What Will They Remember About You?

O. T. #351  "What Will They Remember About You?
August 27, 2014
Numbers 23-24, Part 2
And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.  Numbers 24:25

LET IT GLOW

What are you and I going to be remembered for having accomplished or done in our life?
I must say, up until this summer, my life has been pretty mundane.
Our Vacation Bible School theme this year was being detectives. The children were to be detectives, searching for evidences about Jesus. Well, my sister in law and I decided to liven up the place. We nightly dressed in various costumes-camouflage, chickens, hogs, tropical gals, as undercover agents looking for children who memorized the Bible verse. (Of course, we had to walk like chickens, snort like hogs. We all needed a good laugh so our mission was accomplished. Children did memorize the Word of God. I am still hearing about it. So at my funeral, after all those dignified pictures are shown, they will probably show pictures of my crazy side. Hey, laughter is good medicine.

Please excuse me for not posting yesterday. I was attending an "American Renewal" conference. Various political leaders and speakers challenged pastors to preach the Word of God, pray for our nation as morals decline, and hold up the standard of Christ. It was very encouraging. I want to encourage everyone to vote this November for issues and candidates which abide by the Word of God. The church sat silently allowing abortion and homosexuality has entered the public arena.

We left Balaam having a tour with Balak, king of Moab. The purpose of their meeting was so Balak could persuade Balaam to curse Israel. God instructed Balaam to only speak what He told him. Then Balaam tells of four visions, oracles, speeches about Israel:

1. Israel's calling was to be a special people, separate from the other nations. God had blessed Israel and Balaam could not curse them.
2. Israel was delivered from Egypt by the blood of the Lamb, though they sin. God accepted them.
3. Israel would occupy Canaan, enjoying the Promised Land. As a great lion captures and eats her prey, so Israel would be victorious because God was with them.
4. Israel's future glory would involve the coming kings of King David ruling the land, and then King Jesus ruling during the millennial kingdom.

God keeps His promises. He does not lie. We can make those statements, since we can read the rest of the story. Can we not take comfort in the same?

When God brings us out of our Egypt, He calls us to be a peculiar people; He blesses us; He gives us our Promised Land, providing what we need to serve Him; He reigns as King upon the throne of our heart.

What a description of God's blessings upon Israel:

• valleys spread out,
• gardens beside a river,
• aloes planted by the LORD,
• cedars beside the waters,
• buckets of water,
• seeds with abundant water,
• a king greater than Agag,
• an exalted kingdom,
• have the strength of an ox,
• devour hostile nations, breaking their bones, using piercing arrows, like a lion.

May those who bless Israel be blessed, and those who curse Israel be cursed.


LET IT GROW

In the last of chapter 25, Balaam tells to Balak the future of these nations:

• Amalek will come to ruin at last. (verse 20)
• The Kenites will be destroyed when Asshur captures them. (verse 22)
• Ships will come for the shores of Kittim, subduing Asshur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin. (verse 24)

Balak told Balaam that he would reward Balaam for cursing Israel, but since he blessed instead, there was no reward. Balak blamed the Lord for keeping Balaam from being rewarded. Oh, well. Balaam had told Balak that even if he gave him a palace filled with silver and gold, Balaam could not do anything of his own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the LORD.

Sounds like an "I told you so" statement.

How does this meeting end? Balaam got up and returned home and Balak went his own way.

This perverted prophet now disappears from the pages of the Bible. He was killed (31:8) when Israel later invaded and defeated the Midianites.  In the New Testament, however, he is mentioned by nor less than three authors:

• Peter speaks of the way of Balaam (2 Peter 2:15)
• Jude mentions the error of Balaam (Jude 11)
• John refers to his doctrine which became a stumbling block to Israel.  (Falwell)

Really, I don't want people to remember me as being so stubborn that God used a talking donkey to bring me to my knees of surrender. Do you?
I don't want the errors of my ways remembered either. I desire a willing heart to accomplish God's will in my life.


LET IT GO

Surrender to God's will.

Obey God's directions and commands.

Trust His way is best.