And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” Numbers 23:29 Every Labor Day weekend, my whole family gets together at a camp in central Iowa. On Saturday morning, a nearby small town always has city-wide garage sales, which every year has drawn…
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When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Numbers 22:27 Years ago, while watching a cop show, the main character – a sardonic old lawman – provided some advice that I’ve remembered ever since (I’ve watered…
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And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.” Numbers 22:20 A couple of months after my knee replacement, I found myself at my follow-up appointment with my surgeon, asking what I could do.…
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Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed. Numbers 22:6 As I’ve mentioned previously, I grew up in…
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But the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land.” Numbers 21:3 Ten years ago, I was in the Emergency Room, where I’d worked for the first 12 years of my career. I’d built a reasonably good reputation, but my…
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So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live. Numbers 21:9 There was a time in my life when the faith I practiced was simply a belief in my head. I knew God existed. I believed in…
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Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly . . . Numbers 20:10-11 Occasionally,…
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But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the LORD.” Numbers 16:41 Recently, I sat listening, as a man addicted to stimulants told me an all-too-familiar story. He’d been depressed his whole life and just wanted to…
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And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” Numbers 16:20 Back when I drank, I enjoyed ice fishing. Or, rather, I should say that I enjoyed the environment of ice fishing. My wife never came out to the fish…
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And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. Numbers 15:39 I didn’t get addicted to opioids on purpose. I didn’t start out planning…
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