The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Numbers 23:8,
"How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?"
Balak, king of Moab hired a sorcerer, Balaam, to curse Israel as he felt threatened by them. Balak believed he could hire Balaam and that Balaam would bring about Israel's demise by cursing the nation. Balak believed Balaam had the connection to the spirit world to cause things to happen.
The Lord gave Balaam a message to give Balak. Embedded within that message was a point everyone needs to know. The Lord determines outcomes, the Lord determines the way things will be, the Lord decides what is to happen and how it is to happen.
Not everybody knows this! Some harbor a delusion they (or other certain people) can effect things through their own agency or at least bring some kind of cosmic, or whatever, pressure to bear on things to determine outcomes. It isn't so. Those things are the exclusive province of God.
"How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?"
Balak, king of Moab hired a sorcerer, Balaam, to curse Israel as he felt threatened by them. Balak believed he could hire Balaam and that Balaam would bring about Israel's demise by cursing the nation. Balak believed Balaam had the connection to the spirit world to cause things to happen.
The Lord gave Balaam a message to give Balak. Embedded within that message was a point everyone needs to know. The Lord determines outcomes, the Lord determines the way things will be, the Lord decides what is to happen and how it is to happen.
Not everybody knows this! Some harbor a delusion they (or other certain people) can effect things through their own agency or at least bring some kind of cosmic, or whatever, pressure to bear on things to determine outcomes. It isn't so. Those things are the exclusive province of God.
We can, of course, ask things of God. And, that doesn't cost money (in spite of what the TV evangelists have to say). However, although God might grant our request, it is his granting, not ours and not those who pay to "make" something happen.
"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Proverbs 16:9. "A person's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?" Proverbs 20:24.
"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,'
declares the Lord.
'As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.'" Isaiah 55:8-11.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Proverbs 16:9. "A person's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?" Proverbs 20:24.
"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,'
declares the Lord.
'As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.'" Isaiah 55:8-11.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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