The Bible by David Alley

by David Alley

Season 1

Numbers 23 - Balaam Blesses Israel Three Times | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Numbers 23 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 23 the story of Balaam’s attempt to curse Israel continues. He is determined to go through with his attempt, even though he knows God doesn’t approve. He tries various ways to get God to speak evil, but only good comes out each time. Out of his mouth come some of the most profound prophetic blessings in the entire Bible, despite him being a false prophet. Chapter 23 contains the first two of seven prophecies by Balaam. He is a false prophet not in the sense that his words were false, but in that his motivations were false. In verse 24, it says for example: “Behold, a people rises up as a lioness. As a lion he lifts himself up. He shall not lie down until he eats of the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.” The Israelites are compared to a lioness, and then it says a “lion” will lift himself up and will not lie down until he eats of the prey and drinks the blood of the slain. Here we have a reference to Christ who will rise and humiliate Satan at Calvary. The New Testament puts is even more cleary when Paul wrote that Christ “having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15) Some of the greatest Messianic prophecies have come through the prophetic voice of a man whose heart was far from God. One wonders, why does God use such people? The truth is that like the donkey in the previous chapter, God can use anyone, oor anything, even Judas Iscariot. Even Satan unwittingly played into the hands of the Almighty bringing glory to His name through his own rebellion.

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Jul 21, 2022

14:19

Numbers 22 -Balak Summons Balaam to Curse Israel |Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Numbers 22 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 22 the nation of Moab is terrified of the Israelites. In the last 40 years they defeated the Egyptian Empire, and then brought down the two big kings on the east side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og. They didn’t engage with the Edomites because of God’s requirement to leave them alone, but they also defeated the Amalekites and the King of Arad. They have a history with God’s help of mighty military accomplishments. The King of Moab has realised there is spiritual power at work and he is going to endeavor to counter it spiritually too. So he hires Balaam and the next few chapters cover what happens. Some have asked how Moses knew all of these details so as to include it in his writings. The answer is simple. After the Israelites ultimately defeat Moab, this information became available to them from presumably both conversations with people, and from official archives, giving Moses information he needed to include in the written story of what happened. Some commentators such as Bill Creasy from Logos have suggested that Balaam was just playing a clever bartering game pretending to not want to help, so as to up the financial stakes and earn more, but this isn’t right. Here clearly God is recorded as saying he refuses Balaam permission, so the increasing financial stakes simply show that Balaam is crooked and willing to compromise, but it just takes a higher amount of money to make it happen. Then the incident happents with the talking donkey and the angel. Such an unusual event as this demonstrates that God uses unintelligent creatures for his purposoes. That we are used by God is not an indication of our usefulness, or our own intelligence or any other redeeming quality, but rather that God can be glorified by our willingness to be used.

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Jul 20, 2022

16:41

Numbers 21 - Arad Destroyed, the Bronze Serpent | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Numbers 21 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 21 the Israelites come to the south of Canaan and engage in a battle with the King of Arad, who they defeat. They then endeavor to shortcut through Edom to the main part of Canaan, but Edom refuses and they have to go the long way around. They end up complaining and God sends a plague of venomous snakes. God tells Moses to setup a snake on a pole, and anyone who looks at it will be healed. It is here we get one of the great items famous in the book of Numbers, and which is now used in medicine as the symbol of healing. And this symbol is also a picture of Christ right here in the Torah. Jesus himself referred to this passage in John 3:14 when Jesus was speaking with Nicodemus. How though is Jesus like a snake? He isn’t, but the snake represents sin which had to be placed on Christ on the cross, for it to be dealt with. Later in 2 Kings 18:4, King Hezekiah had the bronze snake destroyed, which had been preserved somehow until that later time. It had become an object of worship against the Lord. Where was it kept all of that time? Either way, there was a foreshadowing of the cross physically in their midst for about 700 years from this point until Hezekiah.

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Jul 19, 2022

21:32

Numbers 20 - The Death of Miriam | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Numbers 1 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 1 we start the fourth book of Moses, which in reality is the fourth section of one big book. In Hebrew it is named Bemidbar which means wilderness. This entire book is placed in the desert and starts about 14 months after leaving Egypt. The Israelites could have in theory gone directly to Canaan, a walk of just eleven days or so, but they were not in the frame of mind to have done so. The process from Egypt to this point has formed them into a nation, and put God in his place as the leader, but they are still far from capable as a force to take the promised land. The wilderness is their boot camp as this book shall explain. Chapter 1 starts with a census of the men able to fight, which is also renumbered later. We find a great fighting force, but they are not yet (as we shall find out later in Numbers) mentally ready for a fight. The number is at 600000 fighting men, giving us maybe 2 million people in total. This number is so great that skeptics claim the desert could not have supported them. Clearly this is true, which is why God supported them with manna and water. This was a forty year miracle. Finally we conclude by realising that we too are supported by God every moment of our lives. We should not take God for granted, or grumble or complain for we occupy the same position as these Israelites.

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Jul 18, 2022

16:49

Numbers 19 - Laws for Purification | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Numbers 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 19 we meet the red heifer. A heifer is a female cow that hasn’t had a calf yet, so is technically a virgin cow. This is an interesting symbol which represents both Christ and the Church. First of Christ because it is a sacrifice that happens outside the camp, just as Christ was sacrificed outside the city. But secondly of the Church because this is a female heifer without spot and wrinkle, and is red. The church is also described as the wife of Christ, pure and spotless and red meaning under the blood of Christ. As Christ dies for the Church, symbolised by the sacrifice of the red heifer, the church is also dead in him in the same symbolism. In baptism we are told that we died with Christ, so this symbol is both of these things. Numbers 19 describes how the ashes of this sacrificed heifer are for cleansing when a dead body was touched. It was to be used on day three and day seven after becoming unclean. As believers, when we die with Christ we are now a new creature, and we must let go of our old dead man, but sometimes we want to dig him up again. But if we dig him up again, we become unclean. So we must go to Christ again. And as Christ was raised on the third day for our redemption, and in creation the seventh day is also the day of rest, we find our redemption and our rest in Christ. This is an example of a powerful Old Testament symbol. Do you keep digging up your old man? The answer is to go to Christ.

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Jul 17, 2022

12:26

Numbers 18 - Duties of the Priests and Levites | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Numbers 18 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 18 Aaron and his sons are told they have to “bear the iniquity” or carry the responsibility of the administration of God’s holy things. Thus they were accountable for things that others were not accountable for. In the preceding chapters Korah and others with him had aspired to this role and perished because of their terrible attitude, but this reminds Aaron not to be proud or presumptuous, but rather careful with the things of God. This is also a reminder of James 3:1, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” It speaks to us of those serving God today that a similar weight rests on them. The priests also made a living from the offerings of the people. The benefits of this are two-fold. Firstly who would serve in this highly responsible position at their own expense? And secondly, the priest can do the best job when his mind is given to it, and not concerned with supporting his family. This is also a reflection of the modern ministry, that those who serve God should be able to focus on service, and not be concerned about the welfare of their families. Some churches pay their pastors poorly thinking it is godly to do so, but such a thing is wicked. Later in the scriptures, Paul DID work at his own expense, and many ministers do for varying reasons. Paul didn’t want to be paid for his work, because he wanted it to be a gift to God. Paul also didn’t want to be obliged to people, and gifts given must be obligation free, with no strings attached This video considers these things.

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Jul 16, 2022

18:00

Numbers 17 - The Budding of Aaron's Staff | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Numbers 17 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 17 we have a continuation of the former chapter which relates the story of Korah’s rebellion. Here God is going to settle the question once and for all who he has chosen. God initiates a test. The twelve leaders of the twelve tribes placed their staffs in God’s presence, and God said the staff of the leader he had chosen would bud. The following morning the rod of Aaron not only budded, but produced almonds. This was a grand gesture to demonstrate God had chosen the sons of Aaron to minister as priests. Even despite such a grand sign the complaining didn’t stop. The problem with people is like this, when our heart is set against something, no amount of reason or evidence is enough. After this, further complaining ensued as is seen later in Numbers. And in fact after seeing this sign, the people cried out that they would perish. Why? Coffmans says that their reaction was a sign of their lack of repentance. Clearly they believed they were still right, and somehow God was wrong. What should have been their reaction? And what should our attitude be towards a leader God has chosen? We have a clear biblical example in seeing David’s attitude to King Saul.

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Jul 15, 2022

8:43

Numbers 16 - Korah's Rebellion and Judgment | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Numbers 16 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 16 we find the story of Korah, a Kohathite responsible for moving the tabernacle. He was not a priest, because he was not a son of Aaron. He wanted elevated responsibility, and wanted a position not assigned to him. He had ministry jealousy. The need for recognition is something we all have. Why God chose Moses who didn’t want to be chosen, and didn’t choose Korah and others who did want to be chosen is not something we have been told, but it is almost certainly something to do with the inner workings of the heart. As a pastor I have long trusted people who have a big heart for the ministry, but are not self promoters. On the other hand, when someone pushes themselves forward, even if they are talented, it's hard to feel good about trusting them. What is needed is the spirit of sonship in God’s people, which is the attitude Christ had towards his father in Heaven. We need this sonship towards the leaders over us here and now, because how we love and serve them that we can see, IS how we love and serve God that we cannot see. Joshua and Caleb were two individuals who displayed a heart of sonship towards Moses, supporting and serving with a big heart. Joshua inherited the ‘ministry’ from Moses despite not asking for it, whereas in this story, the rebels were cut off despite seeking the ministry. This video discusses ministry jealousy, the calling of God, and how to love your spiritual leaders with a spirit of sonship, that is the attitude that Christ had towards his father.

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Jul 14, 2022

21:18

Numbers 15 - Laws for Offerings | Bible Podcast, David Alley, Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Numbers 15 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 15 we consider defiant sin, the tassels on the clothing of Jews, and whether the law was excessive when it killed a sabbath breaker for collecting wood. FIrstly, defiant sin is not only wilful, but deliberately wilful. All people at some time have committed willful sin, but in their minds they were not rejecting God, even if practically they were doing so. Defiant sin is the deliberate chosen rejection of God and it bears consequences. The Law seems at times to us overly tough. Yet the law was a precious gift to not just Israel, but to all humanity. Without the law grace could never have been given. If God wanted to give grace, against a backdrop of no law, that is against a backdrop of lawlessness, then there would never be anyone righteous. Nobody would know of the seriousness of sin, nobody would know how righteous living was needed, and nobody would feel bad after doing anything at all. Without the law grace would just be what was already there, it would be an approval of lawlessness. So the law had to come, and it had to be a real law, that is it had to have real consequences. This passage shows us that the law of God did have real consequences, and during the forty years in the desert the Lord applied the law not just for the benefit of those there at the time, but for all humanity to follow. Later in the Psalms, especially in Psalm 119, the Law of the Lord is extolled. It is a lamp unto our feet. This remains true to this very day. Finally we consider the tassels worn by the Israelits, and we note that the Lord Jesus wore such tassels. In Matt 9:21 the story is told of a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years, and who touched the “hem” of his garment. In greek it seems it was the tassel that she touched.

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Jul 13, 2022

17:48

Numbers 14 -Israel's Rebellion and God's Judgment |Bible Podcast, David Alley,Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Numbers 14 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer. In Numbers 14 the problem with the Israelites wasn’t the realisation they couldn’t take the land, but not trusting God who could do it. Joshua and Caleb had it figured out, they knew the Lord was with them, and He is with you. It is a fact that when God is with you, you STILL go to difficult places, but you go through them with him. It is a mistake to think that if God is with you, there will not be problems. There may be even greater problems, but this is to teach us that we trust in Him. The NT scriptures say, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) It is precisely in our weakness, and in danger, and in trouble that God is able to shine, and so he takes us to those places deliberately. So God is displeased and has to punish. He decides that everyone twenty or older will not inherit the promised land, with the only exceptions being Caleb and Joshua. By the time they do come to conquest in another 39 years or so, the new groups of Israelites are going to think differently. They will not think like slaves, and will be ready to inherit what God promised. There is nothing more insulting to God than refusing to receive his promises, that is refusing to trust Him for them. God has made promises to you too and he wants to take you the hard way to get there and in doing so show himself to you.

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Jul 12, 2022

16:06

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