June 6, 2024; Day 5 of Week 10

Daily Dose of Hope

June 6, 2024

Day 5 of Week 10

Scripture:  Numbers 22-25; Luke 1

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that goes along with the New Hope five day a week Bible reading plan.  Let’s get right into our Scripture for today.

We are about two-thirds through the book of Numbers.  You are doing great.  I know this isn’t the easiest book to read and digest.  But it is still God’s Word and we need to read it and understand it. Today’s reading is quite fascinating to me.  The story of Balaam doesn’t involve Moses, Aaron, or any specific Israelites and yet is lasts several chapters.  In case you didn’t quite get it (because I didn’t at first), Balaam was a seer, or a prophet for hire.

The king of Moab has been keeping up with Israel’s conquests and is very fearful.  He knows its only time before it’s the Moabites turn.  Thus, the king of Moab, Balak, hires Balaam to curse Israel.  The king knows he can’t win in a physical battle but maybe he can make sure that the Israelites are cursed and that will give him an upper hand.  But Balaam realizes there is no way he can curse Israel.  First, God tells him not to.  Then, he physically prevents him from doing so by sending an angel to block his path.  Finally, God gives the donkey speech so that Balaam knows he means serious business!  In the end, Balaam does not curse Israel but actually blesses Israel.  The blessing restates God’s promise to Israel, that they will conquer their enemies and settle in Canaan.

In chapter 25, we find the Israelites camping at Shittim.  While there, the men begin to have sex with the Moabite women and worship their gods.  I don’t think this would have gotten a mention in Scripture if it were just a few rogue philanderers.  Rather, the impression is given that this was an epidemic.  God is justifiably enraged and orders Moses to have all those who engaged in this activity killed.  Literally, as people were weeping in penitence near the Tent of Meeting, an Israelite man very openly brings a Midianite woman into his tent.  The son of the priest, Phinehas, sees this and kills them both with his sword.  This puts an end to the immorality and Baal worship but by this time, 24,000 had been killed. 

I’m not even sure what to say about this, except for the fact that we are sinful and broken people.  When I hear people say how bad things have gotten in the current day, I’m always a bit confused.  You mean we used to be righteous and obedient?  No, our sinfulness runs pretty deep.  Maybe the popular forms of sin have changed throughout generations but humans have always been broken.  That’s why we need a savior, then and now.

That leads us nicely into our New Testament reading.  We are starting the Gospel of Luke today.  Luke 1 starts with what Bible scholars consider a very well-written prologue. Luke speaks highly of those writers who have gone before him.  Many ancient writers would start by disparaging others who wrote on the topic, but Luke does the opposite.  He also very intentionally creates credibility for his account.  While he was not an eyewitness, he makes it clear that  gathered is from people who were.  He also did a thorough investigation himself.  This isn’t sloppy scholarship but clear, well-researched authoritative writing.  Luke was orderly and very careful in his work.

But my question has always been, who is Theophilus?  Most likely, this would have been a believer (his name means lover of God) who financed the cost of Luke’s research and writing.  Considering the title, “most excellent,” this was probably someone with some rank and respect.  Or, it could be that Theophilus was simply someone who was questioning about Jesus and Luke wanted to provide an account that encouraged and convinced him of the validity of Jesus, that these events surely have been fulfilled among us.

The bulk of this first chapter is part of what we consider the Christmas story.  There is the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who become John the Baptist’s parents.  There is Mary’s story, a young girl who shows exceptional faith and courage when told that she would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Savior of the world.  I know this is Scripture that is quite familiar.  I would encourage you to read it again.  Try to read it with fresh eyes.  What stands out to you?  What do you see that you possibly never noticed before? 

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki