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 24:15-16,
"The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly, the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened..."
This opening formula to Balaam's prophecy occurs twice in this chapter, here and also earlier in verses 3-4 to begin his previous prophecy. What catches my eye this morning is Balaam's claim that his "eyes are opened." Now that the Spirit of God had come on him he had a changed view of things. We might say in today's vernacular, he became "woke".
The race hustlers and social justice warriors use the term "woke" to refer to someone who has become aware of and actively attentive to "racial justice" and "social justice" and other issues the political left finds itself fascinated with.
My thought is that the "woke" condition of the political left is really not much of a new outlook, as it probably simply indicates a person is just more influenced by the collective sinful nature of mankind. An increase in interest or enthusiasm, but only in the same trajectory of rebellion they were already influenced with.
Not so for Balaam! Here is a pagan sorcerer who suddenly is confronted by God and has had the Spirit of God come upon him. Talk about a changed view of reality! Where Balaam existed in a spiritually deep darkness, he suddenly has a whole different viewpoint and outlook, which is what it appears to me he is expressing when he says "whose eyes are opened..."
I don't have any idea about Balaam becoming a regenerated man as all of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith become. However, Balaam's newly "woke" condition reminds me of the newly "woke" condition we experience. "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5: 16-17. This echoes Jesus' explanation to Nicodemus when he told him of a new birth. See John 3:1-21.
"The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly, the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened..."
This opening formula to Balaam's prophecy occurs twice in this chapter, here and also earlier in verses 3-4 to begin his previous prophecy. What catches my eye this morning is Balaam's claim that his "eyes are opened." Now that the Spirit of God had come on him he had a changed view of things. We might say in today's vernacular, he became "woke".
The race hustlers and social justice warriors use the term "woke" to refer to someone who has become aware of and actively attentive to "racial justice" and "social justice" and other issues the political left finds itself fascinated with.
My thought is that the "woke" condition of the political left is really not much of a new outlook, as it probably simply indicates a person is just more influenced by the collective sinful nature of mankind. An increase in interest or enthusiasm, but only in the same trajectory of rebellion they were already influenced with.
Not so for Balaam! Here is a pagan sorcerer who suddenly is confronted by God and has had the Spirit of God come upon him. Talk about a changed view of reality! Where Balaam existed in a spiritually deep darkness, he suddenly has a whole different viewpoint and outlook, which is what it appears to me he is expressing when he says "whose eyes are opened..."
I don't have any idea about Balaam becoming a regenerated man as all of us who have embraced Jesus Christ in faith become. However, Balaam's newly "woke" condition reminds me of the newly "woke" condition we experience. "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" 2 Corinthians 5: 16-17. This echoes Jesus' explanation to Nicodemus when he told him of a new birth. See John 3:1-21.
Talk about becoming "woke"!
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.
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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