February 28th

Numbers 31:7-8 (NIV)
7 They fought against Midian, as the LORD commanded Moses, and killed every man. 8 Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba--the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.

Several chapters ago, we met Balaam son of Beor. The Moabites had tried to get him to curse the Israeli army, but God spoke to him and would not allow it. Now, we find out that he was killed along with the Midianite army. How could God use him against the Moabites and have him killed with the Midianites? The answer is in verses 15 & 16. While Balaam told the Moabites and since they were allies, the Midianites, that they could not defeat Israel in an outright war, they could defeat them by enticement.

Numbers 31:15-16 (NIV)
15 "Have you allowed all the women to live?" he asked them. 16 "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people.

Here is what strikes me the most. And, I think we should all take note of this. While Balaam certainly did hear from God, and repeat what he was told, for profit he taught people how to take advantage of weaknesses in God’s people.

1 John 4:1 (NIV)
1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Love, Pastor Don