Bible Journaling: Numbers 23 & 24

Numbers 23 and 24 are a continuation of the previous chapter. Balak is still determined that Balaam should come and curse the Israelites on his behalf. Trying to outmaneuver God, he takes Balaam to different places from where to do this. This would make it easier for Balaam, as he would not be able to see the vast numbers of Israelites, but also because it was believed that gods were geographically restricted. All of Balak's plans failed miserably and the only thing that he achieved was to hear Balaam pronounce blessing upon blessing over his enemies. There are a number of key passages in these chapters, among which is the well-known verse which states that God is not a man that He should lie. My journaling focuses more on words than images in these two chapters.

The chapters look like this in the Inspire Praise Bible.

I treat the pages with Dala Clear Acrylic Gesso.

Once dry, the pages once again look like this.

I use a golden Croxley gel pen to underline some key passages. The first can be found in Numbers 23:7-10

“Balak summoned me to come from Aram;
the king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills.
‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me!
Come and announce Israel’s doom.’
But how can I curse those
whom God has not cursed?
How can I condemn those
whom the Lord has not condemned?
I see them from the cliff tops;
I watch them from the hills.
I see a people who live by themselves,
set apart from other nations.
Who can count Jacob’s descendants, as numerous as dust?
Who can count even a fourth of Israel’s people?
Let me die like the righteous;
let my life end like theirs.”

I then underline verses 18-24:

“Rise up, Balak, and listen!
Hear me, son of Zippor.
God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
Listen, I received a command to bless;
God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!
No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob;
no trouble is in store for Israel.
For the Lord their God is with them;
he has been proclaimed their king.
God brought them out of Egypt;
for them he is as strong as a wild ox.
No curse can touch Jacob;
no magic has any power against Israel.
For now it will be said of Jacob,
‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’
These people rise up like a lioness,
like a majestic lion rousing itself.
They refuse to rest
until they have feasted on prey,
drinking the blood of the slaughtered!”

Next, I underline chapter 24:3-9.

“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor,
the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,
the message of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who bows down with eyes wide open:
How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob;
how lovely are your homes, O Israel!
They spread before me like palm groves,[a]
like gardens by the riverside.
They are like tall trees planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.
Water will flow from their buckets;
their offspring have all they need.
Their king will be greater than Agag;
their kingdom will be exalted.
God brought them out of Egypt;
for them he is as strong as a wild ox.
He devours all the nations that oppose him,
breaking their bones in pieces,
shooting them with arrows.
Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down;
like a lioness, who dares to arouse her?
Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel,
and cursed is everyone who curses you.”

After this, follows verses 15-24:

This is the message Balaam delivered:
“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor,
the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,
the message of one who hears the words of God,
who has knowledge from the Most High,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who bows down with eyes wide open:
I see him, but not here and now.
I perceive him, but far in the distant future.
A star will rise from Jacob;
a scepter will emerge from Israel.
It will crush the heads of Moab’s people,
cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.
Edom will be taken over,
and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered,
while Israel marches on in triumph.
A ruler will rise in Jacob
who will destroy the survivors of Ir.”
Then Balaam looked over toward the people of Amalek and delivered this message:
“Amalek was the greatest of nations,
but its destiny is destruction!”
Then he looked over toward the Kenites and delivered this message:
“Your home is secure;
your nest is set in the rocks.
But the Kenites will be destroyed
when Assyria takes you captive.”
Balaam concluded his messages by saying:
“Alas, who can survive
unless God has willed it?
Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus;
they will oppress Assyria and afflict Eber,
but they, too, will be utterly destroyed.”

I then spray the pages with Dala Fabric Spray.

I find an array of alphabet stickers to use to point out the key verse in the passage.

I spell out the words 'God is not a man 2 lie.'

I use some Washi Tape in the margins.

I then add some decorative stickers.

I also add some die-cut words, using Dala Craft Glue.

Lastly, I add some decorative die-cuts.

The completed pages.

You can watch a short compilation video of the steps above on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/pViwmz2RAAk

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2005,2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois, 60188. All rights reserved.

Inspire PRAISE South Africa edition copyright 2017 by Christian Art Publishers, PO Box 1599, Vereeniging, 1930, RSA. All rights reserved.

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