Tues.’s Devo - God’s Fulfilled Promise

Read: Numbers 22:21-23:30; Luke 1:57-80; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 11:12-13 The King of Barak had hired Balaam who was a soothsayer. Second Peter 2:15 says that Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness. He was a sorcerer who made his money cursing and doing evil things to people. Second Peter goes on to say that Balaam was like wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. For when he speaks his great words of vanity, he allures through the lusts of the flesh. He promises liberty but is a servant of corruption whose goal is to overcome men and bring them under bondage. Revelation 2:14 says that Balaam taught Barak to cast a tumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication. When Balaam couldn’t curse Israel, he stood to lose lots of money. So, he taught Barak how to have Israel curse themselves. We will read about that tomorrow. God was so upset with Balaam that he asked to go with Barak instead of obeying him the first time that he sent an angel to kill him. The sorcerer who is skilled into seeing into the spirit world could not see the angel because he was so blind with deceit. His donkey did see the angel and tried to get out of the way. Balaam beat his donkey to get back on the road when God opened the donkey’s mouth and he spoke to Balaam. The fact that Balaam didn’t act shocked that his donkey was talking to him tells me that he was used to all sorts of paranormal things. His donkey rebuked him and then Balaam’s eyes were opened to see the angel with the drawn sword. He immediately fell to the ground in fear. Balaam got another stern warning to speak only what God said. He needed all these warnings because the great King Balak, the destoyer, came to meet him personally. The first place the king took Balaam was to Bamoth Baal which means “high places of Baal”. There he sacrificed to Baal on the altars there. God gave Balaam the message and he went back and told Barak. Basically he told him he couldn’t curse what God had blessed and that these people were God’s and they were righteous. King Balak was furious. Balaam told him he couldn’t speak anything but what God put in his mouth. So King Balak took him to another place to look down at a different group of the Israelites. Maybe he could curse them. Barak took him to the plateau of Zophim on Pisgah Peak. This was a place where their “watchmen” surveyed into the spirit realm. Once again they offered seven ram and seven bulls on the altars there. Balaam’s message was even stronger. He said that God hadn’t changed his mind about blessing his people and that no magic had power against Israel. Balak told Balaam, “Fine, but if you won’t curse them, at least don’t bless them!” LOL! Barak was relentless. He wanted to take Balaam one more place to see if he could find a chink in their armor. He took him to the top of Mt. Peor. Poor means “the opening” which I’m thinking it meant a portal. They had a god they called Peor so this was probably his portal. In Luke, John the Baptist was born. Zechariah was still speechless. They took the baby to be circumcised on the eighth day and assumed he would be named Zechariah after his father, but Elizabeth said his name was John. They gestured to Zechariah what he wanted the baby to be named and he wrote JOHN on a tablet. The moment he wrote it he could speak. The people were filled with awe and Zechariah prophesied over Israel and over John. He told Israel that the Saviour had come to rescue them from their enemies so they could serve God without fear. John would be called his prophet who would prepare the way for the Lord. He would tell the people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. John grew up and entered into his public ministry. Lord, thank you that you stand up for your children and you bless us when the enemy wants us cursed. You bring us salvation and light and you guide us to the path of peace.