The Torah reading for this week includes the well known history of Balak, king of Moab, who called upon Balaam or Bil’am, a man with a prophetic gifting, to pronounce a curse upon the people of Yisrael on his behalf. Neither of these two men was from Yisrael. Both of them are known today as typical of those who stand up against and oppose the people of Yahweh. In this sense both these characters are very relevant to the times that we are living in right now. More and more people and nations are taking a firm stand against Israel these days. Criticising Israel is nowadays considered to be the “politically right thing” to do. Defending Israel is seen as more or less the same as defending “apartheid” or defending “baboon-killing”, here in the Western Cape area where we are living.
I received an email this week that contained a number of examples of how churches and organizations and individuals are not only turning their backs on Israel but also, in a sense, demonizing Israel – portraying them as the worst enemy possible and as the most unrighteous nation this world has ever known. The World Council of Churches recently held a 4 day conference in Volos, Greece, during which they (once again) declared the Jewish State a “sin” and accused Israelis of “dehumanizing” the Palestinians. This conference completely disregarded the “chosenness” of the Jewish people and said that “resistance” against Israel is a “Christian duty” that all Christians should take very seriously. In Antwerp, Belgium, there is a highly respected and government-funded Catholic school, the College of the Sacred Heart, that hosted a “Palestine Day” recently with many anti-Semitic references and even anti-Semitic activities for youngsters. One stall at the event was titled “Throw the soldiers into the sea,” allowing children to throw replicas of Jewish and Israeli soldiers into two large tanks. At the Rome synod of the Roman Catholic Church, Archbishop Bustros, who was chosen by Pope Ratzinger to draft the synod’s 44 final propositions, denied the Jewish people’s their right to the Promised Land. “We Christians cannot speak about the Promised Land for the Jewish people. There is no longer a chosen people”, Bustros said. This, essentially, is what “replacement theology” is all about – taking the Jewish people out of the equation and replacing them with the church.
In Matthew (MattitYahu) 25:40-46 Y’shua said the following, when speaking about what will happen in the last days: “… in so far as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you did it to Me …”. What exactly did He mean when He used the words “the least of these brothers of mine”? Is it not possible that He was referring to the Jewish people? Is it not possible that Y’shua somehow knew that the opposition against the Jewish people would increase exponentially towards the end and that the true believers would find themselves in a position where they have to choose between failing Yahweh’s people, like the rest of the world, or taking hands with Yahweh’s people and recognizing them as brothers and sisters of Y’shua. The world tend to walk over those who are considered “the least”. But in Yahweh’s eyes the least are often valued the most. And when it comes to Israel – in the eyes of the world they may be nothing, but Yahweh calls them the apple of his eye.
Let’s get back to Balak and Bil’am. These two names are quite significant. The name Balak comes from the Hebrew word that means “to lay waste or to devastate or to annihilate”. Is this not an extremely accurate description of what is on the agenda of this world with regards to Israel? It is hard to understand, but since the beginning of time, all kinds of efforts have been made, by all kinds of people, to devastate and annihilate and destroy the people of Yisrael. There are numerous examples of this in history, of which the holocaust of the Second World War is perhaps most well known of all. If there is someone listening today or reading this message, who has never taken notice of this fact, do yourself a favour and watch a movie like “The Pianist” or “Fiddler on the Roof” or pay a visit to the Jewish Museum in Cape Town, or anywhere else in South Africa, or even better, if you ever have the opportunity, go visit the Yad Vashem (Lit. “a place and a name” – from Isa 56) Museum in Jerusalem. As believers we need to open our eyes to this very real fact.
The name of Bil’am is equally significant. It comes from two Hebrew words, “balah” which means “to fail, to wear out or to decay” and “am” which means “people or nation”. The word “am” is often used to refer to the people of Yisrael. So we see this name “Bil’am” is even more descriptive than the name “Balak”. It reminds one about the widespread activity in this world that is aimed at wearing out the people of Yisrael. Notice the word “fail” in the definition of “balah”. Sometimes the opposition against Yisrael is not only coming from the side of the enemies of Israel. It may also come from the side of the so-called “friends” of Yisrael. Not because they fight actively for the destruction or the humiliation of Israel. But because they fail Israel in a time when Israel needs their support most. Balak stands for the outright and active opposition against the people of Yahweh. But Bil’am stands for the more sophisticated and subtle rejection of the people of Israel. A rejection not articulated in so many words. A rejection that does not show in bold actions. But a rejection and opposition that is just as severe.
Perhaps this is why the figure of Bil’am has always been a little bit of a puzzle to those who study Scriptures. His being criticised by a talking donkey, on the one hand, but also his calling upon the Name of Yahweh, on the other hand, although he came from the city of Mesopotamia and was involved with the Moabites and the Midianites, two of the greatest enemies of Yisrael. His refusal, on the hand, to pronounce a curse upon the people of Yisrael, but also his reputation of practising divination (Afr. “waarsêery” – Jos 13:22), on the other. In other parts of Scriptures Bil’am is criticized for causing the children of Yisrael to trespass against Yahweh (Num 31:16), receiving “wages of unrighteousness” (2 Pet 2:15) and casting a stumbling block before the children of Yisrael (Rev 2:14).
The fact that one of the seven assemblies of Revelation, the assembly of Pergamos, is singled out for the fact that they accommodated believers who followed the false teachings of Bil’am, is quite significant. Interestingly enough, the same assembly was also credited for the fact that they held fast to Y’shua’s Name – almost like Bil’am who called upon the Name of Yahweh, even though he hardly knew anything about Yahweh. The name of Bil’am is a reminder to us that we can make all the right moves and say all the right things, while at the same time opposing the people and the work of Yahweh. Don’t think for one moment that the mere calling upon the Name of Yahweh and also upon the Name of Y’shua is a guarantee that Yahweh is automatically on your side. But then, on the other side of the coin: Don’t think for one moment that being engaged with prophesy and having a reputation of being powerful in words and deeds, in itself, is a guarantee that Yahweh is automatically on your side. You need to be on his side, too. You need to support his team, his people, the apple of his eye. And you need to support the truths of his Word, even though it may be different from what is being taught in your church or fellowship.
Remember what Bil’am said to the donkey when the donkey stood in his way and prevented him from going any further on his chosen path? “I wish there were a sword in my hand, for I would have killed you by now!” (Num 22:29). Interestingly enough, at the beginning of the letter to Pergamos, Y’shua introduces Himself thus: “He who has the sharp two-edged sword says … I know your works”. Y’shua knows our works. At the moment, while at the right hand side of Yahweh, it is his business to know our works – to reward those works that are fruitful and worthy and to turn down those works that are works of the flesh or works according to men or works untrue to Scriptures. And what is more, Y’shua was given the authority and the power, by his Father, to be a righteous and worthy judge of our works. He has a sharp, two-edged sword in his hand. The power and the authority is not in the hands of Bil’am. Neither is it in the hands of the Pope. Nether is it in the hands of the powerful men and women of this age who are quick to talk big and cheap but slow to follow Yahweh’s commandments. Let us once more subject ourselves to the authority and the example set by Y’shua, the Messiah, remembering that He has a two-edged sword in his hand, but also remembering that Israel are his people and that through Him, Y’shua, we became related to Israel in a way that can not be outdone by any man.
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