STEEM CHURCH - BALAK AND BALAAM

Happy first Sunday of the month dear friends

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ISREAL'S ENCAMPMENT
Having defeated two kings and taking their booty, Isreal march forward to the plains of Moab and pitched camp just across the river from Jericho. From this point they could look across and view the land of Canaan, their long desired. For 40 years they have wandered around in the wilderness and many times had been solemnly tempted and tried. They have gone through many hardships and their souls were often discouraged because of the way. They have learned their lessons of obedience the hard way. But now with colours flyer and banner streaming they were marching with a conqueror's tread.

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REWARD FOR DIVINATION
The king of Moab consulted with the princes of Midian and together they decided to send for Balaam to come to cause Isreal for them. Balaam was a seer of whose background little is known. He seemed to know and fear the lord. He was possible one of those descendants of righteousness, most have a knowledge of the truth in his heart although he was not in the family line of Abraham. The princes came with the reward of divination in their hand the money must have look good to Balaam for we learn from other passages of the scripture that his heart converted it nevertheless he went
to inquired of the lord what he should do, after which he came back and told the princes that the lord refuse to let him go with them. Some people refused to do things because the commandment of the lord forbid it but in their hearts they wish the commandment was not thus, for the long to do it. The lord finally permitted Balaam to go but we believe the reason was that he wanted to go. Many times the Lord will not let us have our own way but they are adversed to His way. The tragic end of Balaam and the fact that the last that was said of this much- enlighten the man is very unfavorable, so far as a spiritual condition is concerned the terrible consequences of actions prompted by his heart's not fully set to do the will of God. Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness and sold his soul for them. He knew about God and his lips spoke some of the most sublime prophetic truths we have concerning the worlds Redeemer.

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TEMPTATION
Balak was determined that Ballam should curse Israel. He sent greater and more honourable princes to him and promise to promote him to great honor. Many people have swerved from the truth through promise or money or prestige in this world. Balaam no doubt to some extent fear the lord, yet he had a covetous heart . The word tells us that the love of money is the root of all evil 1st timothy 6:10.

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ADVERSARIES
Balaam's way was preserved to the lord, and God sent an angel to try to turn him from his perverseness. It has been said that the lord will at first mildly try to turn us from evil ways but if we fail in that, the second time it will crush our foot against a wall. If that more drastic method is ineffectual, he will bring us into such straits that we can neither turn to the right hand nor the left but we fall before his judgement. The messenger of justice would have killed by Balaam had not the mercy of God prevented the ass from proceeding. The Angel here was an adversary to Balaam in his perverseness try to turn it back into the right way. Peter's speak of curse children which have gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor who loved the wages of unrighteousness but was rebuked for his iniquity 2 Peter 2:14-16.

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GOD UNCHANGEABLE
The first time the lord spoke to Balaam and said he shall not caused the people because they are blessed God does not lie he does not change. Yet there seems to be something in
Balaam's heart that would gladly have cursed Isreal for the honor, promotion and what he would have received it if the lord will just give him permission to do it. He loves the wages of all unrighteousness is selfish interests willing that a whole nation perish, just for the wealth and honor it would bring to him. "All of self and none of Thee" may we get to that place where it is, "All of Thee, and none of self".

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