GOD DOESN'T SEE THE INJUSTICE OF JACOB

Nb 23 :13-30

In fact, Balaq hadn't really sustained damage, but, obstinately he importunes Balaam. Balaq continually asks Balaam to damn Israel, leading Balaam to a few places. However, after he had listened to God's word, Balaam kept his heart's core pure. We will study what was his heart's core.

1. God isn't a man

The reason you can't listen to Balaq's word was because the Eternal God isn't a man (19). God had promised that he will bless Israel. God doesn't fail in keeping this promise, whatever happens, whatever be the prejudice. God isn't a man. God always keeps the promise which he has said to mankind.

2. God doesn't sees the injustice of Jacob

Balaq, who wanted to damn Israel that God decided to bless, was a stupid man (20). In the same way, the one who wants to damn people that God decided to bless and or people who work hard for God, is stupid. Instead he makes the curse fall on himself. God said to Israel to not damn Moab, so we must bless Moab, and Moab would be wise to not damn people of God. But often the reality is different. The one who leaves, leaves damning. God decided to bless (Ex 15:26), even by not inflicting sickness which God inflicted on Egyptians, always healing Israel. God is the one who blesses Israel and keeps his promise to the very end. The one who is opposed to God is stupid.

Prayer : Thank you Lord, you are always the one who blesses and protects the one who serves you with your love and your power. Help us to discern your will and keep us within your blessing.

Bottom line : God isn't a man

BALAAM IS CLOTHED WITH STRENGTH

June 21^st, 2016

Numbers 23:1-12

If we are God's servants, we shouldn't be babblers, but rather strong people who believe in God whatever the difficulty, and who solve problems (1 Corinthians 1:4, 5 ; 1 Timothy 1:7). From today's text, we should understand how Balaam was clothed with God's strength.

1. Balaam was faced with an embarassing situation

Now, Balaam had left his homeland and stood before a dignitary of a foreign land. He had to seek answers in front of them (39, 40 from the previous chapter), so this situation was embarassing for him, a prophet.

2. Balaam is clothed with God's strength

In this situation, Balaam asked for burnt offerings and spoke special words. However, what he finally said was contrary to what Balak had hoped for. Balaam was entirely clothed with God's strength. First, he separated himself from the others in order to meet the Eternal God (3) - "prayer". Then, he received "God's word" (5). Thirdly, he decided to die a righteous man (10) - "decision". Fourthly, Balaam preached what he had received (12) - "preaching".

Prayer : Lord, when we are embarassed by difficulties we face, help us to have the wisdom to meet with you and receive your word. I understand that only when I receive your word will I be strengthened.

Bottom line : the word is the source of strength

Devine comedy

Divine comedy
The story of Balaam in Nb 22-23 is very pleasant. This character will make laugh. Meanwhile, the donkey Balaam speaks and this one tells the blessing while the enemy in front of him with gifts in hand were waiting for the curse. Balak was angry when from the mouth of Balaam came constantly words of blessing. It seems there is no more cheerful story in the Bible, perhaps second after the story of Jonah. Balak led Balaam in three different locations, but it continues to bless Israel. The king was very embrassed.
Our God is the God who laughed and make laugh as he laughed Sara because of her unborn son. He laughed Jonas by growing castor root.
But in fact, to Balaam, it was not a funny story. It was a very critical story for him, because he was the prophet, but he was somehow sold by the desire for wealth and power. He allowed himself to have these things, and now he's stuck somehow in an impasse from which he can't withdraw.
But they say that even if the sky is falling, there is a hole to get out. Before the king and the chiefs of Moab, he began to recover. How? By God's help he was able to overcome his fear and challenge by faith. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and wisdom says 2 Timothy 1: 7. Balaam stood before God and he received the word and with his firm decision of the same kind of Esther, "If I perish, I perish" he advanced towards the king. Then, like Paul, he transmits what he had received from God, the living word of God. That works! Despite the king's anger, he was unscathed. But at the end of the day, apart from all those things that are key to the victory of Balaam, the basis of all this is clear. It's that Balaam, when he heard the voice of the donkey and the voice of the angel of the LORD, repented. A soul deeply repented cannot be overcome by the world. It offer a victory.



Divine comédie
L'histoire de Nb 22-23 sur Balaam est très plaisante. Ce personnage va me faire rire. Entretemps, l'ânesse parle et Balaam raconte la bénédiction alors que l'ennemi en face de lui avec les cadeaux à la main attendait la malédiction. Balaq se mit en colère alors que de la bouche de Balaam sortaient sans cesse les mots de malédiction. Il semble qu'il n'y a pas d'histoire plus rieuse dans la Bible, peut-être deuxième après l'histoire de Jonas. Balaq conduit Balaam dans les trois endroits différents, mais il continue de bénir Israël.
Notre Dieu est le Dieu qui rit et qui fait rire, comme il a fait rire Sara à cause de son fils à naître. Il a fait rire Jonas par la racine de ricin croissante.
Mais en fait, pour Balaam, ce n'était pas une histoire amusante. C'était une histoire très critique pour elle, car il était le prophète, mais il a été en quelque sorte vendu par le désir de richesse et de pouvoir. Il se laissa avoir par ces choses, et voilà maintenant il est coincé en quelque sorte dans une impassé d'où il ne peut se retirer.
Mais on dit que même si le ciel s'écroule, il y a un trou à s'en sortir. Devant les roi et les notables de Moab, il en vint à se ressaisir. Comment? Par l'aide de Dieu, il put surmonter sa peur et défier par la foi. Dieu ne nous a pas donné l'esprit de timidité, mais de force et d'amour et de sagesse dit 2Ti 1:7. Balaam se tint devant Dieu et il reçut la parole et avec sa ferme décision de la sorte d'Esther, "si je périt, je périrai" il s'avança vers le roi. Puis, comme Paul, il transmet ce qu'il avait reçu de Dieu, la parole vivante de Dieu. Voilà ça marche! Malgré la colère du roi, il sort indemne. Mais en fin de compte, à part de tous ces choses qui sont les clés de la victoire de Balaam, la base de tout cela s'avère clair. C'est que Balaam, quand il entendit la voix de son âne et la voix de l'ange de l'Eternel, s'était repenti. Une âme repenti profondément ne peut être surmonté par le monde. Elle est victorieuse.

Meditation of Day

Meditation of day

Eph 1:18
Paul prays for Christians in Ephesus that they have revelation and wisdom. Balaam in No. 22 was blind to the power and possession of Balak. I must pray for God to open our eyes, I and my flock, the spiritual eyes to see his holiness and truth. As a prophet, it would be the first duty. But how, despite our prophet position - Paul spoke of the gift of prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14 that we must all seek to have it to build the church - we ignore this prayer. Working as a businessman, I have often risked to let trouble my eyes to the power and material possessions. We are in the summer which is the season of complacency. All French are seeking to enjoy the pleasure of the world. It seems that it is normal to feel far from the winter which is the season of sobriety and severity. There is Christmas when Jesus was born in the world. He gave up his glory in heaven and came to this world to be with sinful men. He was not born in a hospital, not even in a asile, but in the stable of animals of Bethlehem. Mother Theresa, to know what it's like to be barefoot on the earth, went barefoot on the gravel of the garden. To better understand what hurts, what burns. So that all his freedom be the availability to service to God, that is for the Human. When she left, everyone was exasperated at what she confessed that she was not sure of his salvation. The publication of his biography is paradoxically called "the kingdom of the night." Oh, how difficult it is to be enlightened by God to see the spiritual world. When the Holy Spirit touches us, then our eyes open and we can see the kingdom of God.



Eph 1:18
Paul prie pour les chrétiens à Ephèse qu'ils aient la révélation et la sagesse. Balaam dans Nb 22 était aveugle devant le pouvoir et la possession de Balaq. Je dois prier pour que Dieu ouvre les yeux, moi et mes oaiilles, les yeux spirituels pour voir sa sainteté et la vérité. En tant que prophète, ce serait le premier devoir. Mais comment malgré la position de prophète - Paul a parlé du don de prophétie dans 1Co 14 que nous tous devons chercher pour édifier l'église - on ignore cette prière. En travaillant comme homme d'affaire, j'ai risqué souvent de troubler mes yeux devant le pouvoir et la possession matérielle. Nous sommes en été qui est la saison de complaisance. Tous les français cherchent à partir jouir le plaisir du monde. Il semble qu'il est normal de sentir loin de l'hiver qui est la saison de dépouillement et sévérité. Là se trouve Noël où Jésus naquit dans le monde. Il a abandonné sa gloire dans le ciel et vint dans ce monde parmi les hommes pécheurs. Il ne naquit pas dans un hôpital, même pas dans une hospice, mais dans l'étable des animaux de Bethlehem. Mère Thérèse, pour savoir ce que c'est que d'être pieds nus sur la Terre, allait pieds nus sur les graviers du jardin. Pour mieux comprendre ce qui blesse, ce qui brûle. Pour que toute sa liberté soit disponibilité au service de Dieu, c'est-à-dire l'Humain. Lors de son départ, tout le monde fut exaspéré de ce qu'elle confessa qu'elle n'était pas assurée de son salut. L'ouvrage de sa biographie s'appelle paradoxalement "Le royaume de sa nuit." Oh, combien il est difficile d'être illuminé par Dieu pour voir le monde spirituel. Quand le Saint-Esprit nous touche, alors nos yeux s'ouvrent et nous pouvons voir le royaume de Dieu.

THE ETERNAL GOD OPENED THE EYES OF BALAAM

Nb 22 :31-41

Unwittingly, Balaam became a blind man even as he had opened eyes. Lets us think about Balaam’s pride and his poverty of being fooled by the astuteness of Balaq. The Eternal God helped Balaam in two things :

1. God opened the eyes of Balaam

While Balaam’s donkey didn’t ever disobey, Balaam himself disobeyed God (32). Because Balaam was attracted by Balaq’s stratagem, God should have hit him, however God protected him and opened his eyes. When you open spiritual eyes, you can see the Eternal God (Eph 1 :18)

2. The Eternal God made Balaam recognize his sin

Balaam, after opening his spiritual eyes through the angel of the Eternal God, saw his sin against the Eternal God. But the Eternal God sent his angel close to Balaam to proclaim God’s word. The problem of Balaam is that, even if he is a prophet, he let himself be weakened by power and material things which possessed Balaq. The ennemy of this prophet is power and material things.

Prayer : Lord, thank you for showing Balaam his sin, have mercy on us, despite our position of prophet, we are so weakened in front of power and material things.

Bottom line : the ennemy of the prophet is power and material things

GOD OPENED THE DONKEY'S MOUTH

June 18th

Nb 22:15-30

A brother was threatened by his parents : we will cut off his means of living, etc... Balaq sent again leaders with a considerable present. Actually, behind this was a menace towards Balaam. At the sight of material offering, he let his heart weaken. What was the result ? (17-19)

1. Balaam hits the donkey

When God had seen his heart weaken, he first permited Balaam to leave. All the same, Balaam knew very well what was God's answer, but he asks again what God wants him to do. So God lets Balaam leave (20). But, on the way, Balaam saw his donkey fall down. It was because the Eternal God was angry with him. So Balaam hit the donkey.

2. God opened the donkey's mouth

When the anger of the Eternal God flared because he left, the donkey fell down under him, due to the angel of the Eternal God who was standing on the way. So Balaam hit it, and the Eternal God opened the donkey's mouth, which blamed Balaam (27, 30). Why did God open the donkey's mouth to blame Balaam ? It was the result of Balaam's weakening facing the important present given by the king Balaq. It seems that prophets who let their hearts weaken beause of this kind of material offer are less than a donkey.

Prayer : Lord, be with prophets of this country, help them to not weaken because of material problems, rather that they can hold firm to their reponsability of giving God's word to people

Bottom line : a prophet who is better than a donkey

BALAAM DISCERNS THE WILL OF GOD

June 17^th, 2016

Numbers 22:1-14

In the course of human history, victory and defeat follow continually. Yet, where we discern divine will, there is only victory. Through Balaam's story, we will learn how to interpret God's divine will.

1. Balak sent a gift

The Israelites camped at the border of Moab. The king of Moab was terrified of such a horde of people. Balak sent a gift to Balaam so that he would curse the Israelites. The Bible says the Israelites weren't bothering Moab (Deut. 2 : 6).

2. Balaam refused the gift

It seems that Balaam was someone who knew God well. So how did he react to the messengers sent by Balak ? First, he was very polite (7), so he welcomed them with great protocol and politeness. Second, Balaam was very cautious. He was prudent and separated himself from them in order to reflect. At that moment, Balaam came before God and prayed (8-11). Finally, Balaam had the courage to refuse the gift (13). After a certain length of time, he had decided to refuse this very appealing gift. Without sufficient prayer, we would not be able to refuse such a gift.

Prayer : Lord, sometimes, in spite of our desire to please you and follow your will, we don't know what to do, we know nothing. Help us to be cautious and wise in order to come to you and pray until we understand your will.

Bottom line : pray to discern His will