In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families” including “all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twenty-two of Joshua we learn about, “Balaam also the son of Beor” where we read,
Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer,
did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.
The verse reads, “Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “Balaam also” which means “Balaam whose name means ‘not of the people’ even so and indeed” “the son of Beor” which means “the male offspring and progeny belonging to Beor whose name means burning”, “the soothsayer” or “the one who practiced magical scroll or divination”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God included in the following “Balaam” who was the male offspring of “Beor” and was one who practiced divination.
The verse continues, “… did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “did the children of Israel” which means “performed the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants or nation of descendants of Jacob” “slay with the sword” or “killed, destroyed and ruined by the use of the sharpened implement such as an axe, dagger, knife, mattock or knife” “among them that were slain” which means “in the midst and middle of the people who were fatally wounded, pierced and killed” “by them” or “through the means of the children of Israel with swords”. Joshua or the writer shared how the offspring of “Israel” slew and destroyed “Balaam” and those who accompanied him with the use of sharpened battle implements.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how Jehovah God through “Moses” and the offspring of “Israel” also overtook and destroyed “Balaam” and those who were with him by the use of sharpened weapons of war. (See Numbers 22:5-7; 24:1; 31.8) God gave “Moses and Israel” this victory because He loves them. He loves us as well, and when He gave His Only Begotten Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord” to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and teach us to depend upon Him for every venture and experience we encounter in this life. (See John 3:16; 16;13; Acts 1:8)
Next time we learn how Jehovah God says, “the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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