Balak/Balak
Numbers 22:2-25:9
Micah 5:6-6:8
When reading the story of Balak, it’s hard to get past the part of his donkey speaking to him and all the roads we could go down with that. It kind of makes you want to keep an eye on your dog or other pets in case you are missing something God might be saying…just in case. With our dog’s present silence on the matter, I will venture into other areas in this week’s torah portion:
Numbers 23: 21-23 He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of the King is among them. God brings them out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox. For there is no sorcery against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob and of Israel, “Oh, what God has done!”
Before I go to the highlighted part of this verse I would like to make a general observation: from God’s perspective He sees His people through a ‘lens’ that we would think is a bit distorted. He goes on about how there is no wickedness or sorcery etc, and yet He says how wicked they are and unfaithful, by serving other gods… Maybe we can take some comfort in the possibility that He sees us similarly because of the blood of Jesus. I don’t mean here to inject ‘false grace’ and make a case for unbridled bad behavior on our part, but the Father’s heart is coming through. Now, about the part of the verse that caught my attention: and the shout of the King is among them: I love what Christie (my wife) alludes to in reference to the word “shout”, because in the Hebrew it’s the word “teruah”. This can be a shout, or trumpet blast, a joyous sound, a call to war, and a few other options. What’s cool in Hebrew, words are pictures and emotions, so it can be all of these things and more. Anyway, there is a biblical Feast called Yom Teruah (also called Rosh haShanah), that is the first of the Fall Feasts and points to the return of the Lord for His bride. So, in a prophetic way, back in numbers, the Lord God Almighty is ‘pointing’ to a Day in the future for His people. The thought I had (I believe if you ‘park’ here for a while, many options for this “shout” could strike your heart): the incredible sovereignty of God and the comfort to His people, along with a warning to their enemies. This of course seems to be regardless of their waywardness and unbelief. He has an investment in them, which involves more than legalism, but rather His heart, and His “shout”; His voice that overcomes all, is constantly shepherding them and protecting them, today and for all time. As the section ends: “Oh, what God has done!” Even though this “shout” was meant for Israel, let’s have it resonate in our spirits, as His people; Jew and Gentile, that have been brought together into the household of God, by the blood of Jesus, the Jewish Man, our Bridegroom God! by john eisner
Ps: another thought about that word “the shout of the King is among them”: in western thinking this is a truth; a point in a theology or thought; a data point…one dimensional! In Hebrew thought it has a multi-level meaning; even one that spans time. If you ‘allow’ it to live so to speak through time, it becomes the promise of a future event as well as an immediate comfort or presence. It can also mean an influence upon a people; one that can create an atmosphere of life. Allow yourself to unpack the potential of this term; cast off that western mindset; let yourself soar with the Holy One of Israel, that breathed this word. je
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