Sermon # 10 - The Things God Detests Series

The incident that we are studying in detail is from Numbers Chapter 23. As the people of Israel progressed towards the Promised Land, the King of Moab out of fear and envy wanted to curse the Israelites, and thereby hoped that he could hinder their advancements. He bribed the Prophet Balaam, and hoped that he would curse the people of Israel.

Even today children of God are constantly striving against the onslaughts of the evil one. Often times we have no understanding as to who we are in Christ, and hence we are gripped with fear.

In Numbers 23:9-10, Numbers 23:19-21, there are certain characteristics of the Israelites that are mentioned that we can apply to the church as well.

1. The Israelites were a people who lived alone, and were separated unto God.

2. They were numerous, and their growth no one could stop

3. Their death was like that of a righteous which meant that they were blessed both in life and death.

4. None of the promises of God will fail because He is a God who does not lie, and but is faithful to His word. When life is hard and seems contrary to the promises of God, we can rest assured that God is faithful, and will remain true to His word.

5. Also we see that God does not change His mind like men do. The God who called us is faithful to lead us and keep us until the very end.

6. When God blesses us no one can hold it back. If you feel that you have forfeited the blessings of God know for sure that when God blesses you no one can withhold or take it back from you.

7. God also did not consider the sins or wickedness in Israel which means that through Christ God has forgiven us our sins, and made us righteous in His sight.

8. Also the Lord God was with them, and this is the greatest privilege we have as children of God.

Today we will study Numbers 23:23, There is no magic charm, no witchcraft, that can be used against the nation of Israel. Now people will say about Israel, 'Look what God has done!' (GNB)

There are many people today, even Christian ministers who when asked to pray for others declare that some evil spell has been cast on them, and will suggest that they either fast and pray for a specified period of time or attend church for certain number of days to be rid of their troubles. This is just a human solution which is totally contradictory to the word of God. Have you observed that when someone is told that their circumstances are a result of some evil spell that someone has cast on them, that person is filled with fear, and anything amiss that happens afterwards is associated as being a consequence of that? More people are willing to trust the words of men, rather than to depend on the word of God.

Let us remember from the word of God based on Numbers 23:23 that no magic charm or witchcraft that is aimed at us can prevail over us, because we are under God’s divine protection. Let’s keep our eyes fixed and our minds focused on the word of God, and whenever something is said contrary to the word of God, we must hold on to the word of God. We must firmly know and believe on the basis of God’s word that, ‘no weapon formed against us will prosper.’

Sadly, we live in a time when even those who are believers in the Lord Jesus go seeking after all sorts of magic and astrology.

Things that are detestable to God

We read in Deuteronomy 18:10-11, There shall not be found among you one who makes his son or his daughter go through the fire, or one who practices divination, or an interpreter of signs, or an augur, or sorcerer, or one who casts magic spells, or one who consults a spirit of the dead, or spiritist, or one who inquires of the dead. (LEB)

There are many who may not practice a lot of what is mentioned in the above verses, but there are still believers who observe days, and want to make sure that their weddings are planned for only certain days of the week which they consider as auspicious. There are many who will have no weddings in the period of lent. We must know that every day is a gift to us from God, and there is no day or time that is evil because God has blessed it. Many believers go for palm reading, and we must know that nothing about us is written on the palm of our hand, but is known by the God who created us. These are last days, and we must be cautious to not let the people of the world dictate what we should do or not do in order to stay safe and blessed because this is in complete variance to the word of God.