The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-14

is soon TO be the means of clarifying
Israel and their God. he stands on the
height of Baal Bamoth and offers a
heather sacrifice of seven bullocks and
seven rams upon seven affairs. resortin2
TO divination to carry out his end. 1t Is
all IN vain for God fills his mouth with
blessing for his chosen race and they are
doubly blessed.
Baal is not discouraged and he takes the
seer to the top Of Pisgah. where he can
see the furthest limit of Israels camp:
and again tho false prophet strives TO
curse the Israelites, and still in vain, for
blessing fills his mouth. while Balak
curses him for his apparent Infidelity to
the king. As a last resort Balak en-
deavors to have the seer take back his
blessing. and neither curse nor bless, and
so he takes him to Peor's summit and
pleads his purpose from this new vantage
ground. But BALKAN knew that it was no
use, and SO no longer sought the help of
divination, but poured forth new blessing
as God gave him speech. The will Of God
was done and the unwilling and self-seek-
ing BALKAN was his servant in this doing.
he lost the opportunity of his life. He
sold his character and got nothing in re-
turn. The last that We hear of Balaam is
that he Joined the ranks of Vidian
against the Israelites and was slain in
battle by the sword. He began with
hesitation: He ended in disgrace
mighty. Two or three conclusions
may be drawn from Balaam's history.
First, genius cannot save man. Ba-
laam started with great reputation FOR
unusual powers. He predicted most I'M
expected heat and drought for midwinter
and storms for summer. His predictions
were fulfilled. He had great insight into
nature and attained famous reputation.
All this did not save him after he began to
hesitate, and to take downward road for
the sake of gain. This was Balaam's
fatal error. He turned his genius and his
conscience into unrighteous greed for
gain, and he fell in the attempt. Just as
the temple was made den of dishonest
money getters, who were driven out by
Jesus, so Balaam prostitutes his talents
for gain. and is driven in ignominy from
Gods favor and dies traitors death.
The scene of Balaam's prophesy has
been pictured by an eminent writer as an
ever helpful warning for our guidance.
Balaam stood on the heights of Aram,
while the dead lay below upon his left as
a stern reminder of the doom of evil
doors. On his right was the land of the AM
morites who had been overcome by Israel.
and other solemn warnings of the fate of
the people VINO fought against Jehovah:
and before the prophet stretched the
armies of the Lord, beneath the shadow
of Gods protecting power in the cloudy
pillar. while the promised Canaan
reached out beyond them as far as the eye
could see. 1t was here, amid these tokens
of Gods power that Balaam sought the
aid of divnation that he might curse the
Israelites for pay. And it was here that
God turned the doom which Balaak
sought into strongest praise, and into
prophecy which reached on to Hezekiah's
time and which has been fulfilled to the
establishment of Gods supremacy and to
the salvation of his followers. Down
through all succeeding ages the question
comes to us with mighty power: IF the
Lord be God, serve Him. but if Baal, then
serve him." And let each of US answer:
''As for me and my house, we will serve
the Lord