a child of god
this is the way, run in it
I've been getting a lot out of the story of Balaam the son of Peor lately. There are a lot of interesting things about him - one being how he, as a pagan, a Midianite, knew the LORD God. He heard from God, yet, he also dabbled in omens and divination. A strange combination.
The aspect of his story I'd like to look at is the pivotal moment for Balaam. That moment when his eyes were opened, and I'm not talking about when he was enabled to see the angel of the LORD who had been blocking his path and frightening his donkey. Balaam knew how God worked. He knew how to approach His presence, and how to see if it was God's good favor to speak to him or not. So when Balak, the king of Moab, sent to Balaam to come and curse a people group for him, money in it for Balaam, he said, ok, I'm willing to see if the LORD God wants me to do that or not. "Spend the night here, and I will bring back word to you whatever the LORD may speak to me" (Numbers 22:8). At this point, Balaam had no idea that the people group the King of Moab wanted him to curse was in actuality, the people of the LORD, the people of Israel. "And God said to Balaam, 'Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people; for they are blessed." And Balaam, to give him his due, goes the next day and says, Can't go with you. Sorry. See you later. And sends them away. The King of Moab knows how Balaam ticks, and he sends another delegation, promising to pay him richly. So Balaam approaches God again. At this point, I always laugh, and then become sober. The laugh is my thinking, didn't Balaam get it the first time?! If God says no, He means no. And then I remember the times when I do the very same thing - keep asking for what I want, rather than accepting God's best for me. And God does something surprising! He lets Balaam go. He doesn't tell him off. He is upset with Balaam, but he lets him go to teach him some lessons, and to accomplish something God wants done. I'm going to skip the whole angel of the LORD with a drawn sword/donkey talking bit - if you want to read that it is in Numbers 22, verses 22-35. God does warn Balaam though that he is only to speak the word that God puts in his mouth. So Balaam knows the score now. He is the servant, the messenger, and God is the LORD God Almighty. When Balaam gets there, after being questioned as to the delay, he answers Balak, the King of Moab, "Behold, I have come to you now! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak" (Numbers 22:38). So Balaam goes with Balak and they come to Kiriath-huzoth, they sacrifice some animals and get ready to do business. Now here comes Balaam's "aha" moment. The word says, "Then it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to the high palces of Baal; and he saw from there...a portion of the people" (v.41). I think when Balaam crested that rise and saw a glimpse of the people of Israel, a portion of the greatness of the people who were numbered as the sands on the sea shore, I think he had a profound revelation. He came, on the promise of money, to curse a people group; and God brought him, not to curse, but to bless. At this point, he is humbled and aware of his position with regard to the LORD God. He, Balaam, is the servant, and he has become aware of the size and glory of the task God has brought him to that ridge for. I think it was a profound revelation that shook him from his head down to his feet, a "time stops for a moment" experience, and into the stillness of his soul, God speaks. God puts words in Balaam's mouth, words of blessing, for God's people.
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We are the jars. Are we available for God to fill? God will fill and use those who are gathered, assembled as we saw in Numbers, and who are empty, ready to be used. "For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves" (2 Corinthians 4:6-7). Image from: https://uk.pinterest.com/vigilko/thomas-kempis/
"Assemble the people, that I may give them water." says the LORD God. And then the people of Israel sang a song: "Spring up, O well!" (Numbers 21:16) ![]() That verse first spoke to me in July 2012. Our prophetic prayer group, back then called The Ministry Team, later to become the Listening to God group, had heard a word from the Lord for our church. It was about the three wells of Jacob (Genesis 26:17-22). We had been waiting with that word, praying about it and listening to what God had to say, and this verse seemed to stand out to me and tie into those/that word. If you look at verses 17-18, it's talking about causing a dry well to spring up with living waters from singing to it in praise to God, and which the leaders caused to be dug with their scepter and staffs - not digging tools. Those are symbols of their positions as leaders and priests within God's family. It is God Himself who would cause the waters to flow in the wilderness. In Numbers Chapter 21 where they sing to this well, it is one of the few times the people of Israel listened to God and obeyed Him in the wilderness, rather than grumbling and complaining and hardening their hearts to Him. And look what happens! They obey God and work with Him, and He works a miracle. He causes living waters to flow in the wilderness. Now track with me here - shifting gears to 2 Kings 4:1-7 where Elisha helps a widow and her two sons. This morning at church we heard a visiting speaker preach on this. He pointed out how God seeks to build capacity in our lives. And He uses what we have, then adds His extra on it to glorious effect, fruit producing effect, life changing effect - when we listen and obey. Elisha asks the widow what she wants, and she tells him. Then he asks her what she has, and she had one jar of oil. He tells her to go collect and borrow as many jars and vessels as she can. She and her sons do that. Then the miracle begins, she pours the oil into the jars and it doesn't stop. It goes on and on. It flows on and on, filling and overflowing, until the last jar is full. Then it stops. And her capacity has been multiplied - through belief and action. What do you and I have in our houses? What good are we willing to do to bless our local community with it? What needs to change in our hearts to allow that oil of blessing to flow and overflow? Where do you want that oil of blessing to flow? When we sing to the well, when we praise God, when we call on His name, He responds. When we give Him what we have, He puts His extra on it and it becomes extra-ordinary. |
Franci Ballwatching and working for the kingdom of God in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham - UK Archives
January 2019
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