One Year Bible Readings and Commentary for Wednesday, March 16th
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We continue the saga of Balaam, the covetous prophet, and Balak, the angry king. By now Balaam realizes he is not going to profit off the Lord, and today he gives a vision given to him by the Lord. The vision which he describes as, "His eyes being wide open", and "The message of the one who hears the Lord" is one of great prosperity for the people of Israel. The people are so powerful that everyone who they bless will be blessed and everyone they cursed will be cursed. This is reminiscient of the covenants God made with Abraham and Moses.
King Balak of course flew into a rage, but Balaam reminded him that no amount of money could persuade him to say anything but what the Lord had told him to say. Balaam's last message had more to do with a future prophecy. It also has Messianic implications,
"This passage is a beautiful prophecy of the coming Messiah. Balaam could see Him, but not now. Jesus is here prophetically called a Star and a Scepter; He is glorious like a star, and has all authority to rule, as pictured by a scepter. The Messiah will eventually rule over all nations that surround Israel. Here God spoke about the neighboring nations of Israel (Moab, Edom, Amalek, and the Kenites) and their future through Balaam. " (Guzik)
Things were seemingly going pretty well until the Israelite men ran into the women of Moab, who seduced them and caused them to commit sexual immorality. The immorality was also mixed with worship and sacrifice to the Moabite god named Baal.
The Lord was not happy to say the least, and had all the men executed to be an example to any of the others who might be tempted to do this. Just then a man brought a Midianite women right into their midst. Eleazar, the son of Aaron chased the man into a tent and thrust a spear through both he and the women at one time. God was very pleased with the zeal of Eleazar for his name, and promised him a covenant peace and permanent membership in the priesthood.
Clearly this passage is saying that this is real history. The birth of Jesus took place at a specific time and place in the world about 2,000 years ago. The Roman emperor Augustus Caesar issued a census to be taken throughout the Roman empire.
The registration and census described wasn’t for simple record-keeping or statistics. It was to efficiently and effectively tax everyone in the Roman Empire. Guzik
Importantly we see Joseph was a descendant of King David, the second and greatest king of Israel. The Lord had promised David that his kingdom would be an everlasting kingdom which would never end and never leave his family. It was from the Davidic line that the Messiah who was promised would. Today that promise was fulfilled.
The irony can never be lost is that the Son of God, the Savior of the world, was born in a manger which was used for animals because there was no other place for him to stay. This was not the last time the world would not have room for Jesus.
One of the first witnesses of Jesus' birth were shepherds, who watching over their sheep in the fields at night. An angel appeared to them in great brilliance with the Lord's glory shining all around them. They knew something big was happening. I love the words of the angels,
"We bring you good news that will bring great joy to ALL people."
Jesus came to bring great joy to all people not just the Jewish family he was born into. The fact that Jesus was born in a manger and appeared to lowly shepherds showed that he would be a humble man. His birth was not full of pomp and circumstance, but showed the humanity that Jesus would demonstrate throughout his years on the earth.
The shepherds didn't wait long before hurrying to Bethlehem to find out if what the angels had told them was true. And when they did find Jesus just as the angels had said, the shepherds spread the good news all over town and people were astonished. They are a great example of how to spread the Good News of Jesus.
Per the Jewish law, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus into the temple where he was circumcised eight days after he was born. Also, according to the law the firstborn son was to be dedicated to the Lord. As part of the dedication, a sacrificial lamb was usually offered. But if a couple could not afford one, they could give two turtle doves, or two young pigeons. This shows us that Jesus was not born into wealth.
Finally, there was a man named Simeon, who was a righteous man waiting for the Messiah his whole life. The Holy Spirit told him he would not die before he saw the Messiah. The same Holy Spirit led him into the temple the day Jesus was offered to the Lord. When Simeon saw baby Jesus he took him into his arms and the Holy Spirit enabled him to speak these beautiful words.
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations,and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
All of these things amazed Mary and Joseph and confirmed what they had been told by the angel. But Simeon left on a rather somber note as he told Mary that Jesus would cause many to rise and many to fall. Many would oppose him and Mary's own soul would be pierced as well.
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