Numbers 22 - Isaiah 14 – 1 Corinthians 3 – 1 Peter 2

Numbers 22
- They camped in Jericho near Moab plains.
- Balak saw what the Israelites had done to Ammorites and Moab was fearful.
- Balak was Moabite King and sent messengers to Balam
- Balam seemed to be a Moabite prophet.
- King Balak asked Balam to curse the Israelites because they outnumbered him.
- Balam was able to bless or curse people and Balak knew that was his only chance.
- The elders brought Balam the fee for divination.
- Balam told Balak's messengers to stay the night and he would tell them what God said.
- Balam told God that Balak wanted him to curse the Israelites.
- God told Balam that he was not to curse God's blessed people nor go to Balak.
- Balam's response was to sent more gifts and noble men to Balam and offer him great honor
- Balak said he'd do whatever Balam tols him to do.
- Balam said he couldn't go against God regardless of the wealth Balak offered.
- Balam went back to inquire of God who told Balam to go with them and do what He would instruct him to do.
- Why did God get angry with Balam after He told Balam to go?
- Balam's donkey saw God's angel in the road and refused to go forward.
- Balam struck the donkey repeatedly but it refused to move forward because of the angel.
- Balam hit his donkey and it laid down.
- God allowed the donkey to speak.
- Why doesn't Balam realize that God is against him when his donkey starts talking?
- Balam's donkey asked why Balam was hitting it when it had always been faithful to him.
- Then God allowed Balam to see the angel in the road with the sword.
- Balam fell on his face and the angel said the donkey had saved his life.
- Balam confessed his sin and said he'd turn back.
- The angel told Balam to go tell Balak only what the angel would say to him.
- Balak went to meet Balam and asked why he hadn't come earlier
- Balam said he could only speak what God told him to.
- Balak sacrificed ox and sheep and sent to Balam.

Isaiah 15
- This oracle is against Moab
- Ar and Kir will be destroyed.
- Medeba and Nebo will weep.
- Every head is bald and every beard cut (sign of cultural mourning)
- Heshbon and Elealeh cry out too.
- Isaiah says "my heart" cries for Moab (Who is the "my"?)
- Moab's fugitives flee to Zoar and to Eglath-shelishiyah
- The abundance they have stored up will be carried away
- Dibon is full of blood and he says those left will be eaten by lions.

1 Corinthians 3
- Paul says he couldn't call them spiritual people but people of the flesh.
- Paul says they were spiritual babies and even now aren't mature enough for "solid food"
- Paul questions they faith because of the fighting and strife between them.
- They fight over who to follow Paul or Apollos.
- Paul said he planted, Apollos watered but God made the seeds grow
- The planter and waterer are nothing.
- The planters and growers will receive their wages (rewards?)
- They are all believers (God's field)
- Paul laid a foundation and cautioned the Corinthians to watch carefully how they built on it.
- Jesus Christ is the only true foundation.
- Building with wealth or other materials will be exposed on That Day (final day)
- If they build poorly on Christ they will still escape fire (hell) but only barely.
- Isn't this still a good thing because they get heaven?
- Paul reminds them that they are God's temple and He will destroy anyone who destroys His temple.
- Being foolish to this age shows they are wise in God's eyes.
- Paul quotes to sayings that both say God makes foolish the wisdom of the wise.
- Paul tells them not to boast in men but in the fact that they have access to God through Christ.

1 Peter 2
- Peter tells the people to put away evilness: hypocrisy, slander, deceit, and envy
- He tells them to go after spiritual things to grow in salvation.
- Peter points out that Christ was chosen by God but rejected by people.
- The believers are stones built up and they should offer spiritual sacrifices.
- In verse 6, Peter quotes from Isaiah 28:16 though not verbatim. This verse is also quoted by Paul in Romans 9:33
- The "stone of stumbling" quote comes from Isaiah 8:14
- People stumble because they disobey God's Word.
- As sinners we were all destined to do this, but God chose us to be a holy nation.
- We are to proclaim God's excellencies because we have now received God's mercy.
- Peter pleads with them to turn from passions of the flesh and keep their conduct honorable among Gentiles.
- Our good deeds should point others to God
- We should be subject to emperors and governors.
- It is God's will for us to do good to shame the foolish.
- We should live free, but not use our freedom to justify doing evil but because we serve God.
- Honor everyone. Love being a believer. Fear God. Honor emperor.
- All servants should respect their masters, not just the nice ones.
- Enduring sorrows and injustices while focusing on God shows grace to others.
- Taking a beating you deserve is not "enduring"
- Suffering for doing good is an act of grace.
- Christ modeled this type of suffering for us.
- Christ had no sin and did not fight back when sinned against.
- Christ kept focused on God while enduring harm from men.
- Christ bore our sins on the cross so that we could die to sin and live to righteousness.
- We are healed by His wounds.
- We strayed like sheep but now have been brought to the "Shepherd" and "Overseer" of our souls (Both capitalized)
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