Читать книгу The Grand Sweep - Large Print - J. Ellsworth Kalas - Страница 71

NUMBERS 22–24

Week 9, Day 1

The ultimate battlefield of history is the individual human soul. There is the same deployment of forces, the same advancing and retreating, and at last the same satisfaction of victory or shame of defeat.

Rarely do we get a clearer account of such a struggle than we have in this story of Balaam. It is, of course, the story of a conflict between two nations; but as it happens—and as is so often the case in the affairs of state and world—it is settled within the confines of one human soul. What goes on in Balaam’s heart eventually affects a whole people.

Balaam is a talented, gifted human being, able to commune with God in an extraordinary way. At first he answers God rightly, but he tips his hand early in a conversation with Balak’s servants when he says, “Although Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God” (22:18). I don’t think he knew it, but he was announcing his price; Balak now knew he was susceptible to an offer.

So we watch the pendulum of the soul swing, and we smile at times at the way Balak tries to get a curse upon Israel, only to see Balaam offer another blessing. It looks as if this strange man is on the right track, but unfortunately he is too clever for his own good.

PRAYER: Help me, O Lord, to keep my values straight so that I never trade the eternal for the transient; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

We learn later that Balaam betrays God’s plan and leads Israel astray. What signs of such ultimate sin do you see in Balaam?