08/12/2008
Numbers 22:1 - 6 (HCSB) 1The Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan across from Jericho. 2Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous, and dreaded the Israelites. 4So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will devour everything around us like an ox eats up the green plants in the field.”
Since Balak son of Zippor was Moab’s king at that time, 5he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. Balak said to him: “Look, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the surface of the land and are living right across from me. 6Please come and put a curse on these people for me because they are more powerful than I am. I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed.”
Numbers 22:18 (HCSB) 18But Balaam responded to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the LORD my God to do [anything] small or great.
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As Israel passed through the wilderness, the city-kingdoms were afraid of them because of their numbers and reputation. A certain king, Balak, knew of a prophet named Balaam. Balaam was not part of the nation of Israel, but from what we read, he was a Godly man. From Balaam and others like Melchizedek, we know that God had revealed himself to more than just Israel; Israel, however, was the chosen people to maintain the Temple.
Balak sent messengers to Balaam intending to curse the Israelites so that he might overcome them in battle. But Balaam’s response is a model for us all.
Balaam says that he can do nothing against what God has already ordained. God had already blessed Israel and His intention was for them to inhabit the land.
There is more to this story that I would encourage you to read on your own, but I wanted to stop here because I think this is a good example for us. We need to be responsive to God’s will for us, but also to God’s purpose on a larger scale.
Can you recognize what God is doing around you? Are you contributing to that work or hindering it? We should always be mindful of what God is doing and make it our goal to support any work of the Lord.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
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