The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-10-31

ton. In Num- 20 we are told of
the death of Aaron. They met Arad
Glib and overthrow him. Moving
around Edom was difficult process
and the people became discouraged.
Again they murmured against God
and against Moses. Swift punishment
followed in the form of fiery serpents,
Num- 21:4-11. Contrasting their sins
Moses interceded on their behalf and
the look at brazen serpent suggest
ed to them the necessary attitude of
faith towards God After sundry wan
derings, the dwelling among the
Amorites and the overthrow of sun
dry tribes, We come to their encoun-
ter with Balak. As they journeyed
the report Of their victories preceded
them and Balak sought to protect |
himself against these strange "peo-
pie come out of Egypt" by other
means than that of war, for, said he,
they are covering the face Of the
earth" See Elk. 1915.
Little Known About Rafaan.
Here Balaam appears upon the
scene. Little Is known about him.
He evidently had knowledge OF
Jehovah and yet was a sorcerer or
spiritist, dealing with evil spirits, and
was, probably, Midianite.
|. The Call to Curse, Oh. 22:1.6.
There are six personal pronouns in
verse: Balak sought to fight fire with
fire, to save his own face. He feared
those whom God blessed The world
today hates those whom God blesses.
Had Balak been wise he would have
cast In his lot with Israel and not
have miserably persisted in battle
along with his unwilling tool, Balaam.
(See Num- 1913, Josh. 1922
Balaam at first refused Bslak's in.
vitation ". 13), but Balak sends more
exalted messengers and greater offers
of homer and rewards, promising him
honor in the kingdom If he would but
curse Israel ". ~. Balaam again
returns word that this is impossible
". iS) for he cannot go beyond the
! word of Jehovah, not that he was IN
sympathy with that word at all, but
he was conscious of Jehovah's power,
II. A Challenge by the way. Oh. q:
] 22.35. The angel Of Jehovah, as the
agent of his anger, interposed to save
Balaam from himself. Lust had SO
blinded his eyes that even an ass
p saw more clearly than he. God re-
|. linked him and those who trafticked
with evil spirits in order to produce
. results are Knocked by the fact that
a dumb ass found voice ans spoke
;. Finally, after repeating his condi
T. tional permission that he was tc
speak only the word Jehovah was tc
,. give him, he is permitted to proceed
e with the princes of Balak"
r BaIaam a Prophet.
III. The ehanseless message, Oh. "a
} Read carefully the intervening chap
tiers. In them we have the account o
Balaam meeting Balak and OF hi
!. brief but wonderful prophecy concern
q ing Israel. Balaam gives us Won
1t derful description of one who is
is prophet (24:16). He % "hearetl
It the words of God" (2) "hnoweth tn
y knowledge of the most high" e
d "seeth the vision of the almighty.
N Verse II is a wonderful prophecy Q
re the Lord Jesus, who is "a STAR" TO
= he "lighteth every man who comet
i; into the world" (see also 2 Pc
~ 1:1s.) He is called "a sceptre' 'b'
an cause of his kingly sway (see Tx.
90, 33, Heb. .1:S). From the conte1
we read how once his lips were opel
ed he declared wonderful prophec
concerning these whom Balak consi
cred his enemies and with prophet
eve he sees the coming glory
Israel. Balak's anger is kindled, or
he seeks to drive Balaam away, b'
each time there comes forth from b
Iirs one of these unwelcome proph
cies. These marvellous propheci'
which fell from Balaam's lips, as &
instrument, taught that this entire u
der world of evil is under control
Jehovah and its curses upon his pc
Die are important. He may even col
,el unwilling instruments, If needf'
TO become agents for the accomplis
nent of his purposes. Balaam's 81
md strikingly illustrates the fact tn
man may admire the ideal of rigl
BUSINESS and the beauty of holine
md yet failing to yield his own Il
those principles fail utterly in t
onsummation of his life and his
,u.nce. He taught Israel to sin.
The Golden Text. 1t would almt
eem that James must have had I
aam in mind when he wrote the
ords. Double-minded means "tV
inded" and unstable means that
.ck foundation, are mot fasten
m own" James is speaking of I
ok of wisdom which may be 81
y led by asking him who gives lilo
= ly. but admonishes us to ask
'h 18th. nothing waver;ng." This Is
/ cture of all men who, knowing q
4 It deny his power, az for the gre
gain refuse to yield to his ella
I'd On fail in the realization Of tn