Today’s reading is a powerful reminder that the enemy does not sleep! With Israel camped next to Moab on the border of the promised land, the enemy is scheming. Moab is in full panic mode!
Balak, king of Moab, prepares for battle by hiring Balaam to first curse Israel. Balak thinks this will give him an advantage in battle. Balaam, well, he’s quite the package; he comes complete with a talking donkey! He, too, is an expert schemer. The schemers are planning to thwart God!
What’s interesting is how carefully the king of Moab has studied Israel. Balak takes Balaam to three places overlooking Israel where he might pronounce a curse.
The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth-baal. From there he could see some of the people of Israel spread out below him.(Numbers 22:41, NLT)
Then King Balak told him, “Come with me to another place. There you will see another part of the nation of Israel, but not all of them. Curse at least that many!” (Numbers 23:13, NLT)
Then King Balak said to Balaam, “Come, I will take you to one more place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them from there.” (Numbers 23:27, NLT)
Though God thwarted these attempts to curse Israel, what do we see? While Israel is camped on the border of Canaan, enjoying victory, the enemy is not resting. They are scheming, watching, and probing.
Does this sound familiar to those of us who believe? It reminds me of what the Apostle Peter wrote…
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8, NLT)
Yes, the reality is we have an enemy that does not rest. He is scheming, watching, and probing. But this reminds me of another reality. While we must be watchful, we need not be fearful!
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. (John 10:27–29, NLT)
Rejoice! We are not the ones in panic mode! Will there be persecution in the Christian life? Yes. Will we be tempted and tried? Yes. Is there turmoil in the world? Yes. Is the Devil desperate? Yes. Are the wicked raging against God? Yes. Will we be overcome?
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. (Romans 8:37, NLT)
Again, oh my soul, rejoice! No scheme of the Devil or man can overcome our God!
Thanks for joining me in my adventure to read the Bible chronologically!
- Today’s post comes from Numbers 23-25.
- Tomorrow, I will be reading Numbers 26-27.