March 6th

Numbers 22:1-24:25

The people of Israel traveled to the plains of Moab, on the east side of Canaan, and camped near the Jordan River. Of course, the Moabite King, Balak, was concerned when he saw that many people traveling through his kingdom. He was afraid that his army would not be able to defeat such a large number so he resorted to other measures. He hired a well-known medium, named Balaam, famous for divination, to come and curse the Israelites.

Even though Balaam lived among pagan idolaters, he somehow had knowledge of the one true God. Because of that knowledge, Balaam would not speak out against God’s people. Instead God used Balaam to bless Israel. He even allowed him to prophesy about the Messiah. Balaam foretold of the star of Bethlehem that would signify the coming of the King (24:17).

How awesome (and typical) for God to use the enemy of His people to bless them! Of course, we should not be surprised by this, or by the fact that God can speak through mules. The Scriptures tell us that God governs in the affairs of men, that He rules over kings, councils, and countries. They do as He commands.

Did the Israelites ever know that this drama was going on in the background? Obviously Moses did, because he wrote it down for us. But, did the people of God ever know that there were evil men watching them from the hills and conspiring to do them harm? I don’t know. What I do know is that if it were not for the Lord’s protection, the people would have been hounded by their enemies.

How often does our enemy wish to do us harm and, yet, by divine protection, we are spared? What confidence we should have to know that the Lord is on our side, that our great spiritual enemy can do us no long-term damage, for even he is under authority. “If God is for us, then who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

I also love the fact that Balaam, although not a reputable character for sure, would not speak anything that the Lord did not direct him to say. Six times he responded to Balak or his officials that he would not, even could not, say anything “against the will of the Lord” (22:8, 18, 38; 23:12, 26; 24:12, 13). Oh that we would allow God to use our words in such a way, for His purposes and not our own. All too often, we say what we want rather than what we ought.

Daily Reflection

How are you doing with your words? Are they typically self-centered and hurtful, or are you using them to glorify God and bless others?

If God can use diviners and donkeys to speak for Him, surely He can use you as well.

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth but only such as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment, so that it gives grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29).

BiAY.org | Day 65 — 300 Days to Go