MONDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2023
TEXT:
Numbers 22:1-20
1:
Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan
across from Jericho.
2:
Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites,
3:
and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled
with dread because of the Israelites.
4:
The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up
everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak son
of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
5:
sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the
Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said: “A people has come out of
Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.
6:
Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me.
Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For
I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
7:
The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination.
When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
8:
“Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you
with the answer the Lord gives me.” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.
9:
God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10:
Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:
11:
‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and
put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive
them away.’”
12:
But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those
people, because they are blessed.”
13:
The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your
own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
14:
So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come
with us.”
15:
Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the
first.
16:
They came to Balaam and said: “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not
let anything keep you from coming to me,
17:
because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a
curse on these people for me.”
18:
But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his
palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the
Lord my God.
19:
Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell
me.”
20:
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.”
(New
International Version Holy Bible)
TOPIC:
MATERIALISM: THE TEMPTATION OF A PROPHET
Today's
world has been corrupted by materialism to the extent that many pseudo
ministers are compromising the clear Word and mandate from God.
The
case of Balaam, son of Beor, "a diviner in the Torah and a non - Israelite
prophet" (vs1-6) easily comes to mind. The king of Moab and his people
were afraid when they heard about the Israelites' great victories over the
Amorites.
When
God is on your side, your enemies will be terrified of you because 'greater is
He that is in you'. In this case, Balak sought to hire Balaam to work against
God's people by placing a curse on them.
The
prophet knew he needed to hear from God before taking the contract. The clear
word from God was, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those
people, because they are blessed."
Balaam
had no reason to go back to ask God but he was greedy and wanted to find out if
God had changed His mind. What he got was no longer the perfect will of God but
permissive will of God: "Since these men have come to summon you, go with
them, but do only what I tell you" (vs 16-20). Tempted with material
benefits, he compromised God's word and almost paid with his life, but for His
grace.
QUESTION:
Are you easily tempted to compromise God's clear mandate through His Word
because of material gains?
PRAYER:
Oh Lord, make me an obedient servant that will not sacrifice Your Word on the
altar of worldly benefits, in Jesus name. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
No comments:
Post a Comment