Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living at The Global Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Thursday, 29 October 2015 - "Destruction or Blessings?" Scripture: Numbers 23:1-12

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living at The Global Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas, United States for Thursday, 29 October 2015 - "Destruction or Blessings?" Scripture: Numbers 23:1-12
RG AUDIO 102915

Numbers 23:1 Bil‘am said to Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare me seven bulls and seven rams here.” 2 Balak did as Bil‘am said; then Balak and Bil‘am offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 3 Bil‘am said to Balak, “Stand by your burnt offering while I go off; maybe Adonai will come and meet me; and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” He went off to a bare hill. 4 God met Bil‘am, who said to him, “I prepared the seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” 5 Then Adonai put a word in Bil‘am’s mouth and said, “Go on back to Balak, and speak as I tell you.” 6 He went back to him, and there, standing by his burnt offering, he with all the princes of Mo’av, 7 he made his pronouncement:
“Balak, the king of Mo’av,
brings me from Aram, from the eastern hills, saying,
‘Come, curse Ya‘akov for me;
come and denounce Isra’el.’
8 “How am I to curse
those whom God has not cursed?
How am I to denounce
those whom Adonai has not denounced?
9 “From the top of the rocks I see them,
from the hills I behold them —
yes, a people that will dwell alone
and not think itself one of the nations.
10 “Who has counted the dust of Ya‘akov
or numbered the ashes of Isra’el?
May I die as the righteous die!
May my end be like theirs!”
11 Balak said to Bil‘am, “What have you done to me?! To curse my enemies is why I brought you; and, here, you have totally blessed them!” 12 He answered, “Mustn’t I take care to say just what Adonai puts in my mouth?”
"Destruction or Blessings?" by Author: Jeremy Scott
Balaam’s response to King Balak’s request is profound: “How can I curse those whom God has not cursed?” (Numbers 23:8a). How logical! Of course, to King Balak, it might not have seemed logical at all. Balak was only concerned about getting what he wanted, and who can blame him? Conventional thinking knows that the job of any leader is to take care of those whom he or she leads. However, when we’re talking about God, conventional thinking does not apply.
When God is ready to act or speak in any way, we must get in line with or out of the way of God. To this point in the story, we’ve seen God change His message, speak through animals, and reject rightfully-formed acts of worship; just because Balaam sacrificed properly did not mean that God would be swayed to Balak’s desires. Despite all of this activity, God had a long-standing plan for Israel, and Balak was standing in the way.
If only Balak had fallen in line with God’s plans, perhaps the destruction of Moab could have been avoided. Maybe there could have been blessings yet for Balak and the Moabites! When we fall in line with God’s plan, even when it takes time, in the end, blessings abound.
"Count Your Blessings" by Johnson Oatman (1897)
1. When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done. 
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
4. So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done. 
Thought for the Day:
"For I will pour water on the thirsty land
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour my Spirit on your descendants,
my blessing on your offspring." Isaiah 44:3
Please pray:
For the development of Christian leaders in Saint Martin.
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