Bible In One Year-Day 67 (Saturday, March 08, 2014)

Commentary: Num22-24. The fear of the Israelites was the problem of Balak because of what he heard their God did for them. This led into witchcraft. What Balak did is just the way witchcraft is practiced; spells, jinxes and curses are first cast upon somebody before the physical attack. That is, their victim would have been dealt with in the spirit realm before taking physical action on them. Jesus gave a clue to this action in Matthew 13:25 “But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and departed.”

Curse is uttered statement that carries spiritual power to enforce bad omen under the supervision of evil spirits. It is the opposite of blessing. Therefore, Balak’s action was witchcraft practice. For the mere fact that he went to Balaam, we could deduct the character of Balaam; a prophet who got his calling corrupted for money and fame, greedy for money (i.e. he used spiritual gift to perverse), and ritualistic (makes sacrifices to change things). It would surprise us that God was angry with him after He gave him the permission to go, Num22:20-22. But Num22:32 tells why God’s anger was aroused. God had told him at one time not to go, but he still went to ask God the second time just because of the money and gift involved. The angel of the Lord revealed his problem to him; perversion. The complete description of Balaam’s way is in 2 Pet 2: 14-16

2Pet2:14-16 “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.”

The Bible called his actions “madness of the prophet”. The ministry of Balaam is expanding nowadays; easily influenced with material gifts and its acquisitions. In such ministry, prayer is made more for whoever has the money to give out, and fasting done on behalf of the influential rather than for the dying souls and the poor at heart. Birthdays seats are for the rich and not as stated in Luke 14:12 “Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”

This is God’s standard, beloved.

The message from the mouth of the donkey was the message of rebuke. Despite the fact that the donkey spoke with man’s voice, Balaam was not shocked as to repent but still justified himself. It is shameful that the donkey could see vision while the prophet was blind to it initially and because he did not see the angel of God, madness came into it. Madness is always manifested in people who lack revelation but in ministry. Balaam could not change God’s word these three times because it was conditional for him to speak only what God told him to speak. The prophecy he gave in Num24:17 suits Matt2:2; star symbolizes a King while a scepter is a symbol of power. Since Num24:2 says that the Spirit of God came upon him which made him to speak, we could agree with 2 Peter 1:19-21 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

We need to be moved by the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is written that where there is no vision the people perish. The Holy Spirit is the light that shines in darkness and darkness is not able to hold it. When the Spirit enters you, light enters and consequently, you get understanding, Isaiah11:2. It is quite difficult to understand the spiritual things without the Holy Spirit. 1Cor2:10-16 made us to understand that we receive revelation by the Holy Spirit, knowledge of the things of God, wisdom and the wealth in God only by the Holy Spirit. The Israelites, though were in transit, were not poor but quite rich in God. The hardship you might be going through now does not mean you are poor but just a transit. A natural man will always look at spiritual things as foolishness, i.e. makes no sense to him or her because spiritual things are spiritually discerned. To have a better understanding of Jesus, you need the fullness of the Holy Spirit; the comforter who guides into all truth. You can’t use human or intellectual logics to address spiritual things; the flesh and the spirit are always at loggerhead. When the Holy Spirit enters into you, God’s kingdom has entered into you and according to Ezek2:2, He sets you on your feet, i.e. you find your bearing and direction. Through Him you know what next you get involve with in life, the type of friend to keep, the secret of the enemy is fully revealed to you and, of course, you become an untraceable wind, John 3:8 “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

To receive Him, you must hunger and thirst for Him. Prayer: Lord Jesus, release the breathe of the Holy Spirit in me afresh. Next mile on the trip is Num25-27. Keep the fire burning and alive.