March 19, 2010
Balaam had a reputation. He loved power and money. He used his "gift" of prophesy to benefit himself. When Balak, king of Moab became scared (and then terrified) of Israel, he knew who to send for—Balaam. Pay Balaam enough money and he would do whatever you ask, in this case, curse the Israelites. So Balak sends men to Balaam. Balaam's words sound good. "Stay here and I will tell you what the LORD says."
Scripture does not say Balaam sought the LORD's answer. Instead it says God said to Balaam, "Who are these men with you?" Balaam tells him. Then God very clearly says—DON'T! Do not go! Don't put a curse on them (the Israelites), because I have blessed them. Balaam's sends Balak's leaders back. Balak knows Balaam's reputation. So he sends more men, more distinguished men, and he promised more money. Balaam's words again sound good. "You could give me all your money and it wouldn't do any good. I cannot disobey God. But... uh... let me go ask him." (my paraphrase) What? God had already clearly told him—NO! Why should more important people and more money prompt him to check back with the LORD? Again, Balaam did not go to God. God came to him. God says, (my paraphrase), "What is this Balaam? I've already told you NO! You want to do it your way? Go ahead then—GO—but do only what I tell you."
Just because God "permits" us to make wrong choices does not mean He will bless those choices. We are not puppets and He is not our puppet-master. God knows our hearts. Our words may sound good, but God knows our thoughts, our motives, and our actions. He knows the real "us." When we seek Him with all our hearts then we will obey Him the same way.
Balaam starts out to meet Balak, contrary to what God originally told him to do. The donkey he is riding sees the angel of the LORD and veers off the path twice and lays down the third time. Balaam hits her all three times. The donkey speaks, "Why are you hitting me?" Balaam's response shows his character. "Because you made me look like a fool." Not because you went off the path, but you made me look like a fool. The angel of the Lord says to Balaam (verse 32), "I have stood here to stop you, because what you are doing is wrong." God let Balaam know what he was doing was wrong, yet money and power influenced him and he plowed on.
God will not allow anything to happen to His people that He does not ordain. Balak could use all of his money and prestige to buy Balaam, but if God does not want his people to be cursed, they won't be. In fact, instead of being cursed His people received blessings, the exact opposite of what Balak wanted. God will only allow His purposes to happen to His people. Period! There is security, peace and happiness in understanding this principle. Nothing can separate us from His love. Romans 8: 37-39 - "...neither death, or life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Hallelujah!
Addendum: 10/14/13 ~ Psalm 150:6 - "Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." Everything ... not everyone. The donkey recognized the angel of the LORD but Balaam had no clue the angel of the LORD was even there. If we don't recognize the glory of the LORD even the rocks will cry out. If all of creation will praise His name, how much more should we who have been created in His image—Praise the LORD.
Next Entry: Numbers 22:1 – 25:18 (Continued)
Balaam had a reputation. He loved power and money. He used his "gift" of prophesy to benefit himself. When Balak, king of Moab became scared (and then terrified) of Israel, he knew who to send for—Balaam. Pay Balaam enough money and he would do whatever you ask, in this case, curse the Israelites. So Balak sends men to Balaam. Balaam's words sound good. "Stay here and I will tell you what the LORD says."
Scripture does not say Balaam sought the LORD's answer. Instead it says God said to Balaam, "Who are these men with you?" Balaam tells him. Then God very clearly says—DON'T! Do not go! Don't put a curse on them (the Israelites), because I have blessed them. Balaam's sends Balak's leaders back. Balak knows Balaam's reputation. So he sends more men, more distinguished men, and he promised more money. Balaam's words again sound good. "You could give me all your money and it wouldn't do any good. I cannot disobey God. But... uh... let me go ask him." (my paraphrase) What? God had already clearly told him—NO! Why should more important people and more money prompt him to check back with the LORD? Again, Balaam did not go to God. God came to him. God says, (my paraphrase), "What is this Balaam? I've already told you NO! You want to do it your way? Go ahead then—GO—but do only what I tell you."
Just because God "permits" us to make wrong choices does not mean He will bless those choices. We are not puppets and He is not our puppet-master. God knows our hearts. Our words may sound good, but God knows our thoughts, our motives, and our actions. He knows the real "us." When we seek Him with all our hearts then we will obey Him the same way.
Balaam starts out to meet Balak, contrary to what God originally told him to do. The donkey he is riding sees the angel of the LORD and veers off the path twice and lays down the third time. Balaam hits her all three times. The donkey speaks, "Why are you hitting me?" Balaam's response shows his character. "Because you made me look like a fool." Not because you went off the path, but you made me look like a fool. The angel of the Lord says to Balaam (verse 32), "I have stood here to stop you, because what you are doing is wrong." God let Balaam know what he was doing was wrong, yet money and power influenced him and he plowed on.
God will not allow anything to happen to His people that He does not ordain. Balak could use all of his money and prestige to buy Balaam, but if God does not want his people to be cursed, they won't be. In fact, instead of being cursed His people received blessings, the exact opposite of what Balak wanted. God will only allow His purposes to happen to His people. Period! There is security, peace and happiness in understanding this principle. Nothing can separate us from His love. Romans 8: 37-39 - "...neither death, or life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Hallelujah!
Addendum: 10/14/13 ~ Psalm 150:6 - "Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." Everything ... not everyone. The donkey recognized the angel of the LORD but Balaam had no clue the angel of the LORD was even there. If we don't recognize the glory of the LORD even the rocks will cry out. If all of creation will praise His name, how much more should we who have been created in His image—Praise the LORD.
Next Entry: Numbers 22:1 – 25:18 (Continued)
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