PJP2 PROLOG 160308 PROLOG Focus - Numbers 23:16-20

Psalm 105:1-3 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Oh Give Thanks To The Lord; Call Upon His Name; Make Known His Deeds Among the peoples!  Sing To Him, Sing Praises To Him; Tell of All His Wondrous Works!  Glory In His Holy Name; Let the Hearts of those who Seek The Lord Rejoice!"....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160308 - Numbers 23:16-20 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."And The Lord met Balaam And Put A Word in his mouth And Said, 'Return to Balak, And Thus Shall you Speak.'

And Balaam came to Balak, and behold, Balak was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him.  And Balak said to Balaam, “What has The Lord Spoken?'

And Balaam took up his discourse and said, 'Rise, Balak, and Hear; Give ear to me, O son of Zippor:

God Is NOT man, That He Should lie, or a son of man, That He Should Change His Mind.

Has He Said, And Will He NOT Do IT?  Or Has He Spoken, And Will He NOT Fulfill IT?

BEHOLD, I Received A Command To BLESS: He Has BLESSED, And I Cannot revoke IT.'"....

In Numbers Chapters 22 through 24, The Holy Spirit Relays to us the account of Balaam (son of Beor) being 'hired' by Balak, son of Zippor (and King of Moab) to come an 'curse' the Israelites who'd set up camp across the Jordan from Jericho.  In a nutshell (as described in Numbers 22), King Balak (and the Moabites) were scared spitless - they hoped that Balaam (who had a reputation of being able to effectively 'bless or curse') would accept King Balak's 'offer' to come curse the Israelites so that Balak and the Army of Moab could defeat the Israelites in battle.

(Note:  Numbers 22-24 is a fascinating story if you've never pondered on it before - yes this is where Balaam's Donkey saves Balaam three times, then speaks to him about his beating the donkey for her saving his skin.....jaj)

The Holy Spirit is pinging me with two additional Passages Of the Word Select (POWS) - Mark 3:24-25 and Luke 19:40.....

Mark 3:24-25 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."If A Kingdom is divided against Itself, That Kingdom Cannot Stand.  And If A House is divided against Itself, That House Will Not be able To Stand."...

Luke 19:40(ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)..."Jesus answered, 'I Tell you, If the people were silent, then the very Stones Would Cry Out.”....  More with these two POWS in a moment...

Clearly Balak and the princes of Moab (his advisory council) had not been reading the daily news and readiness briefs that must have been coming before them regards the children of Israel.  Balak and Company were at least aware that 'they had come out of Egypt' (Numbers 22:5-6.  But, didn't seem to be aware that YAHWEH was Engaged in their Activity.

So Balak et al go seeking Balaam.

We don't know a lot about Balaam - what little is said in Numbers about him would suggest that he was somewhat at least aware of Who YAHWEH was, and had prayed to YAHWEH since God Came and 'met' Balaam (Numbers 22:9).

Ok, fast forward past the Balaam's Speaking Donkey event (Numbers 22:21-35) to where at last Balaam has joined up with Balak and Crew.  Four times Balak asks Balaam to 'curse' the Israelites - Four times God's Word Given to Balaam is a Blessing (not a curse).....

So, here's the two Concepts I am Hearing The Holy Spirit Sharing from today's POWS....(1) Kingdom Divided - Just as our Lord Jesus explained to the Pharisees, as they claimed Jesus was casting out evil spirits via Beelzebub....Mark 3:24-25 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."If A Kingdom is divided against Itself, That Kingdom Cannot Stand.  And If A House is divided against Itself, That House Will Not be able To Stand."...Likewise there is simply no way God The Father's going to 'curse' His chosen children.  And He has Remained The Same regards us, His Adopted children due to our Lord Jesus' Redemption and Reconciliation of us.  (2) Luke 19:40 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)..."Jesus answered, 'I Tell you, If the people were silent, then the very Stones Would Cry Out.”....Balak clearly did NOT get the response he was looking for from Balaam (even though Balaam had told them right up front that he could only SAY what God Told him to Say).  I am very certain, had Balaam even tried to 'curse' God's children, 'the very Stones', or even a Donkey would have Cried Out God's Blessings, overwhelming any detrimental diatribes that Balak, Balaam, or anyone might even have attempted.  Again, I am Convinced our Lord Jesus is Doing The Very Same for us, All we need do is Accept and Trust Him.

Thus my Prayer for us today would be - Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Adopting us to be Your Children.  Lord Jesus, Teach us that You Still Are Speaking Out on our behalf.  Holy Spirit, Continue to Protect us with Your Loving Presence.  Father God, Empower and Encourage us to Fully Trust You, Knowing that You Are Ever with us regardless of the forces of darkness that may attempt to align against us.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, for Your Witness to us via Your Word of Hope and Truth.  In Your Blessed Name we Lift Up our Prayers....Amen/Amen....jaj