SERVICES: SATURDAY 6PM | SUNDAY 9AM & 10:45AM. 

We Livestream at www.FaithFellowshipWeb.com/livestream, through the FFC App, and YouTube.

On the right side

Words of Faith Final

On the right side

Words of Faith 7-8-2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2020

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

To unsubscribe, follow the directions at the end of this devotion.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

 

Numbers 22

    Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.

    [2] Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, [3] and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.

    [4] The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field."

    So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, [5] sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the River, in his native land. Balak said:

  "A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. [6] Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the country. For I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed."

 

       Numbers 22 begins the fascinating biblical account of Balaam and the talking donkey.  The Israelites had soundly defeated both the Ammonites and Amorites, who had refused to give them passage toward Canaan.  They were now preparing to move into the land of Canaan.  The people of Moab heard about all this and were terrified about these victories.

       Balak, the king of Moab, sent for Balaam, who lived among the Midianites who were also in the region.  As the story develops, it is evident that Balaam has some knowledge of the true God even though he dwelled among idolaters.  Balaam was held in high regard as some sort of prophet.  He had the reputation that those he blessed were blessed, and those he cursed were cursed. That is why he was called.

       The opening of the story raises questions that resonate with us today.  Can one be on the wrong side of a matter without realizing it?  Can one be sincerely wrong and be drawn into opposing God Himself? 

       Balaam had a reputation for blessing and cursing. Still, he was about to come up against someone much bigger than his successes and oracles.  Scripture is clear in revealing that the Lord God called this people into being.  

       The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Genesis 12:1-3). This was no small excursion.  This was the people of God.  The children of Abraham were coming into the land promised to them.

       The text reminds us that we need to sincerely seek the Lord God in His Word.  No matter how winsome the invitation, we do not want to find ourselves opposed to Him.  We do not want to curse those He is blessing.  We do not want to bless those who have made themselves enemies of God or enemies of God’s people.

       Are you walking with God?  Are you seeking His path?  Are you blessing His people? 

 

      Father God, I pray in earnest that I may hear Your voice and leading in my life.  Show me the path You have for me.  I desire to bless Your people in all things.  Keep me from the deceptions of the day.  In Jesus’ name.

 

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><

© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2004, 2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SUBSCRIPTIONS - To receive the Words of Faith devotion five days a week, send an E-mail message addressed to join-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. To stop receiving Words of Faith, send an E-mail message addressed to unsubscribe-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -     

The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.