Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Halfhearted Obedience” – Friday, 4 July 2014 - Scripture: Numbers 22:1-20

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Halfhearted Obedience” – Friday, 4 July 2014 - Scripture: Numbers 22:1 The children of Israel traveled, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 Moab was very afraid of the people, because they were many. Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this multitude will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.”
Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt. Behold, they cover the surface of the earth, and they are staying opposite me. 6 Please come now therefore curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall prevail, that we may strike them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
7 The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand. They came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak.
8 He said to them, “Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Yahweh shall speak to me.” The princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
9 God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has said to me, 11 ‘Behold, the people that has come out of Egypt covers the surface of the earth. Now, come curse me them. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.’”
12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people; for they are blessed.”
13 Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for Yahweh refuses to permit me to go with you.”
14 The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15 Balak again sent princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16 They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.’”
18 Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of Yahweh my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, please wait also here this night, that I may know what Yahweh will speak to me more.”
20 God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.” 
“Halfhearted Obedience” by Wil Watson
At a busy intersection, a boy on his way home from school followed his mother’s instructions to wait for her before crossing. She hadn’t arrived when a voice boomed over a loudspeaker: “Little boy in the red cap, please cross the street now.” So, he crossed. Finding him on the wrong side of the street, the mother lectured him on safety and obedience. He protested: “But, Mommy, God told me to cross!” Later she discovered the order came from an unseen policeman who had stopped traffic.
I like that kid! We should be more like him. His attitude was that God’s “go” trumped Mom’s “no.” No halfhearted obedience for him! Too bad that wasn’t true for Balaam. Scripture indicates his obedience was shaky, perhaps halfhearted. Maybe that’s why he ultimately failed God’s test.
Instand obedience is great. Jesus' fisherman disciples had it (Matthew 4:18). So did Samuel (1 Samuel 3). But not all obedience is immediate. Jesus told a parable of two sons with different responses to their father’s command (Matthew 21:28-32). Strangely, Jesus commended the one who first refused, then relented. There may be legitimate reasons for delayed obedience. But it always should be done wholeheartedly.

Hymn for Today:
“He Leadeth Me” by Joseph H. Gilmore
1. He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate'er I do, where'er I be,
still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.
Refrain:
He leadeth me, he leadeth me;
by his own hand he leadeth me:
his faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
2. Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden's flowers bloom,
by waters calm, o'er troubled sea,
still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.
Refrain:
He leadeth me, he leadeth me;
by his own hand he leadeth me:
his faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
3. Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since 'tis my God that leadeth me.
Refrain:
He leadeth me, he leadeth me;
by his own hand he leadeth me:
his faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
4. And when my task on earth is done,
when, by thy grace, the victory's won,
e'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me.
Refrain:
He leadeth me, he leadeth me;
by his own hand he leadeth me:
his faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
Thought for Today:
“But whoever keeps his word, God’s love has most certainly been perfected in him. This is how we know that we are in him: he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.”(1 John 2:5-6).
Prayer Needs:
Developing Christian leaders in Liberia!
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