Monday, October 13, 2008

Turning a curse into a blessing

I was studying about Balaam and the donkey and God gave me a different perspective on the story. It is found in Numbers 22. The enemies of the Old Testament were flesh and blood enemies that occupied the land that God had promised to the Israelites. Our enemies are not flesh and blood but principalities and powers of the darkness of this world and wickedness in high places. Nevertheless they have occupied our land. (Our land being our very lives.)
The Israelites were passing through the land of the Amorites and just wanted to pass through. The Amorites refused to let them without a fight. Isn't that just like demons; there is no compromising with them or making deals. They know one strategy - kill, steal, destroy. The Israelites had to fight the town of Heshbon, which means lies, manipulation and the city Bashan which means shame. The king of the Ammorites, Balak decides to hire a sorcerer, Balaam to curse these people. Baalam means a foreignor and a destroyer. He rode on the back of a donkey. We are the donkey. On our back we carry the things of our past that destroy us. As Baalam rode his donkey God opened the spiritual eyes of the donkey. He saw the path and the angel with the drawn sword. He bolted off this wrong path only to be beat back on by Baalam. Next the donkey sees the road narrowing between 2 walls. Once again he tries to avoid harm only to get beat back on the path by Baalam. Finally the angel stands so that there is no passage. The donkey bows down. Balaam beats the donkey again and the donkey speaks to his master. God opens up Balaam's eyes and he has to bow also. Our ruts, habits, strongholds are like Balaam. They are false prophets that beat us down whenever we try to get out of our pit and take the right path. God has given us authority over our enemies and if we speak to our enemy it has to bow before God. God will cause our enemy to bow and we will be set free of him. Matt. 16:29 says "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. " Be loosed!!!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

There is an anointing in your writing, Ginny.