s will for you in the fourth commandment? A. First, that the gospel ministry and education for it be maintained, and that, especially on the festive day of rest, I regularly attend the assembly of God’s people to learn what God’s Word teaches, to participate in the sacraments, to pray to God publicly, and to bring Christian offerings for the poor. Second, that every day of my life I rest from my evil ways, let the Lord work in me through his Spirit, and so begin already in this life the eternal Sabbath. Summary Today's passage is built around one of the oldest confessions of faith, called the Shema': 4  “Hear, O Israel: The L ORD  our God, the L ORD  is one. The following definition is taken from the Lexham Bible Dictionary : It "derives its name from the statement’s first Hebrew word, שְׁמַ֖ע ( shema ')—which is the command to “hear”... Jewish boys are to be taught the Shema as soon as they can speak and it is to be recited at the end of one’s life. "The Shema summarizes the heart of God’s covenant with His people. Yahweh alone is Lord, and covenantal faithfulness to Him involves every part of one’s being: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength ." But these words are not just meant to be a magic incantation. Rather, your entire life must be centered around understanding it first for yourself - these words shall be on your heart - and then communicating this truth to the subsequent generations: teach them diligently to your children . They must be the basis for all of your conversations: talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.   Dig Deeper   Today's Dig Deeper section is re-posted from July 21, 2023 It's often easy to think that God's plan of salvation changed when Jesus arrived. In plan A, God entered into a covenant with Moses, giving His people a clear set of expectations for them to follow in order to gain a reward. Indeed we see language like that in this passage from Deuteronomy that every Israelite would have known so well: keep the commandments so that you may enjoy long life; be careful to obey so that it might go well with you; follow these rules so that you might increase. Having given the Israelites plenty of time to get their act together, it might seem like God finally gave up on plan A for the grace-filled plan B that Jesus would inaugurate, in which His covenant people would now be saved by the fact that Jesus perfectly kept the law on our behalf. But as we keep reading in Deuteronomy 6, it becomes clear that God has always had one plan of salvation for all people, and it has always been completely grace based. God was bringing His people - then, and now - through their wilderness wanderings and into the Promised Land, which flowed with milk and honey. They would enjoy flourishing cities, nicely appointed houses, wells, vineyards and olive groves. All of this would be a gift: they would not need to build, provide, dig or plant. Another word for gift is grace. Certainly they had a covenantal obligation to keep the law, an obligation they couldn't keep. What they didn't know then was that Christ would provide that covenant faithfulness for them, as He has for you. So inhabiting the Promised Land was a pure gift; it was never an obligation God owed them. So the reminder God gives to Israel - the recipients of His grace then - is just as valid for us, the recipients of His grace now: Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that these words will never be far from your lips; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Sovereign grace secures your salvation; covenant obedience shapes your story. "What's past is prologue; what to come, In yours and my discharge..." - Antonio in Shakespeare's play The Tempest . In other words, understanding your history is the key to your future. SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... The Israelites have been sentenced to wander in the wilderness until all of the rebellious generation that left Egypt have died off. The LORD is faithful to the new generation, preserving them and giving them victory. Moses uses the first four chapters of Deuteronomy to recount the history of Israel's unbelief and God's unwavering faithfulness. Deuteronomy 4  Moses continues... 4 Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the L ORD , the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2   Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the L ORD  your God that I give you. 3   You saw with your own eyes what the L ORD  did at Baal Peor. The L ORD  your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor, 4  but all of you who held fast to the Lord your God are still alive today. 5  See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the L ORD  my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. 6  Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” 7  What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the L ORD  our God is near us whenever we pray to him?   8  And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today? -- 21  The L ORD  was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the L ORD  your God is giving you as your inheritance. 22  I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land. 23  Be careful not to forget the covenant of the L ORD  your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the L ORD  your God has forbidden. 24  For the L ORD  your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. -- 32  Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? 33  Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? 34  Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the L ORD  your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? 35  You were shown these things so that you might know that the L ORD  is God; besides him there is no other... -- 39  Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the L ORD  is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. 40  Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the L ORD  your God gives you for all time. Belgic Confession Article 7 We believe that this Holy Scripture contains the will of God completely and that everything one must believe to be saved is sufficiently taught in it. For since the entire manner of service which God requires of us is described in it at great length, no one— even an apostle or an angel from heaven, as Paul says— ought to teach other than what the Holy Scriptures have already taught us. For since it is forbidden to add to or subtract from the Word of God, this plainly demonstrates that the teaching is perfect and complete in all respects. Summary The book of Deuteronomy, although written in Hebrew, has a Greek name that simply means 'Second Law' ( deutero = second, nomy = law). It's comprised of three farewell speeches from Moses, which recap the history of God's people in the wilderness and emphasize the need for the people to faithfully follow God's Law as they enter the Promised Land without Moses. As we skim through this book this week, we're going to come away understanding two key theological principles that are key to interpreting the rest of the Bible. First of all, Moses' speeches in Deuteronomy make clear that God sovereignly chooses His people. Today's passage shows how exclusive of a relationship Israel enjoyed with the God who chose them. Moses rhetorically asks, What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? Even the righteous decrees and laws God gives to His people are an indication of His unique love for them. These people had seen with their own eyes what the LORD did for them, things that had never been done for any other people from the day God created man on the earth . They heard the voice of God speaking out of fire. Again, Moses rhetorically asks them, has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you? In everything that the LORD did in choosing and saving these people, He did s o that they might know that the LORD is God and that besides him there is no other. As you look back upon how it is that God made His choice of you evident, how have you both seen and heard what the LORD did for you? How did you experience His providence, the Spirit making His Word come alive, and even His great and awesome deeds? Briefly share how in the comment box below!   Dig Deeper   So as we read Deuteronomy, we'll certainly see how it is that God sovereignly chooses His people, but secondly we'll see the requirement that God's people must evidence their divine election by faithfully obeying God's covenant law. Moses makes it clear that the Israelite's won't just coast into the Promised Land because God had sovereignly ordained it. Rather, the must hear and follow God's decrees and laws so that they may live and may go in and take possession of the land. They needed to keep the LORD's commands without subtracting from them. Their covenant obedience was key to the witnessing God expected of them. They were to show their wisdom and understanding to the nations. Moses could personally attest to the importance of faithfully doing all that God commanded exactly the way He commanded it. He would die in the wilderness without crossing the Jordan because he angrily struck a rock that God had instructed him to speak to in order to provide water for the people . Moses makes clear what we don't hear enough about God - that the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God . These Israelites from long ago were saved in exactly the same way you and I are: by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. Our salvation is completely the work of the sovereign LORD God Almighty. But your grateful obedience to Him matters... Keep his decrees and commands so that it may go well with you and your children after you . AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the LORD God; besides him there is no other; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he made with you; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

You can't be free of fear. You can only direct it. Faithlife.org Psalm 27 Of David. 1   The L ORD  is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The L ORD  is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? 2  When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. 3   Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. 4  One thing I ask from the L ORD , this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the L ORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the L ORD and to seek him in his temple. 5   For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. 6  Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the L ORD . 7   Hear my voice when I call, L ORD ; be merciful to me and answer me. 8   My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, L ORD , I will seek. 9  Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. 10  Though my father and mother forsake me, the L ORD  will receive me. 11  Teach me your way, L ORD ; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. 12  Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations. 13  I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the L ORD in the land of the living. 14  Wait for the L ORD ; be strong and take heart and wait for the L ORD . Belgic Confession Article 29 As for those who can belong to the true church, we can recognize them by the distinguishing marks of Christians: namely by faith, and by their fleeing from sin and pursuing righteousness, once they have received the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ. They love the true God and their neighbors, without turning to the right or left, and they crucify the flesh and its works. Though great weakness remains in them, they fight against it by the Spirit all the days of their lives, appealing constantly to the blood, suffering, death, and obedience of the Lord Jesus, in whom they have forgiveness of their sins, through faith in him. Summary Most people are completely controlled by their fear: fear of losing income, fear of breaking relationships, fear of sickness and disease, fear of the unknown. The infotainment that constantly bombards us intensifies these fears with its never ending speculations and rumors, so perhaps people seem more afraid in our day and age than ever before. But we're probably not. Don't forget that the first emotions Adam and Eve felt after the fall were angst and shame . Anxiety and dread are the ubiquitous results of sin. Even King David experienced these feelings. But David asks two beautiful rhetorical questions at the beginning of this week's psalm that recenter God's people in a peace that passes understanding. The two questions seem quite similar, almost as if the second question is just a poetically parallel restatement of the first: whom shall I fear? of whom shall I be afraid? David here is not claiming that he's not afraid because he has no fear . Quite the opposite, in fact. He's reminding himself - and us - that we need not be afraid as long as we fear the LORD, who is our light and salvation, the stronghold of our lives. This is exactly how Moses calmed the terrified Israelites as they heard, felt and saw God's awesome presence atop Mt. Sinai, telling them to not be afraid . God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning ( Exodus 20:20 ). The fear of God isn't meant to make you frightened, but it's meant to heighten your senses and awareness because you know well the dreadful wrath He has for those who persist in their sin. You can't free yourself of fear , but you can channel it. If you fear the things of this world, you'll forever be afraid . But if you fear the LORD, you have nothing to be afraid of.   Dig Deeper   Sometimes David's psalms seem irrelevant. He often writes of the wicked advancing against him and about his enemies, foes and oppressors. Of all the problems you have, besieging armies probably aren't at the top of the list. But maybe they should be. While it's true you likely won't face an actual army invasion, and the closest thing you have to a physical enemy or oppressor is the guy who cut you off in your morning commute, you need to know that you are under attack - constantly! But this ongoing battle isn't going on around you, it's going on inside you. Paul tells us that Sarx - your old sinful nature - is waging war against you! As David puts it, Sarx is a false witness that rises up against me, spouting malicious accusations. You won't face the Philistines or be chased down by psychotic King Saul the way David was. Yet the psalms he wrote in the midst of these difficult times are exactly the Spirit-inspired fuel you need to keep battling the sin that lies within. So as the fear of this world often sets in, wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who is my light and my salvation - the stronghold of my life ; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that the LORD will teach you His way and lead you in a straight path because of your oppressor; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Not everyone who claims the Lord's name comes in His name. Not all preachers are as good looking as this guy! CONTEXT: Balak, the king of Moab, sees the Israelites heading his way. Out of fear, he hires Balaam, a famous 'divine consultant' who would study natural phenomena such as animal entrails or bird movements to predict the future. His pronouncements of blessing or curse were considered as money in the bank (the name Balaam means 'destroyer of people'). King Balak wants to pay Balaam a substantial sum to curse the Israelites, so he sent a delegation to hire him. Numbers 22:18–35 (NIV) 18  But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the L ORD my God. 19  Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the L ORD will tell me.” 20  That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.” 21  Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 22  But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the L ORD  stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23  When the donkey saw the angel of the L ORD  standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. 24  Then the angel of the L ORD  stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25   When the donkey saw the angel of the L ORD , it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again. 26  Then the angel of the L ORD  moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 27  When the donkey saw the angel of the L ORD , it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. 28  Then the L ORD  opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” 29  Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” 30  The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he said. 31  Then the L ORD  opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the L ORD  standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. 32  The angel of the L ORD  asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. 33  The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” 34   Balaam said to the angel of the L ORD , “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.” 35  The angel of the L ORD  said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials. Balaam's story goes on for two more chapters. Each time the king of Moab expected Balaam to pronounce a curse over Israel, Balaam instead blessed them. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 26 Q. What do you believe when you say, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth”? A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ his Son. I trust him so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and he will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends me in this sad world. He is able to do this because he is almighty God; he desires to do this because he is a faithful Father. Summary Balaam was the celebrity preacher of his day, who hobnobbed with heads of state and rich clan elders. He wasn't affiliated with any particular religion or god, but spoke for them all. He parlayed his ability to communicate with the gods into fame and fortune (his name turns up often in archeological digs). Certainly most of his divination tricks were snake oil, but, mysteriously, he also had ability to communicate with the LORD. Initially, Balaam turned King Balak down, telling the king that no matter how much money got thrown his way, that he could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. Notice how Balaam called the LORD 'my' God. Maybe Balaam was using this as a bargaining chip, or maybe he actually thought that the LORD belonged to him! Balaam was most certainly NOT one of God's people. Lots of people claim the LORD, but so many, like Balaam, make that claim for selfish gain. But God gives Balaam permission to go to the king, but also gives him a very short leash, telling him that he could do only what I tell you. So it might seem odd when the next morning, as Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials, that the God was very angry when he went. But God knew Balaam's heart; his allegiance wasn't to the LORD, rather it was to the financial reward that the king offered. So in one of the most comically ironic displays of God's sovereignty, the angel of the LORD stood in the road with a drawn sword in his hand to oppose Balaam. Yet the one who supposedly had such an exclusive talent to perceive the will of the gods in natural phenomena was oblivious to what so plainly stood right before him. Even the poor donkey could see what was going on.   Dig Deeper   Balaam's fame stretched into the New Testament, but not for the right reasons. He's mentioned in three different books, serving as a warning. Peter expresses it the most clearly in the second chapter of his second letter: But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies... 3  In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories... 15  They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16  But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. So be on your guard. Not everyone who comes in the name of the Lord is truly coming in the name of the Lord. A quick way to check is to determine what they're pointing you to: is it to Christ crucified, or is it to a political platform or promises of health, wealth and prosperity? And even us preachers can learn a lesson from Balaam's story when we get a bit full of our own ability to wax eloquently about God. It's good to be reminded that there's nothing special about us, since the LORD also spoke very clearly through the mouth of a jackass. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, whose will always will be done; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will stay true to God's Word and not follow after the world's enticements; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: