Tuesday May 17th, 2016 Numbers 24:1-9
Now Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, so he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. (verse 1)
Balaam was accustomed to hearing the voice of God. People would flock to him from every direction to be blessed by the oracles God had spoken to him.
Balaam also knew that God was pleased to bless the people Israel, who did not seek after him. So he stepped out of his customary role and set his face toward the wilderness.
The beauty of Israel’s tents and the precision of their encampment filled Balaam with emotion. He delivered the oracle God had spoken and blessed them.
It pleases God to bless people. Setting our faces toward the wilderness, toward unusual situations and unfamiliar places, can lead us to a people God wants to bless.
Balaam’s example teaches us that our mission in the world, finding the people God wants to bless, also blesses us.
Just as Balaam was filled with emotion at the beauty of Israel’s encampment, we, too, will be moved by the beauty and diversity of the peoples God wants to bless. Let’s head out into uncharted territory.
Sojourning God, move us into the wilderness. Amen. — LH
Contributed by Blessing in the Wilderness
Balaam was accustomed to hearing the voice of God. People would flock to him from every direction to be blessed by the oracles God had spoken to him.
Balaam also knew that God was pleased to bless the people Israel, who did not seek after him. So he stepped out of his customary role and set his face toward the wilderness.
The beauty of Israel's tents and the precision of their encampment filled Balaam with emotion. He delivered the oracle God had spoken and blessed them.
It pleases God to bless people. Setting our faces toward the wilderness, toward unusual situations and unfamiliar places, can lead us to a people God wants to bless.
Balaam's example teaches us that our mission in the world, finding the people God wants to bless, also blesses us.
Just as Balaam was filled with emotion at the beauty of Israel's encampment, we, too, will be moved by the beauty and diversity of the peoples God wants to bless. Let's head out into uncharted territory.
