Sovereignty

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE:

Last July the nation’s deadliest forest fire blazed up all at once, like the roar of a tornado. Unable to escape, 14 firefighters were killed. But Brad Haugh managed to survive. At about 2 p.m., Haugh and his partner broke for lunch. As he opened a can of Beanie Weenies, the pull-off ring on the lid broke. Haugh pulled out his knife and cut the lid off, a procedure that delayed by about five minutes his return to work. Later, he would conclude that those five minutes might have saved his life by slowing his descent down a ridge. At about 3:30 p.m. the out-of-control fire raced toward Haugh. Scrambling through the brush, he reached the ridge top. He started to turn around to look back at the fire, but remembered how Lot’s wife had turned to look at Sodom and Gomorrah. Twenty minutes later he reached safety. (Today in the Word, March 14, 1995)

This chapter begins by explaining how Balaam realized how the Lord intended to bless Israel so he did not try to use his sorcery as he usually did (v.1) but he looked toward the wilderness and saw the tribes encamped in formation and the Spirit of the Lord came on him (v. 2). He then declares “Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you” (v. 9). With this being said Balak flies into a rage, smites his hands together: and said unto Balaam, “I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times (v. 10). Now get out of here! Go back home! I had planned to reward you richly, but the Lord has kept you from your reward” (v.11).

It is a remarkable thing that God gave this vision to a covetous Gentile soothsayer instead of a dedicated Jewish prophet. But God is sovereign in all His ways and His ways are higher than our ways (Isa. 55:8-11). No man can stop God’s sovereign purposes. The nation of Israel was about to enter the land of plenty and had much to learn about their omnipotent protector even in experiences of trouble unknown to them.

APPLICATION:

I can be sure that any difficulties I may face in this life are only part of God’s will for me.