A search of Numbers 23 (KJV):
The theme throughout this chapter was that of the blessing or cursing of Israel. Balak brought Balaam to Moab to curse Israel; however, God had previously made it known to Balaam that Israel was blessed, so he could not curse them (22:12; 23:7). In his Words from God, Balaam asked, "How shall I curse, when God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy whom the Lord hath not defied" (23:8)?
"And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth" (23:11,12)? Even after Balaam said this, Balak attempted to entice him to curse Israel from atop Pisgah (23:14).
Upon Pisgah, God delivered more parables through Balaam for Balak to hear (23:16). These were the Words of God: "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain" (23:19-24).
Even with these Words of God, Balak was adamant about working through Balak to change God's mind to curse Israel. Balak brought Balaam to the top of Peor for another attempt (23:27,28).
Personal question: Have you noticed the persistent darkness of Balak?
No comments:
Post a Comment