March 6 - Numbers 22:1-24:25

Good morning everyone,

This morning in our reading we find the Israelites in the plains of Moab, camped east of the Jordan River across from Jericho and this does not bode well with Balak who was the king of Moab at the time. Not knowing that God had forbidden Israel to touch anything in Moab, Balak who is totally afraid the Israelites will devour his kingdom, sends word to Balaam asking him to curse Israel. 

Let’s take a look at Balaam for a moment. He is spoke about in several of the old and new testament books but we know practically nothing about him. We do know, though, that he was a sorcerer called upon to place curses on others, he heard from God but did not live with the people of God.  Got wanted to give a message to the Moabites and Balaam was available to use. Balaam was a man who realized God’s awesome power and was ready to obey God’s command as long as he could turn a profit from doing so, the trinkets of the world being his motivation, his god.

So Balak sends a messenger to Balaam asking him to place a curse on Israel but Balaam is smart enough to seek God’s advise on this one. God says, “don’t do it”. Refusing to take no for an answer, Balak sends a second team in to have a chat with Balaam, offering him a handsome reward if only he would curse the Israelites. Balaam knew what God’s answer would be but saw an opportunity to make a few bucks here so he invited the team to stay the night while he took this before God one more time, hoping He would change his mind. 

Verse 20-22 says “That night God came to Balaam and said, ‘Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.’ Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. But God was very angry when he went.”

Why was God angry? After all, He did tell Balaam to go, right? We need to remember that Balaam was really into wealth so I can just see him praying in a nagging sort of way, maybe saying something like “Ah, come on Lord … just let me go and get the money. I’ll say what you want, just let me go and get the money.” Our God is a gentleman and will not force us to do anything, so he said to Balaam “go” and go Balaam did. While on his way though, God let Balaam know He was right there watching him. Balaam was not able to see Him, but the angel of the Lord, who was what’s known as a Christophany, an appearance of Jesus before He was born, stood in the path of Balaam not once, not twice but three times each resulting in the beating of his poor donkey who was able to see the angel of the Lord all along. Finally after the third beating the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth he asked Balaam “why have you beat me three times?” What’s more crazy than the donkey talking is that without missing a beat Balaam answers him and states “You have made a fool of me.” To which I chuckle and say …. “seriously?!”

It is then that Balaam’s eyes are opened, he sees that he has behaved in a reckless fashion, confesses his sin and tells the angel of the Lord he will go back if He wants, but the angel of the Lord says “no, go forward but do only as I say.” When Balaam sees the people of Israel camped in a configuration of a cross, he does the right thing and blesses the people of Israel.

This is probably one of my favorite stories in the Bible, it helps us to see that our intentions are every bit as important as our actions. We need to abandon any compromise in our life when it comes to Jesus. Our treasure is where our heart is and our heart should be one with God. Amen? 

I pray you have an awesome day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …