The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, and the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened; the utterance of him who hears the words of God, and has the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down with eyes wide open: “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all of the sons of tumult.”
— Numbers 24:15-17
BALAK, THE KING of Moab, was distressed because the children of Israel wanted to pass through his land. So he sent for Balaam to bring a curse against them. But instead of cursing them, he began to prophesy a blessing.
Balaam’s declaration confirms that he did indeed hear the Word of God, but he was still a false prophet. Although he initially spoke only blessings, he ultimately told the king how to tempt and stumble Israel.
Balaam said: “In the Spirit, I can do nothing. Get them in the flesh. Send the gals down there with their little idols. Get them excited in their flesh and they will stumble and fall—and then God will deal with them.”
Using that advice, Moab caused the children of Israel to go after the flesh. Balaam knew that was their weakest point. Satan knows that too.
SATAN APPEALS TO OUR FLESH IN ORDER TO DESTROY US.
When the Scepter of Israel comes, He will deliver us from the flesh. What a glorious day that will be!
Awaken us, Lord, to the perils of the life in the flesh. Cause this message to sink in deeply that we might walk after the Spirit.
Amen.