Numbers 23:24 “Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up and as a lion it lifts itself; it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey and drunk the blood of the slain.”
It was the year 1445 B.C., Israel had been delivered from the hand of Pharaoh and God was leading them through the desert. Miracle after miracle had been displayed among the nation and yet a contingency of rebels had swayed the people into rebellion. They missed out on entering the promised land and now they wandered through the desert…surviving.
I can’t imagine how roughly 2.5 million people managed to survive in a region that lacked significant food and water, only God could make that happen. He lead them by day, He guided them by night, there wasn’t a time He was not present. He met with Moses and Aaron in the Tabernacle and He protected them from harm. It was only during times of rebellion did the Lord bring judgement among the people.
Water from rocks, manna from Heaven…is there anything too difficult for the Lord?
When Israel encamped in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan near Jericho, the king of Moab had an idea. He would hire a local diviner to curse Israel with the hope that it would work in his favor, so Balak the king asked Balaam to pronounce a curse. Balaam knew the God of Heaven and Earth and petitioned Him for advice, God’s response was clear.
Numbers 22:12 “God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
Balaam sounded more like a prophet than a diviner. He also nearly lost his life when the Lord allowed him to leave with them, knowing in his heart he was going to curse the people for all the money he was offered. But for a little donkey whom the Lord used to spare his life, the Lord demonstrated there are no limits to His power.
When Balaam arrived to the location, he instructed Balak to build 7 altars and offer up a bull and ram on each altar. Three different times, three different locations and each time the same approach. The heights were places of idolatry and more than likely shrines and altars were in place for the false god’s. New altars were necessary to be dedicated only to the Lord, sacrifices were used in repentance and sanctification, and Balaam was made acceptable to carry the Lord’s message.
Message 1:
Numbers 23:8-10 “How can I curse whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?
For from the top of the crags I see him,
from the hills I behold him;
behold, a people dwelling alone,
and not counting itself among the nations!
Who can count the dust of Jacob
or number the fourth part of Israel?
Let me die the death of the upright,
and let my end be like his!”
Only the Lord can truly curse a nation. Israel was completely reliant upon the Lord and the One who lead them pronounced blessing.
What was supposed to be a curse turned into both a lesson on who God is and His response towards His people. So Balak took Balaam to another place, another view of the encampment, with the hope that a curse would then ensue. But as before, Balaam was reminded to speak only what the Lord had designed, he knew his life was at stake and so he complied.
Message 2:
Numbers 23:20-24 “Behold, I received a command to bless:
he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob,
nor has he seen trouble in Israel.
The LORD their God is with them,
and the shout of a king is among them.
God brings them out of Egypt
and is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
For there is no enchantment against Jacob,
no divination against Israel;
now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel,
‘What has God wrought!’
Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up
and as a lion it lifts itself;
it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey
and drunk the blood of the slain.”
The King of all kings was in their midst, the Lord strong and mighty. The Lion of Judah was on the prowl and the wicked nations that lay before Him were about to be devoured.
Today we are witnessing a modern marvel, the tiny nation of Israel is surrounded by enemies and yet the Lord has made them mighty. As I write this the Lion is roaring, the once mighty nation of Persia (Iran) is being systematically destroyed. The wicked Ayatollah has fallen and the head of the IRGC has been eliminated. The curses issued against Israel have come to nothing because the Lord is still over them.
The Lord is the protector of Israel, and unless He allows judgment to fall, no nation can stand against her. When Balak made one last attempt to curse Israel, the trifecta of blessing was completed.
Message 3:
Numbers 24:5-9 “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
your encampments, O Israel!
Like palm groves that stretch afar,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes that the LORD has planted,
like cedar trees beside the waters.
Water shall flow from his buckets,
and his seed shall be in many waters;
his king shall be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom shall be exalted.
God brings him out of Egypt
and is for him like the horns of the wild ox;
he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries,
and shall break their bones in pieces
and pierce them through with his arrows.
He crouched, he lay down like a lion
and like a lioness; who will rouse him up?
Blessed are those who bless you,
and cursed are those who curse you.”
As the blessing revealed God’s purpose for Israel, so it stands today. King Jesus was revealed through the tribe of Judah, and is exalted today. For anyone who stands against God’s anointed, destruction will follow. America has supported Israel for decades and many believe the blessings known in America are still tied to God’s blessings on those who bless Israel.
The idolatry of Islam is not new. The nations that surrounded Israel have always practiced false religion and will do so until the return of the King.
There is a change that is occurring in our time. The execution of the Ayatollah Khamenei will cause a ripple that will echo across the globe. Even now there are rioters in many countries attacking wherever they can. The world is changing at a rapid pace and the signs of the end are numerous.
Be ready. Make sure your life is in order and your heart is true. If there have been any doubts as to your allegiance to Christ, put them to rest, repent of sin, and trust only in Him.
The King is coming and with Him the heavenly host—this time, in vengeance.
U.T. 