September 14, 2019
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today, is from the book of Numbers 24:1,2 , “Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not seek to use sorcery but he set his face towards the wilderness. And Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel, encamped according to their tribes. And the spirit of God came upon him.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above context we understand that, Balak, king of Moab, wanted Balaam a non Israelite prophet to put a curse upon the people of Israel so as to stop their progress. When Balaam gazed over the camp of Israel that stretched before him, he lifted up his eyes. He saw that they were directed to camp under four standards. And so many tribes under each standard. From mount Peor he admires in Israel their beauty. Their fruitfulness and increase. Their honour and advancement, their power and victory, their influence upon their neighbours. He looks upon what had been done for them. Their courage and security. He tells that the people of Israel were bold like the lion not while assaulting others but when at rest because God makes them to dwell in safety. All this that is done to them whether good or evil, God accepts as done to himself. Because God was mindful of Israel.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, since Balaam was invited by Balak to curse Israel, he actually used sorcery. But this time God told in a vision that he should not go with Balaks emissaries. So Balaam refused to curse Israel instead he blessed Israel. The Bible says, very clearly that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel. Many have their eyes open but their hearts are not open, not enlightened and not sanctified like king Balak. Such knowledge puffs up men with pride. Hence he boldly hires, Balaam to curse the Israelites. But a prophetic influence from God came upon him. Whereby he was enabled to forsee the future events and utter the following words. Balaam spake not out of his own sense, but the language of the spirit that came upon him. God himself put a word into his mouth.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, Balaam blessed Israel in this manner. He said the tents of Jacob were lovely, and their dwellings were like valleys that stretched out. He continued saying that their tents were like gardens by the river side. Like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters. While blessing Israel Balaam says, the seed of Israel shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag.(Dynastic name of the king of Amalek.) And His kingdom shall be exalted. God will bring Israel out of Egypt and strengthen him like a wild ox.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, This is how God expects His children to bless Israel. Because according to God, Israel was a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, a holy nation, His own special people. He had created them for His own glory. He formed them for Himself that they should praise His name. May the Lord help you also to bless Israel and pray for Jerusalem that you may be blessed by God.
Prayer:
Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord help us to open our eyes and hearts to things that are true and not be blind to things that belong to God. Teach us to be more careful while we bless others. Never be partial with our dealings but be honest in all that we do. Let us not go after sorcery or divination but trust in the Living God.In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.