The Feed Mill

Today’s Bible Reading: Numbers 31-33

Today’s Devotional: Numbers 31:1-11

4th war in Numbers, Israel’s war with Midian

God here commands the children of Israel to deal strongly and directly with sin in their life and by dealing strongly and directly with the things that caused them to stumble, be overtaken, and grow weary in their relationship with God and having the spirit of righteousness abound in their lives.

Numbers 31:8 we see that Balaam the son of Beor was also killed with the Kings of Midian.

Revelation 2:14 Jesus says that it was Balaam who had devised and was the mastermind behind then plan of Numbers 25. No matter what Balaam had said with his lips in Numbers 23:10. It was all just lip service and Balaam was always after the next dollar added to his pocket and the next gig. Numbers 24:11 Balak had told Balaam to run from him back to his house along the river Euphrates, but we see through the entire counsel of Scripture that Balaam stuck around for Balak’s honor and not departing for God’s honor. Balaam did what the Angel of The Lord told him not to do, and instead stuck around even longer. Balaam being killed in the company of the Kings of Midian suggests that Balaam had become a medium or guru of a sort to them.

Jude 1:11 and 2 Peter 2:15 we see that Balaam wasn’t concerned with righteousness but instead with the next source of employment. Balaam was a hireling, someone who would only say things in “God’s Name” to stay employed, but when troubled times come quickly takes a different tone and beats to a different drum for self advancement and employment.

John 10:12 Jesus creates a distinction between a hireling pastor and Himself.