Balaam, Take it to God

Balaam

Balaam was a son of Beor, native of Pethor. Known to be able to speak blessings and cursings.

Numbers 22:1-20
1 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho. [a]
2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
4 The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field." So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the River, [b] in his native land. Balak said: "A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6 Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the country. For I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed."
7 The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
8 "Spend the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will bring you back the answer the LORD gives me." So the Moabite princes stayed with him.
9 God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?"
10 Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11 'A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.' "
12 But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed."
13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's princes, "Go back to your own country, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you."
14 So the Moabite princes returned to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
15 Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16 They came to Balaam and said: "This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, 17 because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me."
18 But Balaam answered them, "Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God. 19 Now stay here tonight as the others did, and I will find out what else the LORD will tell me."
20 That night God came to Balaam and said, "Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you."

How many times do we take it to God to see what it is that he wants in our lives? Is it true that we sometimes jump to an answer before consulting our God.

I love verse 18- But Balaam answered them, "Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.

Isn't it true? We really cannot go beyond the command of our Lord. Is there something in your life that you might be wresting with right now? Take some time today to go before your Lord and find out what he wants to say about it. It doesn't hurt to tell others you need a moment to think about it.

Nine years ago, when my mother-in-law lived with us, I remember that she would always say "give it 24 hours" or "sleep on it". This is something she always practiced when making a big decision. Sometimes she did it when making small decisions that she wasn't quite clear on. Today, I use that same method when making decisions. I give it a day. It drives my husband crazy, but he knows that it will be a yes or a no. May her example of waiting it out help us to see that there is always time to wait when it comes to God. If there is an urgency, he usually lets us know.

Verse 8 and 19
8: "Spend the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will bring you back the answer the LORD gives me." So the Moabite princes stayed with him.

19:Now stay here tonight as the others did, and I will find out what else the LORD will tell me."

Please pray with me this week for
Lauren - fighting for her life. born at 26 weeks.
JoAnne Adams - fighting cancer