BALAAM
Today’s Reading: Numbers 23-24
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
The Grave of Oskar Schindler is in Jerusalem just south of the Zion Gate on the south side of the Old City wall. Stones are placed on the graves by visitors and loved ones as a sign of respect in lieu of flowers.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Schindler saved the lives of many Jewish people during the Second World War. He was buried in a Gentile graveyard in Jerusalem with honour. The descendants of those he saved come annually to place stones of remembrance on his grave. Israel honours those who have honoured them. Balaam was one such person. Moses wrote Balaam’s story and prophecies in Holy Scripture. We believe that God is, and that “He is a rewarder of those who dilligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). If necessary, God will speak in most unusual ways, as in the case of Balaam’s donkey. There are others, not from the chosen people, to whom God has spoken. Cornelius, commanding officer of the Italian regiment of the armies of Rome, is a prime example (Acts 10). We’ll arrive at the story of this outstanding man on December 1st. Numbers 21:17 encourages the singing of “Spring Up, Oh Well” (click here to sing along to a ukelele rendition of the song).
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Speak to me today, Lord God; I need to hear from You. You did it for Balaam, and dozens of others throughout the Bible record. I’m listening. Lord Jesus, You said, “My sheep know My voice.” Thanks for not restricting Your voice only to spiritual giants but also to us average people. I pray this and praise You for revealing Your thoughts to me. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’m here in Jerusalem where people say, “Pray… it’s a local call from here.” God has spoken most often in that “still small voice.” There was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me during the last ditch effort by U.S. President Carter to save the Camp David Accords, the peace agreement between President Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Begin of Israel. I was one of hundreds of reporters with credentials to cover Carter’s speech in the Israeli Parliament in 1978. Carter said, while looking directly at Begin, “The people want peace.” In other words, “Begin, you don’t really want peace.” Carter walked off the stage, requested Air Force One readied and his bags taken from the Hotel to the airport. Buses gathered to transport the reporters to cover Carter’s departure. My associate, Jay Rawlings, and I stayed behind where we were approached by two live radio hosts, one Jew and one Arab. They asked, “Do you think there will be peace?” (it was translated into Arabic and Hebrew). Suddenly I heard God speak through me. Balaam knew what this was like. I said, “Yes, for the first time leaders of three different countries and three different religions prayed to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He has heard the prayers of many people and there will be peace between Egypt and Israel.” There is power over the evil in the world through a prophetic utterance. Carter stayed behind, went again to Egypt. The rest is history. Many years later, I had the privilege of working beside Carter in a Habitat for Humanity building project. I wept as I told him this story. He patted me on the back and said, “There, there.”
Yours for hearing from God and speaking, while praying for wisdom, what God wants out there in the fight against evil and for the good of all His people,
David
P.S. Below is a photo of our current group touring the land of the Bible! This photo was taken on the Mount of Beattitudes.
Praise God for hearing Gods still small voice I pray I will get to go to Jerusalem some day God Bless You and Norma Jean and all the followers of Christ in Jesus name Amen
I will never forget watching Schindler’s List at the movies with one of my dear friends, Tina. The entire audience sat speechless at its ending for some time. What a remarkable man and witness for God to save as many Jews as he did. .
I’ve Got a River of Life
I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me!
Makes the lame to walk, and the blind to see.
Opens prison doors, sets the captives free!
I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me!
Spring up, O well, within my soul!
Spring up, O well, and make me whole!
Spring up, O well, and give to me
That life abundantly.
Words and Music by L. Casebolt
Great photo, David and Norma-Jean–what a wonderful group in Israel! God’s continued blessings of protection and grace over all of you. Listening for God”s voice, praying for wisdom; for the fight against evil and God’s goodness and peace for all His people. Amen!
Amen sister!
And Amen!
From Streams in the Desert, Cowman, November 18–what a wonderful message today; I have included the poem:
Blessed is he whose faith is not offended,
When all around his way
The power of God is working out deliverance
For others day by day;
Though in some prison drear his own soul languish,
Till life itself be spent,
Yet still can trust his Father’s love and purpose,
And rest therein content.
Blessed is he, who through long years of suffering,
Cut off from active toil,
Still shares by prayer and praise the work of others,
And thus “divides the spoil.”
Blessed are thou, O child of God, who sufferest,
And canst not understand
The reason for thy pain, yet gladly leavest
Thy life in His blest Hand.
Yea, blessed art thou whose faith is “not offended”
By trials unexplained,
By mysteries unsolved, past understanding,
Until the goal is gained.
—Freda Hanbury Allen
The sound of the wind blowing; the cold and frigid air.
But we have Christ within us; His blessings, everywhere.
God bless you dear saints on this wintery day in Ontario.
So very true! Thanks for sharing, Beverlee!
As I mentioned before that it has been shown that if the people of Israel camped according to the instructions given earlier in Numbers they would form a giant cross. So this is what Balaam was looking at when he tried to curse them, but couldn’t, he was seeing the cross. And even when Balak tried to move him so he couldn’t see the cross fully, he still couldn’t curse them, but instead he prophesied about the one to come, the one to whom the cross points to, our Lord Jesus. I think that remarkable—
It is strange that God chose to speak through Balaam who was not a true prophet of God. Thanks for the photo David. When I clicked on it to enlarge it, it went upside down. Can anyone help me to reverse it? Blessings on everyone today.
If you add it to your photos, there is probably a way to rotate it. All the best to you, Ger!
Thank-you David for your faithful posting of the daily readings and commentary.
Today is my 71st birthday. My husband and I did a secular tour of Israel in 2000; my wish is to some year spend my birthday in Israel with one of your tour groups, God willing.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROBIN !!!
Happy November Birthday, Robin! God’s continued blessings to you!!
Thank you for posting the poem, Beverlee. Tomorrow’s message is good too. We had our second snowstorm here and now the sun is out. Special blessings on you today.
http://www.newsweek.com/jerusalem-synagogue-attack-live-updates-285177#
Our Prayers are with all of you in light of today’s events in Jerusalem.
Amen!
In my quiet time I read Psalm 121…from where my help comes…it comes from the Lord. What an uplifting word of the Lord!!!! “The Lord shall preserve my going our and my coming in from this time forth, and even for ever more!!!
yes, needed prayer for Jerusalem!!! and wisdom for Israel’s leaders, especially Benjamin Netanyahu!!!