I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

    This passage reminds us that our very words can be destructive. Those who are wicked destroy others and tear down the community with their words. The godly check their facts before they allow the words of the wicked to effect their actions. By doing so, they strengthen the community. In addition, the godly act and speak so as the build up the community in other ways.

    A reminder for us when we are surrounded by trouble and enemies. Let us turn to God. He will send help and rescue us. Our enemies may seem clever, but, if we depend on God and faithfully follow His commands, they will fall into the traps they have set for us. I will have confidence in God and praise Him every day.

    When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, she was confused and disturbed. This should not surprise us, aren’t we often confused and disturbed when God sends us messages. There is probably something wrong with us if we aren’t. The amazing thing about Mary is that once the angel finished telling her what God had planned for her, her reaction was, “Let’s do this thing.” (well, not those exact words) I look at what the angel told Mary and think that it must have been a very scary thing for a young woman (by our standards, a girl) to hear in that culture. Nevertheless, Mary was no longer frightened. No, she declared, “I am the Lord’s servant.” Am I willing to surrender my fear of the consequences of following God’s plan in order to do God’s will? Will I respond to God’s messenger by declaring that I am the Lord’s servant?

    At the end of yesterday’s passage, the people of Israel requested permission to cross Edom. When they King of Edom refused, they turned aside and went a different way. In today’s passage, the king of the Canaanites attacked the Israelites and took some of them captive. The Israelites prayed to God and He gave them victory over the Canaanites. The account records how the Israelites completely conquered several nations in this passage. Yet, not once did they initiate the hostilities. They requested permission to cross the lands of the Amorites. But rather than either grant them permission, or deny them permission, the King of the Amorites attacked them.
    After seeing the inability of his neighbors to stand against the Israelites Balak, the Moabite king, tried a different approach. He sent for Balaam to have him curse the people of Israel for him. When the messengers arrived to speak to Balaam, Balaam told them that he would consult God to see if he could accompany them. When God told him overnight not to go with the messengers because the people they wished him to curse were blessed by God. Balaam told the messengers, “No” and sent them on their way. Balak sent them back with even more promises of reward for cursing the people of Israel. This time Balaam told them right away that he could not accompany them. He knew God’s will on the matter, yet he told them to stay the night to see if he could get a different answer this time. How often do we do this? God has told us His will for us, yet we desire something else.