Sun.’s Devo - The Lord Has Come!

Read: Numbers 24:1-25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14 Balak took Balaam to a third position - the top of Mount Peor. He had built seven altars and sacrificed seven bulls and rams to the Lord. This time, Balaam didn’t resort to his divination. Balaam gave a beautiful oratory about Israel. He proclaimed that they would devour all the nations that opposed them and then lay down to rest like a lioness. He ended with: those who curse her would be cursed. So he turned the curse on Balak who came for that very reason. *** Balak was enraged and told him he would not pay Balaam. Balaam reminded him that he had no power to say anything but what God let him say. Then Balaam let out all the stops; he told Balak what the Israelis would do to Balak’s people in the future. *** In the distant future, God would bring the Messiah out of Jacob who would crush the heads of Moab’s people. He would take Edom, Seir, Sheth, Ir, the Amalekites, the Kenites, and Eber. *** Balak and Balaam departed, but not before Balaam taught Balak how he could infiltrate the Israelites and weaken them. Revelation 2:14 “ But 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.” *** The Moabite leaders’ daughter was sent down along with other women to entice the men to come and worship their gods. Many fell to the temptation and God sent a plague to punish the people, killing 24,000 of them. Eleazar stopped it by thrusting a spear through the man and Moabite woman who blatantly went into the man’s tent to have sex. The woman’s name was Cozbi which means “my sin.” The man’s name was Zimri which means “my song.” He was definitely listening to the wrong song. *** In Luke, the Roman government called for a census and since Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem. This was where God wanted Jesus to be born. (Many of our inconveniences have profound purposes.) Mary did wait till she got there to deliver Jesus and wrapped him in the cloths and laid him in a manger. He came that way and left that way. Historians say that these were left over linen from the priests clothes. It is all symbolic of his priesthood. *** God chose to reveal his great gift to shepherds who tenderly cared for sheep in the natural. They announced to them that the Messiah had been born that day in Bethlehem which was the city of David. All of heaven’s angels praised the Lord and proclaimed that peace had come to those who God was pleased. It would be anything but peace to those God was not pleased with. *** They ran to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and told them what had happened. Mary was amazed and put this away in her heart. *** Eight days later, they brought Jesus to the Temple to be circumcise and named Jesus. He was dedicated to the Lord as their first born son. There was an old man named Simeon who had been promised by God that he would not die until he saw the Messiah with his own eyes. When Mary and Joseph came with Jesus , he took Jesus in his arms and praised the Lord. He proclaimed that Jesus was a light to reveal the Lord to the nations; he was the glory of all Israel. Now, he could die in peace. *** Simeon told Mary that Jesus would cause many in Israel to fall and other to rise. He would reveal the deepest thoughts of hearts and a sword would pierce Mary’s soul. *** Jesus did all of those things and more. He caused the religious leaders to fall in the eyes of the people and many poor fishermen to rise to change the world. He revealed hearts of the wicked and hearts of the hungry. He brought death and life, the choice was the hearer’s. *** Lord, thank you that your words to us were death to our old man and life to our new. Thank you that your word is eternal and every dot and tittle will be fulfilled.