Fri.’s Devo - Nearing the Promised Land

Read: Numbers 21:1-22:20; Luke 1:26-56; Palm 57:2-22; Proverbs 11:9-11 The Israelites continued toward the land of Canaan and were attacked by the people who lived in the Negev. They took some of the people of Israel captive. The people of Israel met and made a vow to the Lord that if he would give them victory over them, they would completely destroy their towns. The Lord heard them and gave them victory. They renamed the place Hormah which means “destruction.” ***The people complained about the manna and the lack of food and water, so the Lord sent poisonous snakes among them which killed some of them. When they repented, Moses prayed and the Lord told him to make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. When the people who were bitten by the snakes looked at the pole, they would be healed. This snake on the pole is now our symbol for medicine. *** They found water in the wells of Beer. They came to the land of the Amorites where Simon was their king. They sent messages to him asking if they could travel through their land. He refused and attacked instead. Israel won and occupied their land to the border of the Amonites. They settled in the city of Heshbon which had been their capital. *** It doesn’t say why they didn’t destroy their towns. We are told that they had worshiped the god, Chemosh which required child sacrifice. Instead of destroying this evil city, they occupied it. *** They went on to Bashan where the King Og ruled. The Lord handed Og over to them. They killed King Og’s sons and subjects and occupied his land also. *** At last, they came to the Jordan River across from Jericho. Jericho was in the promised land. *** Balak, the king of Moab had been watching their progress and decided that they couldn’t win with brute force so he would defeat them spiritually. He sent messengers to hire Balaam, a sorcerer to curse them. Apparently, Balaam was known for his curses and his blessings. *** When the messengers found Balaam and presented him with the king’s request, he told them he would give his answer in the morning. That night God spoke to him and told him not to go because the people this king wanted him to curse, God had blessed. *** The next morning, Balaam gave the men his answer. The king sent an even bigger entourage of more distinguished men to ask him again. They offered to pay him well. *** Balaam told them that even if the king gave him his palace and all his silver and gold , he could not speak against the will of the Lord. But, he did tell them to stay the night and he would see if God had changed his mind. *** That night, God did speak to Balaam and told him to go with these people, but only speak what He told him to say. *** Balaam would have faired better if he had just stuck with what he knew the Lord had told him. His desire to appease this evil king caused the curse to come on him in the end. In Revelation, God spoke to the church at Smyrna about the doctrine of Balaam. “I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” *** Jude also says this about Balaam: “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.” *** In Luke, during Elizabeth’s sixth month of her pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth to tell Mary that she would also have a son. She was to name him Jesus and he would be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord would give him the throne of David’s and he would reign over Israel forever. His Kingdom would never end. *** When Mary asked him how this would happen, The angel explained that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and overshadow her. He told her that Elizabeth was also pregnant and in her sixth month. *** Mary submitted herself to whatever the Lord wanted to do through her and in a few days, went to see her aunt Elizabeth. When she entered the house and greeted Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s baby lept in her and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She began to prophesy and bless Mary. Mary responded in a beautifully prayer of prophesy. Mary stayed with Elizabeth until it was time for Elizabeth to deliver, then she went back home. *** I can’t imagine the criticism these two women endured to bring us two of the most important figures in human history. *** Lord, may we endure misunderstanding and ridicule because of our walk with you, with honor. May we have the fortitude and response that Mary had to yield her body to your will. As we near the celebration of your death and resurrection, may we be humble and grateful. Thank you for saving us!