Daily Reading: (Numbers 22 & 23)- [It involves a talking donkey so it is a must read text].
One of the things that can happen if one doesn’t study a Biblical character in-depth is they could come to a faulty conclusion about a character based on a misinterpreted moment in time. Balaam has a perverse heart (Numbers 22:32) even though the Holy Spirit would come upon him (Numbers 23:3) and he would be a mouthpiece for God, the state of his heart did not change. Balaam counseled Balak on the most effective way to weaken Israel. This was through seduction, using Moabite and Midianite women to tempt the Israelites into sexual relationships and into pagan rituals. The Israelites who participated brought God’s judgment upon themselves (Numbers 25:1–9).
There are other Biblical references to Balaam- according to 2 Peter 2:15, Balaam’s “way” is a choice to promote falsehood for financial reasons. According to Jude 1:11, Balaam’s “error” was his willingness to accommodate pagan beliefs out of greed. Jude 1:4 also refers to the sin of those “who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality.”
What we learn from the previous chapter in Numbers and the very beginning of chapter twenty-two is the blessing of the Lord was so evident in the Israelites lives it caused their enemies to fear them. Really this is a testament to the one true God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God’s declaration over your life is that you are blessed. God will not ever allow the curse to return to those who had the curse-removed (Numbers 22:12). In Christ, you are (barak)-to be blessed.
Why did Jesus have to die on the cross, since the capital punishment of Israel during the time of Christ was stoning and not crucifixion? Jesus hung and died on the cross because He knew the law which says that “he who is hanged is accursed of God” (Deuteronomy 21:23). He wanted to redeem us from every curse of the law, so He went to the cross, “having become a curse for us”. Jesus took all our curses at the cross, so that we can take all His blessings! The moment you received Jesus, every curse in your life was destroyed. And the way you experience this is to simply believe and confess what Jesus has done for you. Because of Jesus, I am blessed.
Balaam is sent down the same path now with a different purpose (Numbers 22:35).
Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them! This is what the Lord will lead forth in your life- blessing from those who try to curse you (Numbers 23:11).
Balaam blesses God’s people a total of seven times because seven is the Hebrew number of completeness and perfection. We are perfectly and completely blessed in Christ.
The moment you received Jesus, every curse in your life was destroyed. Simply believe God’s Word and confess what Jesus has done for you. Because of Jesus, I am blessed. God’s declaration over your life is (barak) that I am blessed (Numbers 22:12).