Numbers 24:1 says, And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. Balaam was finally listening to God and would not go with Balik to attempt to curse Israel since he knew that it pleased God to bless them. We may have tried to defy God, as Christians, but He will always be ready to show us the truth. Verse two adds. And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him. When Balaam looked at the people of Israel living in their tents, the Spirit of the LORD came on him. As followers of Christ, the Spirit of the Lord is always with us, and as long as we are willing to listen to Him, He will open our eyes to God's truth. Verse three states, And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: Verse four adds, He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: Matthew Henry says that Balaam was still trying to exalt himself more than God. He was the one God was speaking through, so he should be humbled and not exalted. When we are speaking for God because He has opened our eyes to His word, we must never attempt to exalt ourselves instead of exalting God. Verse five says, How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! Balaam then once again begins to proclaim God's blessing on Israel. God's word is never going to change simply because we want it to say something else for our benefit. The people of Israel were God's chosen people. Verse six adds, As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters. Balaam said God had pronounced the people of Israel to be like trees planted by the river. They were strong and unmoveable, as we as His people are today. The world will never be more powerful than we are as long as we live by faith in Jesus Christ. Verse seven continues, He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. Balaam said that God had revealed to him that the kingdom of Israel would be a bountiful kingdom, planted and watered by God and more powerful than any other kingdom. As we go into the world today as followers of Christ, we are still empowered by God, and as long as we are faithful to Him, no one can ever defeat us. Verse eight says, God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. Balaam said God had brought the people of Israel out of Egypt, and that He would give them victory over all their enemies. God has brought us out of the bondage of sin today if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and He has already given us the power to defeat all our enemies. Verse nine adds, He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee. Balaam concluded by saying that God had said that those who blessed Isreal would be blessed and those that cursed them would be cursed, and cursing them was what Balak wanted Balaam to do. Verse ten states, And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. Balak became angry with Balaam, and told him that he had brought Balaam there to curse Israel, but that instead he had altogether blessed them. No matter what the world may want us to do as Christians, even if it will bring us fame and fortune, we must be obedient to God's word. Verse eleven adds, Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour. Balak told Balaam that he had wanted to promote Balaam to a place of great honor, but that God had prevented him from doing so. As a prophet of God, as long as Balaam remained true to Him, he was already in a place of grea honor. As followers of Christ, no matter how much or how little we have of the material things of this world we are already in a place of great honor, and we should never try to change God's word, no matter what we may be offered to do so. Verse twelve says, And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, Verse thirteen adds, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak? Balaam asked Balak had he not told Balak’s messengers that no matter what he was promised, he could not go against God's word. Balaam said Balak could not say he was cheating him, since Balaam had warned him to start with that he could only prophesy what God told him to. As Christians, that is all we can really do today. Verse fourteen continues, And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. Balaam told Balak that he was returning to his people, and told Balak to come and hear what would later happen to the people of Israel. Matthew Henry says that Balaam was telling Balak that he would be shown the way to defeat the people of Israel one day, and that would be by getting them to turn away from God and to turn to idolatry. We need to be careful that we do not let idolatry creep into our lives as followers of Christ. As long as we stand firm by faith in God, we will never be defeated spiritually, which is all that really matters.
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