A Deeper Outline of the Chapters
Haftarah (Conclusion) Micah 5:6-6:8
The Prophet recalls the ways that the LORD protected the newly emerging nation of Israel during its 40 years of journeys in the Wilderness. Micah speaks of Balak’s plan to have Bilam (‘Master of people’, ‘Balaam’) curse Israel in a profoundly deeper way, in Hebrew, than the English word ‘curse’. Bilam suggests luring the Israelites into idolatry through physical encounters that are totally ungodly
We point out the following in our teaching when it comes to the Prophets. The Prophets are a channel through whom the LORD speaks. We believe the rabbis are correct when they say that those prophets whose words are not recorded, were meant only for Israel at the particular time they were spoken. However, the written Prophets have a message not only for the Jewish People, but also a message for the world throughout the ages.
Micah 6:8 is one of the best-known verses of the Bible – and especially fits what we just wrote above! Immediately preceding that verse are references to Balak and Bilam. In context the Prophet reminds the Israelites about what Balak tried to do against Israel. Micah goes on to say that despite what Balak tried against the Israelites, the Israelites were brought to a certain point. This was so that Israel would know – by experience, intimacy, and personal relationship – the deeper meaning of ‘know’ in Hebrew – the righteous acts of the LORD.
What was spoken through Micah in Micah 6:8 more deeply
in Hebrew is this. ‘It has actively been told to you Man…’
The Hebrew is adam, which is the closest Hebrew has for the word ‘mankind’. ‘Man has been told what of the good’, good in Hebrew more deeply meaning bring benefits to man… ‘and in connectedness, what does the LORD, in a real, concrete, present tense, continue process, seek from you’. The form indicates as a ‘source’ from you.
‘Do acts of justice’. In Hebrew, ‘justice’ means put things back the way they were before, the way things are supposed to be. ‘In connectedness Love – which is all about the other – of abounding overflowing, acts of royal loving kindness, covenant obligation; mercy translated into action. And In connection and contemporaneous with that, be modest in your walk, your striving towards (a) goal with your (you plural) God’.
The Torah and Haftarah connection are the totally ungodly actions that Balak sought to get Bilam to get Israel to do. Israel in both the Torah and the Prophets, is absolutely and emphatically to have nothing – whatsoever – with the ways of the Nations and their no god idols!
Rather, since the address in Micah 6:8 is to adam, even though in context the Prophet is speaking to the Jewish People, there is what’s called in Hebrew a hint, that this is addressed to people who seek the LORD and His ways. Not the ways of the pagans and their pagan behavior and conduct and idols.
Plus – RCS (Renewed Covenant Scriptures) Connections
There are 12 verse from this week’s Torah portion cited in the RCS
Of particular note: Num. 22:7 is cited twice, in 2 Pet. 2:15 and Y’hudah/Judah – Greek Iouda – not ‘Jude’ v.11.
Num. 23:19 – Rom. 9:6, 2 Tim. 2:13, Heb. 6:18
Num. 24:17 – Mt. 2:2, Rev. 22:16
Num. 25:1-2 – Rev. 2:14, v.20
Summary and Keys to the Chapters in the Torah Portion
Chapter 22 beginning with verse 2
Balak king of Moab sees what Israel had done to the Amorites. Moab was terrified of the Israelites because Israel was so numerous. The Moabites are thoroughly disgusted with Israel.
Balak sent messengers to Bilam (‘Master of people’, ‘Balaam’) as Bilam was known to be a prophet; Balak wants Bilam to curse Israel. The word ‘curse’ here in Hebrew should not be thought of like the English word ‘curse’. Here it’s a deeper form of what in Hebrew means a ‘state of isolation a state of lifelessness’. It’s a word here that literally means ‘hollow out’. Balak wants Israel to be so cursed that they in effect became hollowed out, i.e., they became just an empty shell, no longer the mighty nation that they were becoming.
God speaks to Bilam at night. As we pointed out in our audio teaching- this is the only instance in the entire Bible where God speaks to a non-Jewish prophet, who is identified as such. The rabbis correctly and astutely point out that unlike the prophets of Israel God only speaks to Bilam, not during the daytime, as with the Prophets of Israel, but only at night. We believe the rabbis are also correct when they point out; during the day there is obviously light as well as greater clarity, than at night.
The rabbis also correctly say Bilam, not being a prophet of Israel, receives revelation from the LORD, yet not in the same way and at the same level as the prophets of Israel. Bilam is not on a par with them and thus is spoken to at night; rather than during the day.
God seems to give Bilam an answer that is not exactly clear as to whether Bilam should go with messengers of Balak or not.
God makes the point to Bilam; only what God says to Bilam, Bilam is to do.
Since Bilam apparently is going with enemies of Israel, in Hebrew, anger flares in the nostrils of God. Yeshua as the angel of the LORD is yet another instance when Yeshua in his divinity as the angel of the LORD, helps Israel. The context of these appearances of Yeshua in his divinity as the angel of the LORD in the Hebrew Bible, is always always in helping the Patriarchs or the Jewish People in some way!
Yeshua as the angel of the LORD is there to be an adversary to Bilam. The Hebrew word adversary comes from the verb retard, hinder; after all isn’t that what an adversary does?
Bilam’s she-donkey can see Yeshua as the angel. God gives an animal the ability to speak.
The point is that God gives the she-donkey the ability to see the angel and speak, before Bilam realizes he is going the wrong way, and going to do something against Israel! An animal can see Yeshua as the angel – but Bilam – who should see Yeshua – is spiritually blind. Bilam only sees his Self…
The LORD open Bilam’s eyes. Bilam admits to the angel of the LORD that he had sinned. He tells Yeshua that what he and Balak was doing is evil in the eyes of the angel. Bilam will turn back to the place he needs to be; spiritually speaking this is absolutely not to curse Israel in any way!
We should notice; that Yeshua as the angel of the LORD says to Bilam the same thing that the LORD did. Bilam can go with Balak’s messengers; but he’s only to speak what Yeshua speaks to Bilam.
In historical/cultural context, this would be Yeshua conveying exactly the same message the LORD did to Bilam originally. In ancient Middle East culture one who was sent was an exact representation of the one who sent them. Cf. the opening of the Hebrew but note that the opening of Hebrews has a different context. To accept a messenger was to accept the king who sent him; to reject the messenger was to reject the king that sent him.
Cf what Yeshua says to his Taught Ones and those that accept the Taught Ones accept Yeshua – and, the One who sent him! Cf. Yochanon 13:20.
Bilam tells Balak what to do as far as preparing a way for Bilam to draw near to the LORD.
Chapter 23
The LORD puts a Word in the mouth of Bilam for Balak. That word is that Bilam cannot curse what God has not cursed!
Balak becomes angry at Bilam. Balak again reiterates to Bilam; to pronounce a deeper curse on Israel, something that would in effect hollow out Israel i.e. that they would be an empty shell of a Nation rather than a mighty one.
Bilam blesses Israel a second time. Bilam says, more deeply in Hebrew, that he had closely scrutinized Jacob (i.e.Israel) and found no perversity in Israel.
Bilam goes on to say, more deep in Hebrew, that the God of Power brought forth Israel according to the power of His loftiness.
Balak takes Bilam to a mountain summit – hoping – yet again – to get Bilam to curse Israel. A number of key events in the Bible, it should be noted, take place on a mountaintop.
Chapter 24
Bilam’s third blessing of Israel
In verse 9 – very significantly – Bilam says that those who bless Israel are blessed, those who ‘curse’, in Hebrew, ‘receive a state of lifelessness, isolation’. You should note: this echoes what the LORD said to Avraham in Gen. 12:3 about blessing and cursing the Jewish People. The LORD later reiterates this to Yitzchak/Isaac and to Ya’akov/Jacob, Avraham’s son and grandson.
Balak once again becomes angry at Bilam’s blessing Israel.
Bilam’s final prophecy
In 24:17, Bilam puts forth a Messianic prophecy similar to that of what Jacob says about Y’hudah/Judah in the last couple of chapters of Genesis. Bilam’s form in Hebrew is not something that will happen in the future, as in English. In Hebrew it is a form with no English equivalent. It is called a ‘prophetic perfect’; meaning the prophet sees the prophecy as complete as though it’s already happened, even though it has not yet taken place in time. We can think of it as a ‘done deal, just not done yet in time’.
Mussar – Ethics, Morals, Discipline, Commitment
Balak saw Israel in totally human terms, meaning he saw them as just ‘another people’, in this instance, a people Balak saw as a threat. Balak was ’empty’ spiritually; he failed to look beyond the superficial situation. Balak was very much like Paro (‘Open’, ‘Pharoah’); he assumed the worst about Israel. Balak did not look at what was wrong with the Amorites that contributed to their defeat by Israel; any more than Balak looked at himself.
Balak – like Paro, had multiple opportunities to recognize that Israel belonged to – and is protected by the LORD. Balak – as unfortunately so many after him also – failed to see the uniqueness of Israel and the LORD’S great concern and protection for Israel. Balak had an opportunity to join with and learn from Israel. Balak, though, continued to seek to curse Israel. Bilam – who especially should have known better – ultimately spiritually, morally, and ethically failed.
Christians should be very fully aware of their attitude toward Israel. My dear Christian brethren should be fully aware that post-Biblical Gentile leadership, frankly historically has also, looked at Israel i.e. the Jewish People, very negatively, rather being uniquely special and blessed by the LORD, and to bless not curse!
Strengthening & Encouragement
No matter who tries to go against the Jewish People and even when Israel is at its worst, God will not curse Israel. We see throughout Scripture a consistent model – those who bless Israel are blessed. The individual Gentile is engrafted into the root of Israel. This does not make a Gentile a Jew; as some Christians unfortunately misunderstand or are very incorrectly taught. It means that the Gentile engrafted into Israel, i.e., the Jewish People, receives the spiritual nourishment that the Jewish People receive. Paul expresses this in very Hebrew-based terms, in Romans 11:17-24.
It must be noted: this is not unconditional. Meaning, Paul’s Greek is very clear that the individual Gentile who does not continue in the kindness of God towards the Root i.e. Israel, well in fact in the future receive a cutting out from the Root! Cf. Rom.11:20-22.
So then dear one; be encouraged to be like those of the Bible who bless the Jewish People – and the Jewish Brothers – and are in turn blessed for doing so!