Daily Bible Study

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Day 151 – Request Numbers 22:1 Then the children of Israel moved and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho. 2 Now Balak the son of Zippor saw everything Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 Moab was afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel. 4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” Balak, the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5 Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the river in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, “Look, a people have come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me! 6 Therefore, please come at once, curse these people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” 7 The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner’s fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak. 8 He said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as JEHOVAH speaks to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 Then Elohiym came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I can overpower them and drive them out.’” 12 Elohiym said to Balaam, “You will not go with them; you will not curse the people, for they are blessed.” 13 Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go back to your land, for JEHOVAH has refused to give me permission to go with you.” 14 The princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.” 15 Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more honorable than they. 16 They came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; 17 for I will certainly honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore, please come, curse this people for me.’” 18 Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of JEHOVAH my Elohiym, to do less or more. 19 “Now, therefore, please, stay here tonight, that I may know what more JEHOVAH will say to me.” 20 Elohiym came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you—that you will do.” 21 Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 Then Elohiym’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Malak of JEHOVAH took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. He rode on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 Now the donkey saw the Malak of JEHOVAH standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. 24 Then the Malak of JEHOVAH stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 When the donkey saw the Malak of JEHOVAH, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; and he struck her again. 26 Then the Malak of JEHOVAH went further and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 When the donkey saw the Malak of JEHOVAH, she lay down under Balaam; Balaam’s anger aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 Then JEHOVAH opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you struck me these three times?” 29 Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!” 30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?” He said, “No.” 31 Then JEHOVAH opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Malak of JEHOVAH standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. 32 The Malak of JEHOVAH said to him, “Why did you strike your donkey these three times? Behold, I came out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. 33 The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.” 34 Balaam said to the Malak of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now, therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.” 35 Then the Malak of JEHOVAH said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word I speak to you, you will speak.” Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36 Now when Balak heard Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border at the Arnon, the boundary of the territory. 37 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not earnestly send to you, calling for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I unable to honor you?” 38 Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I came to you! Now, have I any power to say anything? The word Elohiym puts in my mouth, I must speak.” 39 Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kirjath Huzoth. 40 Then Balak offered oxen and sheep, and he sent some to Balaam and to the princes who were with him. 41 The next day Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, from there he might observe the extent of the people. God’s name: Elohiym – Mighty God JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal Malak – Messenger, Angel God’s character: Messenger When someone asks you to do something for them, how do you respond? Most people would do it without hesitation. Balak, king of Moab, sent for Balaam to curse the children of Israel who camped on his doorstep. When the messengers arrived, Balaam told them he would ask Elohiym if he was to go with them. When Elohiym told him not to go, Balaam sent them back to Balak, who sent more messengers with a larger bribe to return to him. Balaam again prayed to Elohiym, who told him to go with them. His readiness to go with the messengers to Balak angered JEHOVAH, and he sent His Malak to him to prevent him from going. Balaam didn’t understand why his donkey behaved as she did until he saw the Malak with His sword drawn standing in the way. The Malak did something uncommon; he caused the donkey to speak to Balaam. When Balaam saw the Malak, he prostrated himself on the ground, confessed his sin, and told Him he would return home. The Malak told him to go with the men, but to say only what He put in his mouth. When someone asks you to do something, the first thing you should do is pray about the request. You need to know whether it’s Elohiym’s will for you to do what was asked of you. Balaam did that and sent the men back to Balak with his reply. However more force was put upon Balak. When you refuse to do what someone asked, they too might offer more incentive to do what they request. You must stand firm in the decision Elohiym gave you. Elohiym also knows your heart as He did Balaam’s heart and told him to go. He needed to convince Balaam to do only what He told him, and nothing more or less. You need to follow JEHOVAH’S instructions and refuse to do what they requested. When you stand by your instructions from Elohiym, He will bless you. Do you need convincing as Balaam did? What will Elohiym use to convince you to do as He requested of you? Do you pray about what someone wants of you? Do you stand in your resolve to do what Elohiym told you, or do you give in as Balaam did because the incentive was too great to pass up? You know the answer, but you also know you want to do it because of the incentive. Always trust Elohiym to lead you, and not on your desires. When you do, He won’t need to stand in your way to convince you to follow His instructions. Let’s pray: Father, help me to pray about every request put before me. Let me know Your heart in the matter and follow Your instructions. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 17 June 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.