God's righteousness

[Esaias]

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
(Matthew 6:31-33)

O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
(Micah 6:5)

We are to seek the Kingdom of God, and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, as our top priority, rather than material things of this life. BUT...

... one has to know what it is they are seeking, what it is they are looking for, what exactly it is they are following after. And the clue is found in Micah ch 6, verse 5.

O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

The story of Balak and Balaam, and the events that transpired from Shittim to Gilgal, will demonstrate the "righteousness of the Lord". That is, by understanding those events, we will gain an understanding of the Lord's righteousness.

Study to show thyself approved.

[votivesoul]

Just a real quick note:

The incident at Baal-Peor involving Balaam and Balak is, in my estimation, the most grievous and spiritually wounding episode in the cultural history of Biblical Israel.

Not only is it given to us in Numbers, it is then addressed by Moses in Deuteronomy, brought up again in Joshua, then later in Nehemiah, then Micah as you have shown, but is also brought up in Hosea and is in the Psalms, not to mention 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation.

So, this one incident had almost everlasting repercussions and became the symbol of the worst act of idolatry ever committed by Israel, to the point that even thousands of years later, prophets, psalmists, apostles, and even Jesus, use it in their writings or speech.

Additionally, the consequences that Moses instituted at Baal-Peor are probably the worst ever given by him against Israel, for any national-level sin committed. What was it? 1,000 men beheaded, crucified on trees and left to rot in the blistering sun, not counting the plague that God then himself brought about to slay 23,000.

And yet, Micah writes this was the righteousness of the LORD. And it was. Divine recompense against wickedness is always righteous.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

Just a real quick note:

The incident at Baal-Peor involving Balaam and Balak is, in my estimation, the most grievous and spiritually wounding episode in the cultural history of Biblical Israel.

Not only is it given to us in Numbers, it is then addressed by Moses in Deuteronomy, brought up again in Joshua, then later in Nehemiah, then Micah as you have shown, but is also brought up in Hosea and is in the Psalms, not to mention 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation.

So, this one incident had almost everlasting repercussions and became the symbol of the worst act of idolatry ever committed by Israel, to the point that even thousands of years later, prophets, psalmists, apostles, and even Jesus, use it in their writings or speech.

Additionally, the consequences that Moses instituted at Baal-Peor are probably the worst ever given by him against Israel, for any national-level sin committed. What was it? 1,000 men beheaded, crucified on trees and left to rot in the blistering sun, not counting the plague that God then himself brought about to slay 23,000.

And yet, Micah writes this was the righteousness of the LORD. And it was. Divine recompense against wickedness is always righteous.

There is so much involved in the whole "Shittim to Gilgal" history, it actually provides a well-rounded overview of God's righteousness.

Long story short - God keeps His word, both "good" and "bad". Always.

[Esaias]

And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour. And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, 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 24:10-13)

Balaam was hired to curse Israel, but God had a covenant with Israel, so Balaam could not curse them. Whatever curses the heathen, the world, the devil, etc throw at God's people, God reverses the curses and turns them into blessings. Why? Because God has BOUND HIMSELF WITH HIS WORD.

There is more to the story, though. From the above verses it would seem Balaam didn't get paid. But Balaam definitely got paid, and Balaam did indeed find a way to bring a curse on God's people:

Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
(Numbers 31:16)

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
(Revelation 2:14)

Balaam figured out how to bring a curse on Israel. And he taught that secret to Balak, who put the plan into operation. How can you curse what God has blessed? you can't. Ah, but God can. He taught Balak to lead Israel into sin. And when Israel went into sin, it brought the Divine Curses of the covenant into operation.

God keeps His Word.

But then Phinehas arose, and in his zeal for God and the covenant he stopped the plague and got the priesthood. When the nation engaged in repentance - not merely crying about the sin, but actively doing something about it (see 2 Corinthians 7:11) - then the curse was lifted and the Blessings came into operation.

God keeps His word.

And then, some interesting things happened while they were in Shittim, leading to Gilgal...

[votivesoul]

Keep going, brother. This is good meat.

[Aquila]

This is very good. Please continue.

[Esaias]

After the incident of Baal-Peor (Numbers 25), the very next chapter details the second census commanded by God. An interesting passage concludes the numbering:

These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
(Numbers 26:63-65)

Remember, Micah had said we will know the righteousness of the Lord when we remember the story of what was going on from Shittim to Gilgal. That would include Numbers chapter 26. And here we see that God keeps his word, yet again. Nobody (except faithful Caleb and Joshua), not one man, who came out of Egypt, was alive for this second numbering. And the reason? Because God said "They shall surely die in the wilderness." In other words, God is faithful, just, and good (that is to say, RIGHTEOUS) to fulfill His promises, both the promises that attend upon obedience, and the promises that attend upon disobedience.

When God shuts the door, the door is shut and no man can open it. When God opens the door, the door is open and no man can shut it. And these events in the book of Numbers show us that God does exactly what He said He would do. We can depend on God's promises (both good, and bad), because He is RIGHTEOUS, He is One who keeps His Word. He is not fickle or arbitrary, He doesn't just change his mind willy nilly. One of God's virtues is that He does indeed keep His word, and therefore we can trust Him.

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word...

[Esaias]

In Numbers 27, we see the issue that developed concerning some daughters whose father died. The question was how will the land that would have gone to them be divided? God provides that the girls were to inherit their father's allotment, and further that whoever dies without a son but has daughters, the daughters would inherit in place of the nonexistent sons. This shows God's righteousness in that the entire congregation is important to Him, not just the men. Even though God himself ordained what we often call "patriarchy", that doesn't mean that His daughters aren't deserving of fair, equitable, and righteous treatment.

[Esaias]

In the second part of Numbers 27, we see God making provision for Moses' replacement. Remember, God told Moses he would NOT enter the Promised Land. And, God is keeping His word. But, God is also providing for leadership for the people lest they be scattered and destroyed.

And the one He provides, is JOSHUA. (In Greek, Joshua is IESOUS, that is, JESUS.) So here we see God's righteousness displayed, in a way we can learn something from. Namely, that Moses won't get us to the Promised Land, but JESUS will. The law (the old covenant) can only take a person so far, but to get across Jordan into the inheritance you have to follow JESUS under the new covenant.

The next two chapters contain instructions pertaining to offerings. Jesus of course is the pure, unleavened bread of heaven offered in sacrifice on our behalf. So it is fitting that immediately after the appointment of Joshua, the proper way to offer sacrifice is described. This teaches us something about God's righteousness, namely that the new covenant Joshua (Christ) is the summation and fulfillment of all the offerings under the old covenant.

The chapter deals with the bread offering that went with all the other offerings. Without the bread offering, pure unleavened bread, the sacrifices were incomplete. Without Christ, worship of God is incomplete and unavailing.

[Esaias]

And the next chapter (30) deals with the proper, Divinely ordained issue of headship between a husband and wife. Remember, we are learning about God's righteousness here. The instructions concerning vows made by women and their husband's (or father's) authority to nullify those vows reveal something beyond mere human relationships with one another. They reveal something about God and His relationship with His Bride.

The wife can make a vow, but the husband can nullify that vow if he thinks best. Do you realise that God's people can often make hasty decisions, hasty "vows" if you will, binding them to their detriment, but God can overrule those foolish declarations?

I wonder how many churches have made decisions to do foolish things (which they think is the best course of action) that God simply annuls? "We're gonna have revival this weekend!" And perhaps God says "No" or maybe "Not in the way you think."

And how many people have fallen into despondecy and despair, and given up on serving God, and said "God, I am not doing anything more. I'm done. I'm just gonna do my thing but you're gonna have to find someone else to do whatever it is I thought you wanted me to be doing." How many have decided something like that?

And God said in the very hour they uttered those words, God said "Not so, your decision is annulled, I still have plans for you."

Wow, God's righteousness goes a lot further than perhaps we have thought...