The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-01

let the nimble and inglorious common
tators alone.
An Unpurchasable Man.
like every other man whose mes
sage to men is worth needing, Balaam
went apart in solitude when the first
deputation brought him the kings IN
vitation. The word he received from
Jehovah was to heed them not. But
Balak would not be refused; he sent
a larger and more imposing delegation
of princes (churches seeking to draw a
pastor from another field understand
this method welD, with promises OF
rich reward. We should like to feel that
the answer represents the real BALKAN:
IF Balak would give me his house full
of silver and gold. cannot go beyond
the word of Jehovah my God, to do
less or more"
This center Of the story can best be
set forth without comment in the words
Of Scripture. Only then will many
readers become acquainted with the
famous story Of BALKAN and the ASS:
And God came unto BALKAN at
night, and said unto him, If the men
are come to call thee. rise up. go with
them: but only the word that speak
unto thee that shalt thou do.
And Balaam rose up in the morn
ing, and saddled his ass. and went
with the princes of Moab. And Gods
anger was kindled because he went;
and the angel of Jehovah placed him
self in the way for an adversary against
| him. Now he was riding upon his ass,
and his two servants were with him.
And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah
standing in the way with his sword
drawn in his hand; and the ass turn
ed aside out of the way. and went into
the field; and Balaam smote the ass,
to turn her into the way. Then the
angel of Jehovah stood in a narrow
path between the vineyards. a wall be-
ing on this side, and q wall on
that side. And the ass saw the
| angel of Jehovah, and she thrust her
self unto the wall. and crushed Ba-
| laam's foot against the wall: and he
smote her again.
"And the angel of Jehovah went
further, and stood in a narrow place.
where there was no way to turn either
to the right hand or to the left And
the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and
she lay down under Balaam; and
Balaam's anger was kindled, and he
smote the ass with his staff. And Je-
hOvah opened the mouth Of the ass,
and she said unto Balaam, What have
I done unto thee, that thou hast smit-
ten me these three times? And Bal
aam said unto the ass, Because thou
hast Knocked me: 1 would there were
sword in my hand, for now I had
killed thee. And the ass said unto
Balaam. Am not I thine ass, upon
which thou hast ridden all thy life
long unto this day? was 1 ever wont
to do SO unto thee? And he said.
Nay.
Then Jehovah opened the eyes of
BALKAN. and he saw the angel Of Je-
hovah standing in the way, with his
sword drawn in his hand; and he
bowed his head, and fell on his face
And the angel of Jehovah said unto
him, Wherefore hast thou smitten
thine ass these three times? Behold,
am come forth for an adversary,
because thy way is perverse before
me; and the ass saw me, and turned
aside before me these three times;
unless she had turned aside from me,
surely now I had even slain thee, and
! saved her alive. And Balaam said
unto the angel of Jehovah, I have
sinned; for I knew not that thou
| stoodest in the way against me; now
therefore, II it displeases thee, 1 will
get me back again. And the angel of
Jehovah said unto Balaam, Go with
the men; but only the word that
shall speak unto thee. that thou shalt
speak. So Balaam went with the
princes of Balak.
The Unwelcome Prophecy.
The rest of the story is too long for
quotation, but it is great reading
The king Of Moab greeted the prophet
with elaborate ceremony. Now that
ne had a court preacher, as it were,
ne tnought ne could have curses put
upon his enemies. Naturally he put
only a favorable Interpretation upon
the prophets reply to his greeting:
10, am come unto thee: have now
any power at all to speak anything?
The word that God putteth in my
mouth. that shall speak,
! An elaborate setting Of feasting and
OF sacrifices upon seven affairs. in
preparation for the oracle's word, fol-
lowed. Then, to the dismay of the
king and his retinue. BALKAN cried a
blessing upon Israel, instead of a
curse. saying, How shall 1 curse
whom God hath not cursed?'' To the
expostulations Of Balak, the prophet
sturdily replied Must I not take
heed to speak that which Jehovah
putteth In my MOUTH" Which fore
shadows the Apostle Paul's declara-
ton, Il have not hesitated to declare
unto you the whole counsel of God. -
In other words You have called me
TO be your preacher: you must take
the whole truth from me-
Perhaps that is a good point at
which to close this brief study. Twice
; again Balak prepared for a deliver
ance by the seer which he thought
would be more favorable to himself,
but each time the visions of Israefs
greatness and glory and triumph be-
came clearer. until the angry and baf-
ned king, in fashion not yet out
grown expelled the preacher from his
position Balaam's parting shot was
Will advertise thee. what this peo-
pie shall do to thy people in the lat
ter days" 1t does not paw to quarrel
with prophet Of truth.
One practical present and needed
lesson from this old story concerns
the function Of the preacher of the
gospel Shall we try to make of him
! a hreiing' or shall we give him free
course to speak, without fear or
ninching. the truth that God has Civ
en- him? Certainly some preachers
| have been made to feal thu o.4aaa