TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
TEXT:
Numbers 22:21-40
21:
Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite
officials.
22:
But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the
road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were
with him.
23:
When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn
sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get
it back on the road.
24:
Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with
walls on both sides.
25:
When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall,
crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.
26:
Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where
there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.
27:
When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was
angry and beat it with his staff.
28:
Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I
done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
29:
Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword
in my hand, I would kill you right now.”
30:
The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always
ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” he
said.
31:
Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing
in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
32:
The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three
times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one
before me.
33:
The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not
turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared
it.”
34:
Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you
were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go
back.”
35:
The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I
tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.
36:
When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite
town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory.
37:
Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you
come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”
38:
“Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I
please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”
39:
Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth.
40:
Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the officials
who were with him.
(New
International Version Holy Bible)
TOPIC:
GOD’S MERCY TO A GREEDY PROPHET
When
God speaks, men are hound to respond in obedience and humility and not arm -
twist the Lord to change His mind.
We
see God's mercy playing out as the angel of the Lord stood on the road to
oppose Balaam. He acknowledged his sin of greed and was ready to retrace his
steps, saying, "I will go back" but the angel said to him, "Go
with the men but speak only what I tell you."
At
last, Balaam was ready to forgo the material enticements and obey God's
instruction. Doing the perfect will of God is better than waiting for His
permissive will as we read earlier in verses 19 and 20.
Not
every believer or servant of God will be as lucky as Balaam who may have lost
his life in the process of seeking to acquire worldly possessions. Don't allow
material things block your relationship with God. It is dangerous.
QUESTION:
What is your altitude to wards the temptation of greed in the face of God's
clear instructions?
PRAYER:
Oh Lord, I pray that You give me the strength to withstand the temptation of
allowing material things make me compromise Your clear mandate for my life, in
Jesus name. Amen.
Remain
Blessed
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