No getting around it, large parts of the Old Testament make for difficult reading for the modern Christian. Reading through the Bible in a year (this year reading 3 or 4 chapters a day going continuously from Genesis to Revelation) I’m currently at the end of Numbers / beginning of Deuteronomy. Situation: Moses is in the process of handing over to Joshua as the Israelites prepare to occupy the promised land. They are on the east side of the Jordan – with some of them wanting to settle permanently there – ready to cross the river, get rid of the current residents either by sending them away or killing them and make new homes for themselves.
It’s particularly the last part I find hard. However much we believe in God’s almighty purposes running through this narrative, surely it’s appropriate to spare a thought for the original occupants? How would I feel if people came knocking on my door and said, “God has told us to occupy your house, so get lost or we’re kill you.” Disbelieving? Angry? Defiant? Certainly I’d be straight onto the phone to the police!
From a human point of view – certainly MY human point of view – it is difficult if not impossible to understand why it was necessary for the Israelites to inhabit land which was already occupied. Surely there were other possibilities within walking distance? Walking distance in this case being a rather long way, we are, after all, talking about people who had been on the move on-and-off for 40 years! And, at risk of stretching the point, can I suggest that the current Gaza crisis has its roots right here, 4000 years ago, with 2 or more opposing ethnic and cultural groupings believing with every fibre of their being that the same geographical landmass belongs to them.
I’d love to hear from you if you can explain this point. Meanwhile, I suggest that there is a time to think, question, probe, analyse, discuss – and there’s a time to say that God’s ways are not our ways, ultimately we cannot expect to understand His mind which is infinitely superior to ours. We need God’s wisdom to distinguish between these, for the time being, I am of the view that God’s reasons for sending the Israelites to a land already inhabited falls into the latter category, we have to trust in His almighty purposes even when they make no sense to us.
In the middle of this appears the most extraordinary and complex character, Balaam. In Numbers 22 King Balak of Moab sends for Balaam. The King, as he might well be, is very concerned about the Israelites camping at his back door, and wants Balaam to put a curse on them, which the King believes will enable the Moabites to win. Clearly Balaam has quite a reputation as a prophet! But here is the most extraordinary thing. As we discover later, Balaam is no friend of the Israelite people. He nevertheless knows God’s prophetic voice and is compelled to speak God’s response that the Israelites have His – God’s blessing.
The well known story of Balaam and the talking donkey comes up at this point, it would appear that God’s voice was very clear to Balaam and no further discussion on this point was appropriate, he should not therefore have proceeded further. So even though God tells – allows? – Balaam to go back to Barak, he should not have done this – as the donkey helpfully tells him. It would seem to me that there’s a parallel in 1 Samuel when the Israelites ask for a king and God says no, He – God – is the king, what are needed are judges. When the Israelites persist, God in effect says, OK then – but on your heads be it.
There then follow a series of prophecies when Balaam continues to speak God’s blessing on the Israelites, much to the consternation of King Balak, the Moabites and doubtless many others around getting to hear about this! Balaam appears again in Numbers 31 when he is killed in the war against the Midianites. It then becomes apparent, verse 16, that, whilst he knows that the Israelites have God’s blessing, he has been actively encouraging inter-marriage between the Midianites and Israelites, in direct contravention of God’s command in keeping the Israelites separately and holy. It would appear that, as a person to whom God spoke, Balaam had somewhat selective hearing!
Balaam appears on a further 6 occasions in the Old Testament and twice in the New, largely in the context of sin. As far as I can make out, there are two here, one is persisting in seeking God after God had already spoken very clearly, and the other is looking to undermine God’s purposes in encouraging inter-marriage.
It would seem to me that an understanding of Balaam encapsulates two of the three reasons I can think of why people would not have a Christian faith. The first – which absolutely does not apply to Balaam, quite the reverse! – is lack of belief in the teachings of the Bible. There are, of course, many many reasons why this should be so, including lack of knowledge or understanding, indifference, adherence to another faith. Whilst most people I have met over the years who do not profess a Christian faith are quite happy to respect the fact that I do, I have on occasion met direct ridicule as people have torn central tenets of the faith to pieces. St Paul would, I think, sympathise here, teaching that the gospel is ‘foolishness to Gentiles’ (1 Corinthians 1:23).
The second is because the cost of discipleship is too high. Balaam actively encourages this view as he tries to get Israelites and original inhabitants to inter-marry. We see this also in Jesus’ ministry. In Mark 10:17-22 a rich young man shows a clear desire to follow Jesus – but is not prepared to give up his wealth. Do we know people who demonstrated a Christian faith but came away for this reason.
The third reason, which does not arise directly or indirectly from this passage, is poor experience at the hands of Christians, either as individuals or part of institutions. How many people have attended Christian schools and up with a poor opinion of the faith as a result? One maxim I came across once – I often have to apologise for Christians, I never have to apologise for Jesus Christ. There is, I think, a very important truth here – but this does not let Christians off the hook as we look, in our personal and professional lives, in our churches and other institutions in the name of Christ, to reflect His glory and saving power.
If you’ve read this far, my heartfelt thanks! Aware that it’s a bit of a ramble, if it generates any interest I’ll come back and edit. Any thoughts gratefully received, meanwhile, may you know the blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ today and always.
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