One Story That Leads to Jesus, Day 47
22Then the people of Israel traveled to the plains of Moab and camped east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho.H1121H3478H5265H2583H6160H4124H5676H3383H3405 2Balak son of Zippor, the Moabite king, had seen everything the Israelites did to the Amorites.H1111H1121H6834H7200H3478H6213H567 3And when the people of Moab saw how many Israelites there were, they were terrified.H4124H3966H1481H6440H5971H7227H4124H6973H6440H1121H3478 4The king of Moab said to the elders of Midian, "This mob will devour everything in sight, like an ox devours grass in the field!" So Balak, king of Moab,H4124H559H2205H4080H6951H3897H5439H7794H3897H3418H7704H1111H1121H6834H4428H4124H6256 5sent messengers to call Balaam son of Beor, who was living in his native land of Pethor near the Euphrates River. His message said: "Look, a vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt. They cover the face of the earth and are threatening me.H7971H4397H1109H1121H1160H6604H5104H776H1121H5971H7121H559H5971H3318H4714H3680H5869H776H3427H4136 6Please come and curse these people for me because they are too powerful for me. Then perhaps I will be able to conquer them and drive them from the land. I know that blessings fall on any people you bless, and curses fall on people you curse."H3212H779H5971H6099H3201H5221H1644H776H3045H1288H1288H779H779 7Balak's messengers, who were elders of Moab and Midian, set out with money to pay Balaam to place a curse upon Israel. They went to Balaam and delivered Balak's message to him.H2205H4124H2205H4080H3212H7081H3027H935H1109H1696H1697H1111 8"Stay here overnight," Balaam said. "In the morning I will tell you whatever the LORD directs me to say." So the officials from Moab stayed there with Balaam.H559H3885H3915H7725H1697H7725H3068H1696H8269H4124H3427H1109 9That night God came to Balaam and asked him, "Who are these men visiting you?"H430H935H1109H559H582 10Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent me this message.H1109H559H430H1111H1121H6834H4428H4124H7971 11'Look, a vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come and curse these people for me. Then perhaps I will be able to stand up to them and drive them from the land.'"H5971H3318H4714H3680H5869H776H3212H6895H3201H3898H1644 12But God told Balaam, "Do not go with them. You are not to curse these people, for they have been blessed!"H430H559H1109H3212H779H5971H1288 13The next morning Balaam got up and told Balak's officials, "Go on home! The LORD will not let me go with you."H1109H6965H1242H559H8269H1111H3212H776H3068H3985H5414H1980 14So the Moabite officials returned to King Balak and reported, "Balaam refused to come with us."H8269H4124H6965H935H1111H559H1109H3985H1980 15Then Balak tried again. This time he sent a larger number of even more distinguished officials than those he had sent the first time.H1111H7971H3254H8269H7227H3513 16They went to Balaam and delivered this message to him: "This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Please don't let anything stop you from coming to help me.H935H1109H559H559H1111H1121H6834H4513H1980 17I will pay you very well and do whatever you tell me. Just come and curse these people for me!"H3513H3966H3513H3513H6213H559H3212H6895H5971 18But Balaam responded to Balak's messengers, "Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the LORD my God.H1109H6030H559H5650H1111H1111H5414H1004H4393H3701H2091H3201H5674H6310H3068H430H6213H6996H1419 19But stay here one more night, and I will see if the LORD has anything else to say to me."H3427H3915H3045H3068H1696H3254 20That night God came to Balaam and told him, "Since these men have come for you, get up and go with them. But do only what I tell you to do."H430H935H1109H3915H559H582H935H7121H6965H3212H389H1697H1696H6213 21So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials.H1109H6965H1242H2280H860H3212H8269H4124 22But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the LORD to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along,H430H639H2734H1980H4397H3068H3320H1870H7854H7392H860H8147H5288 23Balaam's donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road.H860H7200H4397H3068H5324H1870H2719H8025H3027H860H5186H1870H3212H7704H1109H5221H860H5186H1870 24Then the angel of the LORD stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls.H4397H3068H5975H4934H3754H1447H1447 25When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again.H860H7200H4397H3068H3905H7023H3905H1109H7272H7023H5221H3254 26Then the angel of the LORD moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all.H4397H3068H5674H3254H5975H6862H4725H1870H5186H3225H8040 27This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.H860H7200H4397H3068H7257H1109H1109H639H2734H5221H860H4731 28Then the LORD gave the donkey the ability to speak. "What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?" it asked Balaam.H3068H6605H6310H860H559H1109H6213H5221H7969H7272 29"You have made me look like a fool!" Balaam shouted. "If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!"H1109H559H860H5953H3863H3426H2719H3027H2026 30"But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life," the donkey answered. "Have I ever done anything like this before?" "No," Balaam admitted.H860H559H1109H860H7392H3117H5532H5532H6213H559 31Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.H3068H1540H5869H1109H7200H4397H3068H5324H1870H2719H8025H3027H6915H7812H639 32"Why did you beat your donkey those three times?" the angel of the LORD demanded. "Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me.H4397H3068H559H5221H860H7969H7272H3318H7854H1870H3399 33Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey."H860H7200H5186H6440H7969H7272H194H5186H6440H2026H2421 34Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned. I didn't realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going."H1109H559H4397H3068H2398H3045H5324H1870H7125H7489H5869H7725 35But the angel of the LORD told Balaam, "Go with these men, but say only what I tell you to say." So Balaam went on with Balak's officials.H4397H3068H559H1109H3212H582H657H1697H1696H1696H1109H3212H8269H1111 36When King Balak heard that Balaam was on the way, he went out to meet him at a Moabite town on the Arnon River at the farthest border of his land.H1111H8085H1109H935H3318H7125H5892H4124H1366H769H7097H1366 37"Didn't I send you an urgent invitation? Why didn't you come right away?" Balak asked Balaam. "Didn't you believe me when I said I would reward you richly?"H1111H559H1109H7971H7971H7121H1980H3201H552H3513 38Balaam replied, "Look, now I have come, but I have no power to say whatever I want. I will speak only the message that God puts in my mouth."H1109H559H1111H935H3201H3201H1696H3972H1697H430H7760H6310H1696 39Then Balaam accompanied Balak to Kiriath-huzoth,H1109H3212H1111H935H2351H7155 40where the king sacrificed cattle and sheep. He sent portions of the meat to Balaam and the officials who were with him.H1111H2076H1241H6629H7971H1109H8269 41The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see some of the people of Israel spread out below him.H1242H1111H3947H1109H5927H1116H1120H7200H7097H5971
23Then Balaam said to King Balak, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice."H1109H559H1111H1129H7651H4196H3559H7651H6499H7651H352 2Balak followed his instructions, and the two of them sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar.H1111H6213H1109H1696H1111H1109H5927H4196H6499H352 3Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offerings, and I will go to see if the LORD will respond to me. Then I will tell you whatever he reveals to me." So Balaam went alone to the top of a bare hill,H1109H559H1111H3320H5930H3212H3068H7136H7125H1697H7200H5046H3212H8205 4and God met him there. Balaam said to him, "I have prepared seven altars and have sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar."H430H7136H1109H559H6186H7651H4196H5927H4196H6499H352 5The LORD gave Balaam a message for King Balak. Then he said, "Go back to Balak and give him my message."H3068H7760H1697H1109H6310H559H7725H1111H1696 6So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab.H7725H5324H5930H8269H4124 7This was the message Balaam delivered: "Balak summoned me to come from Aram; the king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills. 'Come,' he said, 'curse Jacob for me! Come and announce Israel's doom.'H5375H4912H559H1111H4428H4124H5148H758H2042H6924H3212H779H3290H3212H2194H3478 8But how can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I condemn those whom the LORD has not condemned?H4100H5344H410H6895H2194H3068H2194 9I see them from the cliff tops; I watch them from the hills. I see a people who live by themselves, set apart from other nations.H7218H6697H7200H1389H7789H5971H7931H910H2803H1471 10Who can count Jacob's descendants, as numerous as dust? Who can count even a fourth of Israel's people? Let me die like the righteous; let my life end like theirs."H4487H6083H3290H4557H7255H3478H4191H5315H4194H3477H319 11Then King Balak demanded of Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies. Instead, you have blessed them!"H1111H559H1109H6213H3947H6895H341H1288H1288 12But Balaam replied, "I will speak only the message that the LORD puts in my mouth."H6030H559H8104H1696H3068H7760H6310 13Then King Balak told him, "Come with me to another place. There you will see another part of the nation of Israel, but not all of them. Curse at least that many!"H1111H559H3212H312H4725H7200H7200H657H7097H7200H6895 14So Balak took Balaam to the plateau of Zophim on Pisgah Peak. He built seven altars there and offered a young bull and a ram on each altar.H3947H7704H6839H6822H7218H6449H1129H7651H4196H5927H6499H352H4196 15Then Balaam said to the king, "Stand here by your burnt offerings while I go over there to meet the LORD."H559H1111H3320H3541H5930H7136H3541 16And the LORD met Balaam and gave him a message. Then he said, "Go back to Balak and give him my message."H3068H7136H1109H7760H1697H6310H559H7725H1111H1696 17So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab. "What did the LORD say?" Balak asked eagerly.H935H5324H5930H8269H4124H1111H559H3068H1696 18This was the message Balaam delivered: "Rise up, Balak, and listen! Hear me, son of Zippor.H5375H4912H559H6965H1111H8085H238H1121H6834 19God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?H410H376H3576H1121H120H5162H559H6213H1696H6965 20Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!H3947H1288H1288H7725 21No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the LORD their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king.H5027H205H3290H7200H5999H3478H3068H430H8643H4428 22God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox.H410H3318H4714H8443H7214 23No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel. For now it will be said of Jacob, 'What wonders God has done for Israel!'H5173H3290H7081H3478H6256H559H3290H3478H410H6466 24These people rise up like a lioness, like a majestic lion rousing itself. They refuse to rest until they have feasted on prey, drinking the blood of the slaughtered!"H5971H6965H3833H5375H738H7901H398H2964H8354H1818H2491 25Then Balak said to Balaam, "Fine, but if you won't curse them, at least don't bless them!"H1111H559H1109H5344H6895H1288H1288 26But Balaam replied to Balak, "Didn't I tell you that I can do only what the LORD tells me?"H1109H6030H559H1111H1696H559H3068H1696H6213 27Then King Balak said to Balaam, "Come, I will take you to one more place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them from there."H1111H559H1109H3212H3947H312H4725H3474H5869H430H6895 28So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, overlooking the wasteland.H1111H3947H1109H7218H6465H8259H6440H3452 29Balaam again told Balak, "Build me seven altars, and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice."H1109H559H1111H1129H7651H4196H3559H7651H6499H7651H352 30So Balak did as Balaam ordered and offered a young bull and a ram on each altar.H1111H6213H1109H559H5927H6499H352H4196
24By now Balaam realized that the LORD was determined to bless Israel, so he did not resort to divination as before. Instead, he turned and looked out toward the wilderness,H1109H7200H5869H2895H3068H1288H3478H1980H6471H7125H5173H7896H6440H4057 2where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe. Then the Spirit of God came upon him,H1109H5375H5869H7200H3478H7931H7626H7307H430 3and this is the message he delivered: "This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,H5375H4912H559H1109H1121H1160H5002H1397H5869H8365H5002 4the message of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open.H5002H8085H561H410H2372H4236H7706H5307H5869H1540 5How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob; how lovely are your homes, O Israel!H2895H168H3290H4908H3478 6They spread before me like palm groves, like gardens by the riverside. They are like tall trees planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters.H5158H5186H1593H5104H174H3068H5193H730H4325 7Water will flow from their buckets; their offspring have all they need. Their king will be greater than Agag; their kingdom will be exalted.H5140H4325H5140H1805H2233H7227H4325H4428H7311H90H4438H5375 8God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox. He devours all the nations that oppose him, breaking their bones in pieces, shooting them with arrows.H410H3318H4714H8443H7214H398H1471H6862H1633H6106H4272H2671 9Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to arouse her? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you."H3766H7901H738H3833H6965H1288H1288H779H779 10King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam. He angrily clapped his hands and shouted, "I called you to curse my enemies! Instead, you have blessed them three times.H1111H639H2734H1109H5606H3709H5606H1111H559H1109H7121H6895H341H1288H1288H7969H6471 11Now get out of here! Go back home! I promised to reward you richly, but the LORD has kept you from your reward."H1272H4725H559H3513H3513H3513H3068H4513H3519 12Balaam told Balak, "Don't you remember what I told your messengers? I said,H1109H559H1111H1696H4397H7971H559 13'Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the LORD.' I told you that I could say only what the LORD says!H1111H5414H1004H4393H3701H2091H3201H5674H6310H3068H6213H2896H7451H3820H3068H1696H1696 14Now I am returning to my own people. But first let me tell you what the Israelites will do to your people in the future."H1980H5971H3212H3289H5971H6213H5971H319H3117 15This is the message Balaam delivered: "This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,H5375H4912H559H1109H1121H1160H5002H1397H5869H8365H5002 16the message of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open.H5002H8085H561H410H3045H1847H5945H2372H4236H7706H5307H5869H1540 17I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the foreheads of Moab's people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.H7200H7789H7138H1869H3556H3290H7626H6965H3478H4272H6285H4124H6979H1121H8352H8351 18Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel marches on in triumph.H123H3424H8165H3424H341H3478H6213H2428 19A ruler will rise in Jacob who will destroy the survivors of Ir."H3290H7287H6H8300H5892 20Then Balaam looked over toward the people of Amalek and delivered this message: "Amalek was the greatest of nations, but its destiny is destruction!"H7200H6002H5375H4912H559H6002H7225H1471H319H8H5703 21Then he looked over toward the Kenites and delivered this message: "Your home is secure; your nest is set in the rocks.H7200H7017H5375H4912H559H386H4186H7760H7064H5553 22But the Kenites will be destroyed when Assyria takes you captive."H7014H518H1197H804H7617 23Balaam concluded his messages by saying: "Alas, who can survive unless God has willed it?H5375H4912H559H188H2421H410H7760 24Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus; they will oppress Assyria and afflict Eber, but they, too, will be utterly destroyed."H6716H3027H3794H6031H804H6031H5677H8H5703 25Then Balaam and Balak returned to their homes.H1109H6965H3212H7725H4725H1111H1980H1870
47[For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.] Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!H5329H4210H1121H7141H8628H3709H5971H7321H430H6963H7440 2For the LORD Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth.H3068H5945H3372H1419H4428H776 3He subdues the nations before us, putting our enemies beneath our feet.H1696H5971H3816H7272 4He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance, the proud possession of Jacob's descendants, whom he loves. InterludeH977H5159H1347H3290H157H5542 5God has ascended with a mighty shout. The LORD has ascended with trumpets blaring.H430H5927H8643H3068H6963H7782 6Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises!H2167H430H2167H2167H4428H2167 7For God is the King over all the earth. Praise him with a psalm.H430H4428H776H2167H7919 8God reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne.H430H4427H1471H430H3427H3678H6944 9The rulers of the world have gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham. For all the kings of the earth belong to God. He is highly honored everywhere.H5081H5971H622H5971H430H85H4043H776H430H3966H5927
near the Euphrates River. His message said: "Look, a vast horde of people has arrived from Egypt. They cover the face of the earth and are threatening me.H7971
