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Discussions Torah

Numbers 22: The unintended prophesy of Balaam, part 1

Skeptics like to poke fun at this story because of the talking donkey. Yet sometimes, our way is so set upon evil that a talking donkey doesn’t even phase us and give us pause to turn away from our direction.

Balaam wasn’t ignorant of the identity of the Creator God. He knew YHWH by name, and Balak, the king of Moab knew of Him too. If he knew that, then he knew that God had the power to make a donkey talk. Balaam didn’t fully understand the error of his way until one of the most powerful angels in God’s hosts, the Angel of the Lord, confronts him with a sword in his hand.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings

1st Samuel 1-10 recap

We see a pattern of preparation and deliverance throughout the Bible. The book of Judges is one example but the pattern is even more obvious in 1st Samuel. God prepares the people of Israel to move from leadership of judges and priests to the leadership of monarchy.

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Appointments With God Discussions Firstfruits Torah Unleavened Bread

Journey to the 10 — Israel thirsts, discovers bitterness within

We are continuing our “Journey to the 10 (commandments)” as our ancestors of old went the first time. We see God’s “high hand” redeem our ancestors from the Egyptians once and for all. Then they continue for three more days until they reached Marah on the 24th of Aviv.

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Appointments With God Discussions Passover Torah

Journey to the 10 — Lamb Selection Day, the 10th day of the first month

Hindsight can be a beautiful thing but sometimes hindsight blinds us rather than illuminates us. As the people of Israel are ready to leave Egypt for good, they have little idea of the epic journey has in store for them. As we read the story of Yeshua’s life in the New Testament, we have the same benefit and “curse” of hindsight as we read about the last few weeks of his life. We tend to be a little judgmental towards His favorite disciples because of they lacked a true understanding of Yeshua’s mission until after His death and resurrection. Today, ignore hindsight and discover some truths in these stories that hindsight otherwise obscures.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings

1st Samuel 10 — What does Samuel do with Saul?

What do the strange references to donkeys, goats, bread, wine and musical instruments have to do with the anointing of Saul as ruler? What do these symbols have to do with the Messiah?

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Discussions Prophets and Writings

1st Samuel 9 — Saul the prince vs. David the king

There seems to be a messianic prophecy underlying the strange account of Saul going to search for donkeys. It may help explain why Yeshua the Messiah has two roles in His first coming and second coming.