Sat.’s Devo - Signs

Read: Numbers 24: 1-25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14
When Balak took Balaam to the third spot to look at Israel and curse them, Balaam did not consort to sorcery but actually listened to what God said about them and his prophecy was so much more than, he had to bless them. He actually saw into Israel’s future and saw how God felt about them. When Balak rebuked him for not cursing them, Balaam told him what Israel would do to his people. He saw the star that would come out of Jacob and the kingdom that would come from this star. He prophesied the destruction of the kingdom of Amalek and that of the Kenites.
Balaam and Balak parted ways but Balaam influenced Israel to join in the sacrifices of the Baal of Poor, his country and his gods. Evil gods always lead God’s people into sexual perversion. God told them to rid the evil from the camp every man who had taken a foreign wife had to die. One man blatantly brought his Midianite wife before the Tent of Meeting and the priest, Eleazar took a knife and followed the man into his tent and killed him. The woman was also killed whose name was Cozbi. Cozbi means “my lie” because that is what she was. She was one of the daughters of a tribal chief of Midian.
In Luke, Caesar Augustus ordered at census of the entire Roman empire so everyone had to return to their home town to be counted. Joseph and Mary had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be counted. They were engaged but not married yet and Mary was 9 months pregnant. During the census there would be thousands of people traveling to their homelands so the inns were all filled up. Shepherds were out in the field watching over the sheep that would probably be used in the temple sacrifices. The heavens opened up and they saw all the angels proclaiming the birth of the Son of God. The angel told them about the king born in Bethlehem and they went to see this baby wrapped in the cloths. These were probably the old clothes of the priest’s garments.
The shepherds and Simeon confirmed to Mary and Joseph that they had heard God and that this child really was the Messiah.
Lord, help us to see the signs that you send to confirm your word to us. Help us to see them.