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民数记［第二十四章］
Book of Numbers 24

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民数记 第二十四章|Book of Numbers 24

【神必在列邦作王掌权】

主讲：陈炎明牧师

24/04/2024


引言：巴兰到底是什么人？

一、外邦先知看见以色列的神（24:1-9）

1.巴兰从以色列子民的居住看见神（V1-2）

巴兰再三的看见神祝福以色列，过去的理解是按照异教占星术的作法。如今他在高处望向旷野的平原；观看以色列民的扎营阵容，这是一个很荣耀壮观的队伍。神的会幕在中央，上头有神荣耀的云彩。排列整齐的12支派分东西南北，四个方向的并列于荣耀的会幕。从山上宏观这阵容正是十字架的排列，哪怕当时尚未有十架的真理，但是圣灵此时已经降临在巴兰身上。叫人忽然看见神的作为。

2.歌颂赞美预言雅各之华美与祝福（V3-9）

先知巴兰口这时不断发出对以色列的歌颂与赞美，用了许多美言述说着以色列的荣耀····。如果从外邦人和本想敌对以色列的角度来说，这简直是“长他人志气、灭自己威风”。这是神的奇妙作为，就像是“巫师变牧师”，一个让人始料不及的转化。由此可见，神是无所不能，也是无所不在的神。

祝福以色列的必蒙祝福、咒诅以色列的必遭咒诅。这应许早在亚伯拉罕的年代已经是如此。我们既然有这样的神，我们也是祂的儿女，再加上我们也祝福以色列，我们岂能不经历神迹呢？

二、外邦先知听见神指示未来（24:10-13）

神定意祝福自己的子民，仇敌想咒诅都不行。巴兰不但是把咒诅变成祝福，就连自己原本想得钱财的奖赏都说成自己才不在乎王的奖赏，只要一心照着神的指示做事。这和新约圣经所描述的【贪财的巴兰】似乎很不同？其实巴兰的心确实是贪财的，只是神让巴兰的口一发言，就被神给扭转纠正了。

神是有能力扭转乾坤的，但是神如今更愿意我们因为明白了真理，给我们选择‘对的回应’，那才更宝贵不是吗？因为当年的巴兰不像我们有了这许多的了解和真理。

到目前为止虽然没有说明巴兰是否犯罪或真的贪财，但是新约却明显以巴兰作为贪财、不义、引人至灭亡的先知。因此巴兰的结局是死于以色列的刀下（民31:8）。原因是他献祭引诱以色列民去犯奸淫，随从巴力的廟妓行淫，大大惹怒神而遭瘟疫而死了两万多人。（就在下一章经文里）

三、外邦先知预言掌权的王（24:14-25）

神借着这位外邦人的先知发预言，特别说到‘有星要出于雅各、有仗要兴于以色列···必掌大权’（V17，19）。这显然是指着将来有王要在以色列中兴起，而且是大有权柄，而且要勇敢的除灭敌人，得地为业。甚至原本如同诸国之首的亚玛力都要沉沦。

预言很常有着多层次的意思，意思说以色列中将有强而有力的王兴起，这王要制伏列国。当然这预言更是可以指向几位博士所看到的东方之星（太2:2），这是关于耶稣基督的降生。政权必担在祂的肩上（赛9:6）。甚至说到将来的再来之主，祂是明亮的晨星（启22:16）、祂是万王之王（启17:14）。

知道神很重要，信靠神才更重要，否则又有什么关系呢？

V23 巴兰又题起诗歌说：“哀哉，神行这事，谁能得活？” 意思说，犯罪的、抵挡神的、和以色列作对的，将来都得面对以色列所兴起的王，谁能抵挡得住呢？

总结：我们是属神的‘外邦人’！

感谢神，全地的万王之王，祂竟是我们的神、我们的主、我们的父、我们的良人···何等美好！


Numbers 24 God will reign in the nations
GK611 Morning Devotion
24 April 2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Rev David Tan

Introduction：What was Balaam really like?

1. The Gentile prophets saw the God of Israel (24:1-9)

(1) Balaam saw God in the dwelling of the children of Israel (V1-2)

Balaam saw God blessing Israel again and again, which used to be understood according to pagan astrological practices. Now he looks out over the plains of the wilderness from an higher position; viewing the encamped array of the people of Israel, a glorious and spectacular procession. The tabernacle of God is in the centre with the cloud of God's glory above it. The twelve tribes were neatly arranged in four directions, east and west, north and south, side by side in the glorious Tabernacle. This formation from the mountain was exactly the arrangement of the cross, and even though the truth of the cross had not yet been realised at that time, the Holy Spirit had already descended on Balaam at that time. The Holy Spirit had descended on Balaam at this time, and the people suddenly saw the works of God.

(2) Singing and praising the beauty and blessing of Jacob's prophecy (V3-9)

The mouth of the prophet Balaam at this time continued to sing and praise Israel, and spoke in many beautiful words of the glory of Israel ----. From the point of view of the Gentiles and those who wanted to be hostile to Israel, this was simply a case of "growing up and destroying one's own strength". This was a marvelous act of God, like a "sorcerer turned priest", a transformation that no one expected. This shows that God is omnipotent and omnipresent.

Whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, and whoever curses Israel will be cursed. This promise was already true back in the days of Abraham. Since we have such a God and we are His children, plus we also bless Israel, how can we not experience miracles?

2. Gentile prophets hear God's instructions for the future (24:10-13)

God's will is to bless His people, and His enemies cannot curse them. Not only did Balaam turn the curse into a blessing, but he even said that he didn't care about the king's reward as long as he followed God's instructions. This seems to be very different from the [money-grubbing Balaam] described in the New Testament? In fact, Balaam's heart was indeed covetous of money, only that as soon as God allowed Balaam's mouth to speak, it was turned around and corrected by God.

God has the power to turn things around, but God prefers today that we choose the 'right response' for us because we understand the truth, and that's more valuable isn't it? For Balaam back then was not like us with this much understanding and truth.

So far while it is not stated whether Balaam sinned or was really greedy for money, the New Testament clearly uses Balaam as a prophet who was greedy for money, unrighteous, and drew people to perdition. Thus Balaam's end was death by the sword of Israel (Num. 31:8). The reason for this was that he had offered to seduce the people of Israel into committing adultery by following Baal's temple prostitutes, greatly angering God and causing a plague that killed more than 20,000 people. (In the next chapter)

3. The Gentile prophet foretells of the reigning king (24:14-25)

God prophesied through this Gentile prophet, specifically saying, 'A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel,--shall have dominion' (V17, 19). This clearly refers to a future king who will rise up in Israel and be powerful, and who will boldly destroy his enemies and gain the land for his inheritance. Even Amalek, who had been the head of the nations, was to sink.

Prophecies often have multiple levels of meaning, meaning that a powerful king will rise up in Israel who will overpower the nations. Certainly this prophecy could point to the star in the east seen by several doctors (Matt. 2:2), which is about the birth of Jesus Christ. The power shall be upon His shoulders (Isa. 9:6). It even speaks of the future Lord of the Second Coming, who is the bright morning star (Rev. 22:16) and who is the King of kings (Rev. 17:14).

Knowing God is important, trusting Him is more important, otherwise what does it matter?

V23 he took up his oracle and said: “Alas! Who shall live when God does this? Meaning, those who sin, resist God, and fight against Israel will have to face the king raised up by Israel in the future, who can resist?

Conclusion: We are 'Gentiles' who belong to God!

Thank God, the King of kings of all the earth, that He is our God, our Lord, our Father, our beloved - how wonderful!