Class Member Study Guide: Lesson 16
Numbers 22 Numbers 23 Numbers 24
Numbers 25 Numbers 31
Excellent Ensign Article Comparing Moses and Brigham Young and the Exodus of Saints by Russell M. Nelson: The Exodus Today
Events in the Moabite Plains
The Israelites finally arrived in the plains of Moab just northeast of the Dead Sea and cross the Jordan River from the "plains of Jericho." . . . The forty-year wilderness period was nealy over. Most of the Israelites then alive had been born in the wilderness, although some who were young at the Exodus no doubt lived to see this day. The remainder of the book of Numbers reports events that transpired on the east side of the Jordan, as the Israelites prepared to move into Canaan. (from Jehovah the World of the Old Testament. Holzapfel, et al)
Israelites 40 Year Sojurn in the Wilderness (Exodus: Israel's Wanderings in the Wilderness, Ensign)
Sinai--Referred to in the Old Testament as the Mount of God
*In the distant left is the traditional Mount Sinai (Horeb) reached 3 month after Egyptian exodus.
*Plain of Rahah is the traditional site of golden calf worship.
*The tabernacle also was built here.
The Oasis Kadesh-barnea
Site of a spring that waters the wadi system shown in photo.
Site of Israel's base camp in northern Paran bordering the Negev Desert and the Wilderness of Zin.
Moses sends 12 spies from Kadesh into Canaan who returned with an negative report.
Israelites revolt favoring a return to Egypt.
They remained at Kadesh for 40 years.
Arad (Restored)
The Lord forbides the Israelites entrance to Canaan.
The Lord forbides the Israelites entrance to Canaan.
They fight the Amalekites and Canaanites to gain entrance anyway but lose.
Arad offered the most direct route to Canaan from the south.
40 years later Israelites defeat Arad king.
River Arnon (Today Wadi Mujib) and King's Highway
Both sides of the Arnon originally belonged to Moab
Amorites took Moab land north of the Arnon
Israelites conquered Amorites.
Arnon boundary between Israel and Moab.
King's Highway--main caravan route from Arabia
Location of the Arnon River
Mount Nebo (May be Mount Pisgah)
Right of center with building on top
Balaam's blessing involves three peaks in the area
Moses view the promised land from Mt. Nebo
Here Are Some of Balaam's Assertions at the Beginning of this Story
How Could a Man Who Declares Such Things Then Choose Power and Wealth Over God's Will?
Therefore, Balaam
could have been one of the few scattered people such as Jethro, who held the
priesthood and exercised its power.
Although he acknowledged Jehovah and professed his dependence on Him, Balaam was willing to go against the Lord’s counsel and accompany the men of Balak.
Evidently, when he
saw that he could not earn Balak’s commission by cursing Israel directly, he
told Balak that God would only bless Israel when they were righteous. If
the Moabites could seduce Israel into idol worship, they would lose God’s
power ( from Old Testament Institute Student Study Guide).
I Will Not Go Beyond the Word of the Lord
Elder Bruce R. McConkie said:
Font
Location of Mt. Nebo
Here Are Some of Balaam's Assertions at the Beginning of this Story
“If [the king] would give me his house
full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God” (Numbers 22:18).
“I cannot go beyond the commandment of
the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith,
that will I speak” (Numbers 24:13).
How Could a Man Who Declares Such Things Then Choose Power and Wealth Over God's Will?
When the two
mighty kings of the Amorites were defeated by the irresistible might of Israel,
the Moabites, with their Midianite confederates, were filled with such alarm
that Balak, their king, sought assistance.
It was not from
his own god, Baal, who had proven impotent against Israel during the Amorite
conflict, that he sought power, however.
Instead, he
decided to use Israel’s own God, whose power had been marvelously manifest,
against them.
To this end he
sent a delegation bearing presents to Balaam . . . .
It is difficult to
determine from the record whether or not Balaam was a true prophet of God
holding the powers of the priesthood authority.
He lived in an
area known as Aram, probably named after . . . a cousin of Abraham.
Haran, the place
of Abraham’s first settlement after he left Ur, was a seat for the worship of
Jehovah and was also in Aram.
Although he acknowledged Jehovah and professed his dependence on Him, Balaam was willing to go against the Lord’s counsel and accompany the men of Balak.
To assure his responsiveness to God’s
will, the Lord sent an angel to threaten him with death should he curse Israel.
One of the remarkable
things about Balaam’s blessing of Israel is
the Messianic promise of Christ (see Numbers 24:14, 17, 19).
The rebuke received by Balaam from an
animal wrought upon by the Spirit of God is a singular event in history. . . .
It is certain that
the beast spoke in a way understandable to Balaam. . . .
The incident was sufficient to carry
out the Lord’s purposes, however. Balaam was shown that it was not the journey
in itself that was displeasing to God, but the feelings and intentions he
harbored.
Had he
been more thoughtful, the unusual behavior of his otherwise obedient mount
would have caused him to look about to discover the trouble. Then perchance he
would have discovered the angel’s presence.
The entire incident seems
to have been brought about to sharpen
his conscience and sober his mind so he would strictly speak only the word of
God.
The record next
describes the whoredoms Israel committed with the daughters of Moab; that is,
Israel joined the women of Moab in worshiping Baal-peor, a fertility god,
including offering sacrifices to the god and indulging in sexual immorality.
What is not mentioned here but is explained
later (Numbers 31:16) is that Balaam advised the Moabites in this action.
Thus, Balaam became a symbol of those
who use their callings and gifts to get gain and pervert the Lord’s people (see 2 Peter 2:15; Revelation 2:14).
I Will Not Go Beyond the Word of the Lord
Elder Bruce R. McConkie said:
“What a story this is! Here is a
prophet of God who is firmly committed to declare only what the Lord of heaven
directs. There does not seem to be the slightest doubt in his mind about the
course he should pursue. He represents the Lord, and neither a house full of
gold and silver nor high honors offered by the king can sway him from his
determined course. …
“But greed for wealth and lust for
honor beckon him. How marvelous it would be [for him] to be rich and powerful.
… Perhaps the Lord would let him compromise his standards and have some worldly
prosperity and power. … I wonder how often some of us get our direction from
the Church and then, Balaam-like, plead for some worldly rewards. …
“Balaam, … inspired and mighty as he once was, lost his soul in the end because he set his heart on the things of this world rather than the riches of eternity” (“The Story of a Prophet’s Madness,” New Era, Apr. 1972, 7).
“Balaam, … inspired and mighty as he once was, lost his soul in the end because he set his heart on the things of this world rather than the riches of eternity” (“The Story of a Prophet’s Madness,” New Era, Apr. 1972, 7).
