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Numbers 22:1-24:25<\/strong><\/span> Today i<\/span><\/span>n Numbers chapter 22 we read about Balak sending for Balaam \u2013 hoping Balaam will curse the Israelites.\u00a0 \u00a0Balak sends messengers the 1st time and Balaam gets a message from God to not go with these messengers, as God has blessed the Israelites.\u00a0 What is interesting to me are verses 15-17: \u201cThen Balak tried again. This time he sent a larger number of even more distinguished officials than those he had sent the first time. They went to Balaam and gave him this message: \u201cThis is what Balak son of Zippor says: Please don\u2019t let anything stop you from coming. I will pay you well and do anything you ask of me. Just come and curse these people for me!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 For some reason these verses really reminded me of temptation in our lives today.\u00a0 Like Balaam with the messengers on their first visit, we may realize something is not what God would want us to do \u2013 and we send the temptation away.\u00a0 But\u2026\u00a0 then the temptation can come back!\u00a0 In a bigger way \u2013 with more distinguished officials than before\u2026 with more allure than before\u2026\u00a0 the temptation that we resisted once so valiantly can come back.\u00a0 And then, the question becomes \u2013 with the opportunity to be \u201cpaid well\u201d by the temptation, will we still resist the temptation?\u00a0 Can we resist the temptation a 2nd time?\u00a0 Through Jesus, our mediator before our Heavenly Father, yes, I know we can.\u00a0 If temptation has visited you once \u2013 or twice \u2013 or even many times \u2013 will you pray to God today in the name of Jesus that temptation will never overcome you?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Today in Numbers chapter 22 we read about Balaam\u2019s talking donkey! Yes, this is a very unique portion of scripture, and, yes, one we can learn from. In verses 27 & 28 we read: \u201cWhen the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat her with his staff. Then the LORD opened the donkey\u2019s mouth, and she said to Balaam, \u201cWhat have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 There is a lot going on in the verses leading up to this point, and in the verses thereafter \u2013 which you can study more at this link . I think one thing for us to pay attention to here is how we are sometimes saved from a bad situation by what at first glance appears to be an \u201cinconvenience.\u201d A donkey laying down and starting to talk is inconvenient to Balaam. But, this talking donkey saved Balaam from an angel with a sword in hand that Balaam could not see. Are there perhaps \u201cinconveniences\u201d in your life today that are maybe saving you from a bad situation? Or, do you recognize inconveniences in the past that saved you from a bad situation? I know I have. If my car breaks down or I get sick or I miss a flight \u2013 all inconveniences \u2013 I try to remind myself that it might just be possible that this inconvenience was meant to be. It may have saved me from something much worse happening. The inconvenience \u2013 the \u201ctalking donkey\u201d \u2013 may have actually saved me from something I could not see. Keep your eyes open for inconvenient \u201ctalking donkeys\u201d in your life \ud83d\ude42 \u2013 and praise God for them when they appear! <\/span><\/span>Here\u2019s Rembrandt\u2019s take on Balaam\u2019s talking donkey from the year 1626:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org commentary on Balaam in chapters 22 & 23 is <\/span>at this link.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Today in Numbers chapter 24 we read about Balaam\u2019s prophecies!\u00a0 Verse 17 is thought to be prophetic of Jesus: \u201cI see him, but not in the present time.\u00a0 I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel. It will crush the foreheads of Moab\u2019s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Tyndale\u2019s commentary today suggests that the star rising from Jacob may be the prophecy that convinced the wise men to travel to Israel in search of the newborn Jesus.\u00a0 Here\u2019s an image of Balaam prophesying over Israel\u2019s camp:\u00a0 (and of course Balak looking horrified over this blessing that Balaam is giving)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in Numbers today about the messages God gave Balaam to give to Balaak reminded me of The City Harmonic\u2019s song \u201cManifesto:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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