Joel M Bradshaw

11Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!” 12He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”–Numbers 23

1. BLESSINGS AND CURSES IN THE ANCIENT WORLD WERE A WAY IN WHICH PEOPLE ATTEMPTED TO INFLUENCE REALITY.
2. BALAK HIRED BALAAM TO ESSENTIALLY GET ISRAEL’S GOD TO LIMIT HIS PEOPLE OR TO INFLUENCE HIMSELF.
3. BALAK ASSUMED THAT BALAAM HAD POWER TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. BALAAM HAD ACCESS.
4. BALAAM SHOWED HIS LIMITATION UNDER THE HAND OF WHATEVER GOD CHOSE TO SPEAK. NOW WE KNOW WHY GOD HAD BALAAM THERE THAT DAY. GOD WAS GOING TO BLESS ISRAEL AND GET THE EVIL KING TO PAY FOR IT!
5. WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL REGARDING THE WORDS OF GOD. THEY ARE NOT A SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCE.
6. BALAK WAS DEPENDENT UPON BALAAM’S ACCESS. WE NO LONGER WORK THAT WAY. WE HAVE THE BIBLE, WHICH IS OBJECTIVE AND CONCRETE AND NOT LIMITED BY EXPERIENCE OR ACCESS!
7. DO YOU TREAT THE BIBLE THAT WAY? WHEN IT CORRECTS YOUR PATH, ARE YOU LIMITED BY ITS DIRECTIONS AND BOUNDARIES? BALAAM WAS LIMITED BY WHATEVER GOD TOLD HIM. WE ARE LIMITED BY WHATEVER THE BIBLE ALREADY SAYS.–JMB