Tuesday Scripture: Numbers 22
The World's Best Cusser
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And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.
Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
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This has gotta be the funniest story of the Bible, but it teaches a serious lesson.
The Army of God was on the march to the promised land.
No earthly weapons could stop them.
So King Balak decided to bring out the big guns.
If we can't fight 'em, we'll curse them.
Who's the best cusser in the whole land?
No debate.
Everybody said: Balaam.
He can cuss a blue streak.
When he cusses somebody, they stay cussed.
Send Balaam!
What a reputation!
So there he was, the most important man in the kingdom, on the way to stop the movement of God in its tracks.
And he couldn't even move his own ass.
The ass was smarter than Balaam.
God stopped him in his tracks.
Then the angel told Balaam--go on and do what you're gonna do.
But mind what you say.
At first, Balaam listened.
Instead of cussing God's people, he blessed them.
King Balak was SO MAD!
So--eventually--Balaam found a way to play along.
Here's the thing:
Balaam was a God-fearing believer.
And he found a way to do what armies couldn't do.
He stopped the people of God.
All the enemy needs is one poor-mouthing Christian to derail a movement of God.
I've seen THAT happen so many times.
I wish there was always an angel to warn us when that happens.
Or at least an ass to relay the message.
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Search my heart, Lord, while I run this race
search my heart, Lord, while I run this race
search my heart, Lord, while I run this race,
for I don't want to run this race in vain!