Showing posts with label Balak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Balak. Show all posts

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Taking God at His Word to Bless – and Not to Curse – Israel CBN News Tzippe Barrow


Taking God at His Word to Bless – and Not to Curse – Israel
06-12-2017
CBN News Tzippe Barrow
JERUSALEM, Israel – Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump gave a stirring speech in Saudi Arabia on the necessity of defeating Islamic terrorism. Leaders of Muslim-majority nations, including Egypt and Jordan, came to hear him speak on forming an international coalition to fight the spread of terrorism worldwide.
From Riyadh, the president flew to Israel where he expressed his deep friendship with the Jewish state. Israelis, nonetheless, were disappointed when he decided not to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, at least for now.
Trump reasoned such a move could impede progress in peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The president has been told – and may believe – that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would have a ripple effect throughout the region.
But what does the Bible say about God's plan for the Jewish nation?
The story of Balaam and Balak in Numbers 23-25 is about much more than a talking donkey. It reveals God's eternal and unchangeable plan for Israel.
Balak, the king of Moab, didn't want the Israelites settling next to him. He'd heard what they'd done to the Amorites and it made him "sick with dread." So he got word to Balaam, a diviner with a powerful reputation who lived near the Euphrates River, and invited him to come and curse the Israelites, promising it would be well worth his time.
It didn't work. Balaam couldn't curse the nation God had blessed, though he tried three times. Apparently God had set Israel apart for His own purposes.
How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? For from the top of the rocks I see him and from the hills I behold him; There! A people dwelling alone, not reckoning itself among the nations. (Numbers 23:8-9)
And again God spoke through Balaam.
God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said and will He not do? Or has He spoken and will He not make it good?
Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
It's futile to curse His chosen ones, the diviner, summoned by the king, learned.
For there is no sorcery against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob and of Israel, 'Oh, what God has done! (Num. 23:23)
Instead, God opened Balaam's eyes to see His plan for Israel.
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you. ((Numbers 24:5, 9b)
Then Balaam foretold what will take place in the latter days, mentioning both Israel and Jordan's future in the prophecy.
I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A Star shall come out of Jacob, a Scepter shall rise out of Israel and batter the brow of Moab and destroy all the sons of tumult. And Edom shall be a possession; Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly. (Num. 24:17-18)
Fast forward to the 21st century.
President Trump's plan may be a good one for now, and God may prosper his efforts. But when the nations stake claim to Jerusalem, to divide the city, God will intervene, as only He can, in what promises to be a divine light show unlike anything the world has seen.
So no matter what it looks like or how it unfolds, God will fulfill his plan for Israel. It's fascinating to watch it play out in the headlines. He turned Balaam's cursing into blessing. May He grant the nations ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart to understand what the Spirit of the Lord is saying today.
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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

"Pergamum!" - Present Word Ministries

Present Word Ministries
Robbie Phillips

‘He who has an ear, let him hear 
what the Spirit is saying to the churches’

December 9 & 10, 2013

 "Pergamum!"

            The church in Pergamum was addressed by our risen Lord. They had remained loyal to Him even in the midst of persecution. Antipas, His faithful witness, was martyred for the Faith – yet the church stood firm – with this the Lord was well pleased.

            And yet that was not the whole story. The Lord had some displeasure with this church. Some, perhaps prominent among them, held to the teaching of Balaam. Balaam 'taught' the wicked king Balak to entice the sons of Israel to eat food sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. This gave some of the Pergamites the 'right' to commit immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. Not only this, they had among them those who held to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

            The name Nicolas is interesting: it's a combination of two Greek words meaning 'people rulers'. And so the Nicolaitans were known for their ruling over the people of God.

            So much about the church today is similar to the church in Pergamum. On the one hand, there is the Lord's blessing and favor. Except in the case of the church at Laodicea, the Lord always sees good things about His people. And so He sees good things in the church in America. And for that He gives a big thumbs up.

            But just as the Lord saw evil in the church at Pergamum, He sees distressing things in the church of America. He sees slackness toward sin. He sees toleration of wickedness. He sees our lack of trusting Him wholly. He sees our lack of prayer and fasting, especially for our nation. Like the church at Pergamum, He sees that we have those who rule over parts of the church. And the Lord calls us to repent! He calls us to "turn from our wicked ways" and to seek Him.

            This is a solemn hour. We are called to seek Him, to seek His face with our fasting and prayers. We are at a point as a nation that we must have His influence, we must have His intervention. Oh let us seek Him today! Let us call on Him today! Let us turn to Him today! Amen, Oh Lord!

robbiewphillips@gmail.com

Note: Photo added by Editor of Love For His People, Inc. Not with original article above. Steve Martin