https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf60nvd4auE
YouTube – Who was Balaam in the Bible?
By Got Questions Ministry (6 min 47)
[Balaam speaking to Balak] “’And now, behold, I am going
to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your
people in the days to come.’ He took up
his discourse and said,
“‘The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, and the oracle of
the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and
knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered.
“’I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; a
star shall come forth from Jacob, a sceptre shall rise from Israel, and shall
crush through the forehead of Moab, and tear down all the sons of Sheth.
“’Edom shall be a possession, Seir, its enemies, also
will be a possession, while Israel performs valiantly. One from Jacob shall have dominion and will
destroy the remnant from the city.’” Numbers 24:14-19
Balaam was a sorcerer and Balak was the king of the Moabites. As the Israelites approached the Promised
Land for the second time to enter in they were nearing the land of Moab. Balak demanded Balaam curse the Israelites so
he could be victorious.
But Balaam (even though not a believer) knew instinctively
that ‘this god’ was very powerful and not to be messed with. Nevertheless, Balak took Balaam to a location
and demanded he curse the Israelites. Instead,
he blessed them.
Undaunted, Balak took him to another location, but the
results were the same – blessings rather than curses. The passage above is from the seventh blessing from Balaam – a blessing that held the prophesy of a ‘star
out of Jacob’ – a hint at the coming Messiah.
It is believed this is the prophecy that convinced the Magi
to travel to Israel to search for the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1-2). God can and does use unbelievers for His
purposes because He is Lord of all.
Take care with love, especially His, Darlene (who still
prays for you daily)
PSS: Find my
statement of faith: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com
(where you will also find a series of
beginner Bible studies to share). Find the WeakDay Devotion online by doing a
Google search for ‘WeakDay Devotion’.
(Also, there is an android ‘Google
Blogger’ app you can download to read them on your phone. Not sure about Apple.). For the books, go to Amazon
books.
Please update your PRAYER REQUESTS
·
URGENT ISRAEL– please
pray for those caught up in the horror of this unwanted war. Pray especially that Israel will locate and
save the many hostages still held captive.
Please
Pray for those who have lost loved ones, continued protection of the
hostages, for the Israeli soldiers and strategists moving through enemy
territory to restore peace and purify the land of all the terrorists. Pray also for the Palestinian people – many are
helpless captives of the terrorists.
·
NEW – Lindsey - the youngest daughter (now all
grown up) of my dearest friends, Annette and Lyle. Lindsey needs your prayers for healing and
strengthening. Pray for her patience and
the wisdom of her health care providers.
·
David
– was in hospital for observation and special treatment of his congestive heart
symptoms and pneumonia. He is now home
and feeling better, but tired. Pray for
his patience and continued wisdom for his health carers, and for Heidi, his daughter and sole carer to be
strong and healthy.
·
Barbara –
the beloved wife of my brother, Tim (who passed away suddenly early this
year). Please pray God places people in
her path who will help her with all the things He knows she needs help with. Pray for Barb’s peace and protection at
night.
·
Patti and John
– Pray the Lord keeps them safe and healthy and that they are encouraged in the
strength of the Lord and never compromise the truth of the Bible for any
reason. (Joshuah 1:6-9).
·
Jeff and
Rachael’s family, Peyton and Carter - Payton, granddaughter, now a
senior in university. Carter, their son,
now a freshman in college. Both are
exceptional students and love the Lord. Pray
they are not distracted by worldly things, that the Lord watches over and
protects them, that they continue to do well in their studies and that their
love of God’s Word increases daily.
·
Sarah and Andrew – he left his job a year ago -- she went to work
in a new role. Pray for this precious
Christian couple that they focus on family balance to the glory of the Lord.
·
Bettina –
continue to pray for her as she grows into a new phase of her life in the Lord. Pray each of her five married daughters, spouses
and 18 grandchildren grow to love and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
·
Ian –
continue to pray that his desire to grow his understanding and effectiveness
with personal evangelism is fulfilled.
·
Elina –
needs God’s wisdom and the courage of her convictions and resolve to live a
life that is Christ-honouring for herself and her young son, Jimmy.
·
Megan (for
emotional healing) and Scott, her husband
(for patience and wisdom) and wisdom for his sister, Clare, as she seeks to support them through troubled times.
·
Christine –
give her strength as she journeys to heart-healing and pray her husband gives
his heart to the Lord.
·
Robin –
lost her beloved mother (was 93 years old), please pray for strength and
healing for her as she navigates through this time of mourning and for her
daughter who is comforting her.
·
Pray for true,
Christ-centered revival in America.
Pray for those in full-time service
Pray the Lord upholds our Christian leaders – that they never compromise God’s Word and remain bold and courageous in the face of evil. Pray for their wisdom, safety, ingenuity, strength and for their families.
Pray Especially for Salvation for:
·
Becky
– recovering and in rehabilitation for spinal surgery. Pray for her patience and for her health care
providers to be wise and compassionate, that her family rallies around her to
care for her and, most of all, that she finds the Lord in all this.
·
Fred and Barb –
brother of Patti -- for salvation.
·
Bryan and Julie
(Patti’s daughter) Pray for the salvation of at least one of the family and
that the others will follow shortly thereafter.
They are parents of Callilah, Adrian, Micah, Kevin and Nate --
lost, damaged and troubled children – all of whom we have prayed for over the
years.
·
Sophie–
six-year-old daughter of a friend is chronically ill and frail. Please pray for her, her parents and health
carers to find ways to manage her symptoms and heal her and that this will lead
them all to God’s saving grace.
·
Paul –
please pray for him. He still has not
found a job or work after more than ten years.
Please pray the Lord provides needed work so he can begin to heal and
strengthen.
·
Pray for Jeff and
Rachael’s family in Louisville to
desire and seek a relationship with the Lord.
·
Peggy – a
dear friend and colleague of my sister-in-law who has been battling cancer in
her neck for years. Her new oncologist
has started a combination of chemo and radiation that seems to be working, but
she is miserable. Please pray for her as
she waits for her body to heal and strengthen and that she finds salvation.
·
Sue and Rob – opened their home to support Luke who is angry and lost. He has been there a long time now and refuses
to move out. Please pray the Lord saves
all three and that Luke realises he must take responsibility for his own
life. Pray for continued patience and
compassion of Sue and Rob.
·
Demi and John – one evening John went out their backdoor to run
an errand and was attacked by someone with a knife who stabbed him several
times (one pierced his heart). He has
recovered physically, but pray for him and his wife as they pull their lives
together – that they might find the Lord in all the chaos left behind.
·
Jen N –
a Jewish woman I’ve met at work, please pray for her that she will find a new
role and that she stays safe and healthy.
Please pray for her and her two boys (ages 16 and 17).
Pray for those with ongoing health concerns
Many of us have family, friends and loved ones with fragile health. Pray God takes special care with them and protects them in practical ways and that the Lord will have mercy on them.
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