Numbers 24:1-25


Balak continues to try to have Balaam curse the children of Israel but Balaam continues to reveal God’s plan for the nation and His blessings on them.  Balak becomes more and more angry and starts to threaten Balaam.  Too often, people claim that they want to hear the Word of God, but the reality is that they want God’s Word to justify their sin and they become very upset when their sin is condemned.  We must be careful to conform our lives to God’s Word and not try to manipulate God’s Word to conform to our lives.

GOD HAS BLESSED ISRAEL WITH PROSPERITY: Balaam receives a message from God that confirms the truth that God has chosen to prosper the nation of Israel.  When He brought them out of Egypt, He made them a prosperous nation.  The people gave their own wealth to the children of Israel as they left.  God has continued to give the nation prosperity through the plunder of the nations.  However, the blessing of Israel extends to all nations who will bless Israel.  God’s desire is to bless all nations through Israel and He will accomplish that in due time.  Unfortunately, for most nations throughout history they have chosen to curse Israel and for that reason these nations have invited the curse of God upon their lives.

GOD HAS BLESSED ISRAEL WITH POWER: Israel is a nation of slaves and shepherds.  They were not trained in battle; they were not large in their size.  However, they had a power that came from God to be able to dominate the other nations that were bigger and stronger and had larger weapons because of God’s blessing on them.  Men trust in the weapons of war, but God would have us trust Him.  He has all the strength and power that is necessary to overcome any obstacle or enemy this world can present.  Christ has come through Israel and one day He will reign over all of the earth and it will be a reign that has no end.  It is a blessing to know that we can rest in the power of God.

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