Feb 23, 2015
Are You a Fool, like Balaam?
Our devotion for today is taken from “Our daily bread,” dated Feb. 23, 2015.
Numbers 22:21-31
King James Version (KJV)
21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22 And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23 And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
24 But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26 And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.
31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
|
Numbers 22:21-31
Amplified Bible (AMP)
21 And Balaam rose up in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
22 And God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the [a]Angel of the Lord stood in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his donkey, and his two servants were with him.
23 And the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way and His sword drawn in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to turn her into the way.
24 But the Angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall on this side and a wall on that side.
25 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she thrust herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against it, and he struck her again.
26 And the Angel of the Lord went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right hand or to the left.
27 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam, and Balaam’s anger was kindled and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, What have I done to you that you should strike me these three times?
29 And Balaam said to the donkey, Because you have ridiculed and provoked me! I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!
30 And the donkey said to Balaam, Am not I your donkey, upon which you have ridden all your life long until this day? Was I ever accustomed to do so to you? And he said, No.
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His sword drawn in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell on his face.
|
Commentary:
WE live in a world that we can see with our eyes. But there is another world that we cannot see with our physical eye and that is the spiritual world. In the spiritual world, there are two spirits: the Holy Spirit and the evil spirit (satan).
The book of Ephesians tells us in Eph 6:12 that…
12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
AS believers, we are not fighting what we can see with our physical eye. We are battling with evil spirits that we cannot see with the physical eye. But for the individual who is operating in the Spirit, he will know when he is faced with the presence of the evil spirit just as he will know when he is in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Behind every word spoken and every action taken is a spirit. So if a person is demonstrating violent, hurtful behavior towards others, it is highly likely that it is the evil spirit that is controlling him. And if a person exhibits love, joy, peace, it is highly likely that he is under the control of the Holy Spirit, for those qualities are derived from the fruit of the Spirit.
People sin when they are being control by the evil spirit. And they are controlled by the evil spirit because they have not relinquished total control to Jesus Christ, our Lord. You are either going to be under the control of Jesus Christ or satan. There is no other entity. If you are being controlled by Jesus, you will bear good fruit and your life will exhibit love, righteousness, peace, justice and the likeness of Christ. If you are being controlled by satan ( the evil spirit), you will be manipulative, arrogant, hurtful, selfish, greedy, judgemental, sexually immoral and the likeness of satan.
In our reading today, Balaam went with the “princes of Moab.” The princes of Moab represents the rulers of darkness. And because Balaam followed the rulers of darkness, he was under the control of the evil spirit. And that is why he could not see the angel of the Lord on the road. God had to use the donkey to get his attention. He was blind to it because he was in the flesh, not in the Spirit.
We need to know the difference that not all restraint is from the devil. God will often oppose those whose ways are reckless before Him.
Proverbs 14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in uprightness reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, but he who is contrary and devious in his ways despises Him.
4 Where no oxen are, the grain crib is empty, but much increase [of crops] comes by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness breathes out falsehoods.
6 A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands.
7 Go from the presence of a foolish and self-confident man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.
8 The Wisdom [godly Wisdom, which is comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of [self-confident] fools is to deceive.
9 Fools make a mock of sin and sin mocks the fools [who are its victims; a sin offering made by them only mocks them, bringing them disappointment and disfavor], but among the upright there is the favor of God.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown, but the tent of the upright shall flourish.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but at the end of it is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is heaviness and grief.
14 The backslider in heart [from God and from fearing God] shall be filled with [the fruit of] his own ways, and a good man shall be satisfied with [the fruit of] his ways [with the holy thoughts and actions which his heart prompts and in which he delights].
15 The simpleton believes every word he hears, but the prudent man looksand considers well where he is going.
16 A wise man suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, but the fool bears himself insolently and is [presumptuously] confident
17 He who foams up quickly and flies into a passion deals foolishly, and a man of wicked plots and plans is hated.
18 The simple acquire folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil men bow before the good, and the wicked [stand suppliantly] at the gates of the [uncompromisingly] righteous.
20 The poor is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins [against God, his fellowman, and himself], but happy (blessed and fortunate) is he who is kind and merciful to the poor.
22 Do they not err who devise evil and wander from the way of life? But loving-kindness and mercy, loyalty and faithfulness, shall be to those who devise good.
23 In all labor there is profit, but idle talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth of Wisdom, but the foolishness of [self-confident] fools is [nothing but] folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives, but a deceitful witness speaks lies [and endangers lives].
26 In the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children shall always have a place of refuge.
27 Reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is the king’s glory, but in a lack of people is the prince’s ruin.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is hasty of spirit exposes and exalts his folly.
30 A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches, mocks, and insults his Maker, but he who is kind and merciful to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is overthrown through his wrongdoing and calamity, but the [consistently] righteous has hope and confidence even in death.
33 Wisdom rests [silently] in the mind and heart of him who has understanding, but that which is in the inward part of [self-confident] fools is made known.
34 Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a wise and discreet servant, but his wrath is against him who does shamefully.
Footnotes: (taken from Biblegateway.com)
- Proverbs 14:3 The word “fool” in the Old Testament seldom, if ever, is used to describe the feeble minded, imbecile, idiot, or moron. Rather, it always has within it the meaning of a rebel, especially against God and the laws of order, decency, and justice. Notice in Proverbs how many such characteristics of rebelliousness are listed against the fool, and see God’s attitude toward them.
AS you can see in Proverbs 14:9, the evil, controlling spirit was the spirit that was controlling Balaam. The god of this age (satan) fools, blinds and deceives men like Balaam. Sin makes many promises, but delivers none. Therefore, the one who sins is a fool and the fool shall be mocked by his own sin.
Fools make a mock of sin and sin mocks the fools [who are its victims; a sin offering made by them only mocks them, bringing them disappointment and disfavor], but among the upright there is the favor of God. (Proverbs 14:9, AMP)
Balaam was a fool. HE was the rebel against God. God’s instruction to him was “If the men come to call you, rise up and go with them, but still only what I tell you may you do.” (Num 21:20) But Balaam did not do that. He did not wait. He just woke up the next day and saddled up the donkey and decided to go. He was in direct rebellion toward God’s instruction. That is why he is the “fool.” AS per the footnote above, a fool “is a rebel, especially against God and the laws of order, decency and justice.” God had to use the donkey to get his attention because he was reckless in his ways. And finally, when God did open his eyes so that he could see the angel of the Lord, “he bow his head and fell on his face.” (verse 31).
Are we tuned in to the still small voice of the Lord? DO we wait for God’s instructions before carrying out our actions? Or are we like Balaam who decides to take matters into his own hands… who disregard God’s instructions?
When we make our daily decisions, no matter how great or small, do we ask God first what does he want us to do? Or do we just make our own decisions and hope God will bless it?
Balaam’s greed proved that his loyalty was to himself. He was a well-known fortune teller. He made a living casting spells, interpreting dreams and using trickery to predict the future. He loved the wages and rewards of wickedness. He solicited from many gods to build a reputation for himself. So God used the humiliation to shame him by using the donkey to rebuke him and reduce him to the level of a wild beast. The unregenerate are like a wild beast who operates on the appetites of the flesh. So God used the donkey, a wild beast of the field to communicate to Balaam, another wild beast of the field. So if a person cannot see and hear God, he is like a wild beast of the field. This is a wake up call to those who think that they are high and almighty in their position. In actuality, they are poor, wretched and blind. The prevailing dogma in denominational churches today is used by the devil to blind, control and deceive many. We are warned to be careful of the leaven of the pharisee. Keep yourself free to the spirit of Christ. If need be, rededicate your soul and heart, and mind to Jesus Christ.
When God used a donkey to rebuke and speak to Balaam, it is to demonstrate that God is sovereign and almighty. The leaders and powerful kings were willing to pay him great sums of money for his spiritual powers. However, after the encounter with the angel, he humbled himself and bow down to the angel of the Lord. He was put in his place. So now, God can use Balaam to bless God’s people. In essences, he was telling Balak that “I will now go and speak what God said to speak.”
Balak questions Balaam, but Balaam speaks to Balak because of the encounter he had with the Angel of the Lord. He now has become the mouthpiece of God. “The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.” (Num 22:38B) He is not a fool anymore. He was changed by the encounter with the angel of the Lord. He humbled himself and repented.
This spirit of Balaam: the false prophet, using divination for money, full of self interest and greed is the same spirit found in the false teachers and the false prophets. It is alive and well today as one of the prevailing spirits that is hovering over the earth. So this spiritual war that we are encountering daily is against these principalities and power and spiritual rulers of wickedness in high places. There is no time for country club living. We must be vigilant daily because the Bible warns us that the devil is a roaring lion, roaming to and fro, seeking whom he may devour. As Proverbs 14:9 states “Fools make a mockery of sin. And sin mocks the fool, but among the upright is favor.”
How many today is still doomed and damned by the god of this age? How many are still consider fools because they rather submit to the stronghold of sin than to the lordship of Jesus Christ?
So commit your life to Jesus Christ today to ensure that your life is renewed and rededicated to the Lord for His services.
Summary conclusion / the big picture:
Because we live in this spiritual world, also known as the unseen world, we will be control by either the Holy Spirit or the evil spirit (satan). If you have not made Jesus your Lord and Savior, and is submitted to His control, then by default, you are under Satan’s control. It is either one or the other….there is no neutral ground.
So the question is….who is controlling you?
Work Cited
Our Daily Bread Ministries, RBC, Feb 23, 2015
Spirit Filled Life Bible New King James Version Ed. Jack W. Hayford Litt.D. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. 1991. Print.
Miyagi (Aldwin Naruse)
The Body of Christ Jesus Fellowship
Makaha, HI USA
