Flee Fleshly Desires 02.23.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Saturday February 23, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Numbers. Please read, Numbers 23 -- 25 in your Bible or Click Here to read. In today's lesson we will read and learn about the prophecies of Balaam; Israel sins; and the plague that stopped because of the intervention of Phinehas.

Several times we learn that Balak, the Moabite king, uses Balaam to try and curse the Israelites. All the sacrifices which Balak, could offer and all the clever schemes of Balaam could not hinder the blessing God had earlier promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place." (Numbers 23:1-3).

"And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken? And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it." (23:16-20).

Balaam could not hinder the blessings that God set before His people, but God will use anyone to get out His message. He used this evil prophet to reveal his own awful fate as well as some of the most remarkable, prophetic revelations concerning the coming Savior. " He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city." (24:16-19).

It seems incredible that nothing was as important to Balaam as the wealth that Balak was offering him. Knowing the judgment of God would come upon Israel if he could cause the Israelites to sin, and coveting the king's rewards, Balaam wickedly suggested that the Moabite women make friends with the men of Israel. This led to Israelite men becoming involved in sexual immorality and the worship of their idol, breaking the Israelite covenant vow of allegiance to the One True God. "And Israel abode in Shi-ttim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel." (25:1-3)

Their disobedience resulted in a plague of death that swept through the tribes of Israel and killed 24,000 people, however Phinehas was able to turn away the anger of God and the children of Israel were saved. "And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy." (25:6-11)

It is sad to read that the famous prophet Balaam, who had once confessed "I cannot go beyond the Word of the Lord my God" and "All that the Lord speaketh, I must do" chose to sin against the people of God. However, that does not change the fact that the Israelites were quick to fulfill their own fleshly desires. Some will say that we should not be judgmental, that we should be tolerant of the immoral (alternative) lifestyles that are growing in popularity. Others assume that, where there is mutual consent, it is acceptable. But, of all the sins commited the ones that are most disgraceful to God are the ones against our own bodies."Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (I Corinthians 6:15-19).

Once again we can not let our fleshly desires lead us to ungodly things, we are blessed to have Jesus in our lives and that He saved us from death. We must put our focus on Him and be encouraged to stand strong for Him because no evil can stop God's promises. He will bless us with everything we desire as long as we try our best to live by His commands. If one can not refrain from fornication do the godly thing and find a wife or husband. Put God first above all things and you will succeed and be blessed.

In today's lesson Jesus Christ is revealed through the prophesied Star and Scepter (Numbers 24:17). Jesus Christ is coming to reign in great glory, not only over Israel, but over all men. "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:15-16).

Today's Psalm: 31:1
"In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.in Jesus' name, I pray.....Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and may you have a joyful weekend.
God Bless,
Christina

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