Insisting On Your Own Will

March 2 2006

Insisting On Your Own Will - Verse of the Day :
Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"
-Numbers 22:28 (NKJV)

Daily Bible Reading Plan

Morning : Luke 17

Evening : Numbers 21-22

A person of integrity is on the inside what he appears on the outside. Balaam was a prophet without integrity. On the surface, Balaam sounded like a man devoted to God.

When Balak, king of Moab, tried to hire Balaam to pronounce a curse against Israel, the wayward prophet avowed, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more" (Num. 22:18). But those words didn't reveal Balaam's heart.

He was a man of mixture. There must have been a period of tremendous consecration to God earlier in Balaam's life because he had powerful gifts from God. God Himself have even appeared to him.

Although he was very gifted, his life was characterized by greed, idolatry and sexual immorality. Although he knew what the will was concerning Israel, he kept tempting God to see if God would allow him to put a curse on His people.

So, when Balak offered him even more money and honor, Balaam tried to persuade God to change His mind. Eventually God said, "Alright, you go with them." This is only because God grants a person the desires of his heart. But as Balaam went, God's anger was aroused against him (22:22).

The Angel of the Lord was sent as an adversary against him. As Balaam rode his donkey, the donkey saw the Angel with his drawn sword in his hand. Immediately the animal turned aside to avoide him. Balaam became so upset that he started arguing with the donkey.

March 2 - Insisting On Your Own Will - Christian Daily Devotions

This backslidden prophet was so bent in his own ways that even when an ass started talking to him, he failed to realize that something supernatural is occuring. Eventually, Balaam seduced God's people into idolatry and gross immorality.

Balaam's story teaches us that there are so many Christians who know that something in their lives does not conform to the will of God. Yet they continue to ask God until He says "Yes!" Then the christian deceives himself into thinking, "God said I could do it, and I have the prophecies to confirm it."

But what's in store from God is a lesson, not a blessing. If you want your own will instead of His, God may say "Yes." He may even allow you to have "confirmations." But He will also send leanness into your soul (Ps. 106:14-15).

There are so many Balaams in the Church today who lower God's standards, endorse immorality, encourage divorce and promote lawlessness. They may be ministers who had once received great power and gifts from God, but have now drifted far away from God.

Balaam showed up at the end of the wilderness journey when God's people were ready to go into the Promised Land. Unfortunately, he was not part of that congregation and never entered into God's blessings.

March 2 - Insisting On Your Own Will - Christian Daily Devotions

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SBI!