SCRIPTURE: Numbers 22
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
At first glance, Balaam seems to be on the right track. When asked to put a curse on Israel, he heeds God’s warning and refuses. When enticed with wealth, he still refuses: “Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.” [Numbers 22:18] But something changes within him when God tells him to go with the king’s messengers. Somewhere along the line, his heart began to incline towards a reckless path [Numbers 22:32]. Maybe he was reconsidering all that money, scheming about what he could say to appease Balak, get the wealth and not totally disobey God. In His rebuke, God stresses again, “speak only what I tell you” [Numbers 22:35], which may imply that he was thinking of saying something else.
We need to be aware that even when we are following God, Satan will try to slip in and subtly divert us away from obeying the Lord. “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money.” [Luke 22:3-5] Satan knows our weakness, whether greed or lust or pride, and will try to divert us away from doing what the Lord wants us to do.
Never underestimate the devil’s intentions, nor his skills. He has been deceiving, distracting and defeating people for centuries. He knows exactly what buttons to push. Even when we’re on the right track, when we are sincerely and seriously serving the Lord, he slips into our thoughts, our hearts, and introduces doubts, distractions. How could Judas, who had been with Jesus for three years, fall into Satan’s trap?
Balaam is a reminder to me that I need to continually renew my determination to do only what the Lord leads me to do, to say what He leads me to say. Judas is a reminder to me that even those very close to the Lord can be diverted and defeated. “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” [1 Corinthians 10:12] “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” [1 Peter 5:8]
PRAYER:
Lord, when I am straying from your path, send an angel or a talking donkey or ANYTHING, to bring me back on track with You.
Balaam, the prophet, should have given an immediate response. How could he curse the people of God? Did he really need to wait on the word of the Lord? Even the messengers were not truthful in their reports about why Balaam refused to come. But there are so many times that we see only what we want to see or to hear. We are very selective. Praise be to God that He does open our eyes so that we may see Him and do His will and not ours. Balaam was still used to bless His people and not curse them. God uses our wrongful intentions His purposes still to fulfill. Help me daily Lord to walk in Your Way for You are the Way.
Open our eyes, Lord
We want to see Jesus,
To reach out and touch Him,
And say that we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord
And help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord
We want to see Jesus.