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BALAK

9 July 2011

Numbers 22:2-25:9

Micah 5:6-6:8

1 Cor.1:20-31

Here are some of the points from BALAK:

Balaam, was the Prophet of the Nations

GOD impedes Balaam’s path

Balaam’s donkey speaks

Balaam was granted prophecy by GOD, but not to curse Israel

Balaam’s first blessing

Balak was very angry

Balaam’s second blessing

Balak was angry again, and thought that if GOD is forcing Balaam to bless instead of curse, then he should not do either

Balaam’s third blessing

Balaam’s last prophecy was given

In this final series of prophecies regarding Israel, Moab and their neighbors, Balaam revealed to Balak that GOD hates immorality.

The people of GOD, Israel, are on their way into the last journey before crossing the River Jordan into the Promised Land. As they pass through the country of Moab, Balak, the king, wants to attack the Jewish people. He realizes that they are powerful. To physically attack them would be to no avail, as he has heard how GOD has protected them and defeated every other nation who came against them.

Since they knew that they were a people governed by spiritual laws, he reasoned that the only way to defeat them was with spiritual power. Therefore he sent for Balaam who was considered to be the master of the non-Jewish world in regards to spiritual matters. Balak wanted Balaam to use his metaphysical powers against the Jewish people. Instead, Balaam could only pronounce blessings upon GOD’s chosen people.

Blessings are the opposite of curses. No curse ever happens without a cause, for “Like a flying swallow, so a curse without a cause shall not alight” Prov. 26:2. The absence of the blessing makes way for the curse to lay hold. In other words, one of the causes for curses in a person’s life may be due to the failure of a father to fulfill his responsibility to bless his child.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” Prov. 18:21. Most are aware of the reality of spoken curses. Negative words spoken by one person over another often allow evil, negative thoughts to influence individuals. For instance, when a child hears his mother or father speak such word curses as, “You are a problem child,” “You are stupid,” “You never do anything right,” “I wish you had never been born.” This type of curse has an influence upon that child.

Some well-intentioned people attempt to cancel the power of a curse with another curse, or by sending the curse back where it came from. In the Tanach, the Covenant law required, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” Matt. 5:38. But the Brit Hadashah way to deal with those who curse you is to bless them. Yeshua taught, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good for those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you are persecute you.” Matt. 5:43-44.

Did it ever occur to you to bless your enemies? This is GOD’s way of protecting yourself from curses spoken by others against you. If, on the other hand, you have bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred or anger in your heart against your enemy/antagonist, you are making a landing strip for the curse to alight.

The power of  blessing and cursing is supernatural; so what we need is the power and presence and work of the Ruach HaKodesh, producing joy, peace, prosperity, fruitfulness; and providing health, success and protection. To be blessed is to be in GOD’s favor and to have His face shine upon you.

We must pronounce blessings on other people, especially our children, as our GOD pronounced blessings on Adam and Eve. “GOD blessed them, and GOD said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” Gen. 1:28. Thereupon, Adam and Eve were fruitful, multiplied and had dominion because GOD spoke a blessing over them. Yes, He spoke a blessing. Blessings must be spoken, for life is in the power of the tongue.

GOD’s blessing is for fruitfulness and dominion... We would do well to affirm the blessing of fruitfulness as stated in Psalm 1:3, “He shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither, and whatever He/she does shall prosper.”

Isn’t it amazing that by the simple act of faith in speaking blessings over another person, we can activate the power of GOD?!!

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.

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