Thurs.’s Devo The Consequence of Idolatry

Read: Numbers 24:1-25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14
I love that an enchanter who hated Israel had to give such a beautiful prophecy over Israel. He not only blessed Israel but he cursed Israel’s enemies. Balaam lost honor and riches for obeying God, but he had no choice. He even prophesied the coming of Jesus as a Star out of Jacob and a Scepter that would rise out of Israel.
God saved Israel from being cursed yet Israel cursed themselves by committing idolatry with the daughters of Moab. Worshipping Baal meant participating in all sorts of sexual perversions with temple prostitutes. God became very angry and a plague broke out among the people. When an Israelite brought one of these women into the camp, Phinehas, the priest ran and speared the man and women in the act of their perversion. His zeal for the Lord stopped the plague but not before twenty-four thousand people were killed. Zimri was the name of the man killed. His name means “musical; my psalm” so he was a musician who wrote psalms to the Lord. The woman’s name was Cozbi which means “false”. Her father’s name was Zur which means a rock. So that means that their doctrine was false.
They were Midianites which means “contention and strife”.
The enemies that the Israelites faced are the same spirits and enemies that we face. We cannot afford to make friends with strife and contention. This spirit is trying to consume our land and we have to raise up the banner of love and kindness to defeat it. We also have to war against our enemies.
In Luke, Jesus is born. The heavens proclaimed his arrival to shepherds who were watching over temple sheep. These sheep would be sacrificed for the sins of the people. How fitting. Since he is the first born he is to be presented to the Lord. While they were at the temple, there was a prophet who was there because God had told him to go there that day. When Mary and Joseph came with Jesus, he took Jesus in his arms and prophesied over him with joy. He knew that this baby was the salvation for the world. He would be the light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. He would reveal the thoughts of man.
Last night one of our cars was broken into and my daughter-in-law’s purse was stolen. Her purse and all its belonging was strewn all over the street. Psalm 59 has new meaning today.
Lord, I will sing of your power and your mercy that comes in the morning. You are our defense and and refuge in the day of trouble.