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March 5th
The Bible reading for today is in Numbers chapters 23,24,25.
Yesterday’s reading introduced us to some “strange ministers” of God...that show up in our text today...a false prophet that told the truth...a donkey that talked to men, and an angel of the Lord that demonstrated that less can be more.
That false prophet was named Balaam. He was hired by the king of Moab to curse the Israelites. He was known for his great powers to do such. However, God turned him into “His minister” for the “blessing” of Israel...instead of for the “cursing” of Israel.
And...Listen to the end of one of Balaam’s messages about Israel in today’s reading...about their effect on him...“Who can count the greatness of Israel...Let me die the death of the Israelite..the upright... and let my end be like his...”
A false prophet...arrogant enough to confront the God of Israel....became “A strange minister” of the true God for sure.
That “talking” donkey?... That was Balaam’s ride. God not only gave that donkey prophetic power, but God also gave him spiritual sight. That donkey could see what Balaam could not. And that donkey could explain what God was doing when Balaam could not.
Another strange minister of God indeed.
And that angel of the Lord...right in the middle of that story of Balaam and the donkey...he fulfilled his ministry... by simply “standing in the way”. That angel “with a sword”...was part of the host of God’s “angel army”. He was there to kill Balaam for accepting Balak’s deal... ”you curse Israel so that I can defeat them and I will fill your house with treasures.”
God could have used that powerful heavenly agent to put down Balaam with his sword. But instead, God used him to simply “get in his way”....so that God could speak to him through a donkey.
Strange ministers all!
Moving on in the text...let me show you two more ways this false prophet told the truth that effected Israel and us today. In chapters 24 and 25 we read of another prophesy God directs from the mouth of Balaam. Speaking of Israel...Balaam said...”How lovely are thy tents, O Jacob...Your tabernacles...O Israel.” Or “How beautiful is the place where You are, O Lord.”
Balaam was referring here to how the presence of God made beautiful everything in the camp of Israel where He tabernacled. This text also reminds me of something similar that King David said from his hiding place in the mountain range of Judah.
After months of running from Absolom, a tired but brave David scoped out Jerusalem from nearby cover. He looked at the walls, he looked at the people, and he looked with longing upon the Temple...and said: “My heart longs for the courts of the Lord...how lovely is the place where You are O God.”
There probably was a special sense of God’s presence in the Temple for David. I'm sure he missed worshipping with other believers there. However, David wrote songs about the presence of God going with him even outside the Temple proper...by God’s Spirit.
So when he was tempted to become forlorn and cold of heart in his shadowy retreats, away from Jerusalem, surely he said “O Lord, I am not alone. You are here, with me, your child. And to others’ eyes and several senses, this place seems most certainly despairing. But because I am your “court” and you dwell with me...even this unhappy place is beautiful.” “How lovely is the place where You are!”
Then finally...Balaam prophesied of something/someone to come...when he says...“I see him but not now...I behold him but not near...a Star shall come out of Jacob...a Sceptor shall rise out of Israel..and out of Jacob shall One come having all dominion...Lord of Lords and King of Kings...Jesus is His Name...what a Savior...even a topic of conversation way back in the wilderness!
Enjoy the rest of the story
Have a great day
