Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-01-03

! he makes this statement regard
1 ing fa'se religious teachers; fol-
| lowing the way of Balaam who
loved the wages of unrighteous-
ness but was rebuked for his
| iniouity; the dumb ass speaking
with mans voice forbade the mad
ness Of the prophet. God is at
no loss TO find instruments for
the execution Of his purposes.
| He will use a dumb ass If neces-
sary 10 rebuke a disobedient pro-
phet. Furthermore the prophet
could not see the angel but the
ass could. Then the Lord opened
the eyes Of Balaam and he saw
the angel of the Lord standing
in the way and his sword drawn
in his hand and he bowed his
head and fell fiat on his face.
| The angel was very near TO Ba-
laam all the time he was beating
| his dumb beast but his eyes were
not opened TO see.
The angels are very numerous
according 10 Scriptures. They
excel in strength. They carry
out the behests of heaven with
glad alacrity. Jesus seemed to
imply that every believer has a
guardian angel. Speaking of his
own he says In heaven their
angels do always behold the face
Of my Father which is in heaven"
An angel announced to the
shepherds the advent of the Saw
Jour. And suddenly there was
with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host pr.ising God and
saying Glory 20 God in the high
est and on earth peace, goodwill
toward men. Angels were pres
ent at the crisis in Jesus life.
The sight Of the angel pros
trated Balaam in a moment. He
said Il have sinned; for / knew
not that thou stoodeSt in the way
against me; now therefore if it
displease thee / will get me back
again"
What a speedy confession of sin!
What an unhesitating acknowl-
Judgement of ignorance! What a
prompt readiness TO return!
He had gone counteB to his
original orders and now he must
continue in his self chosen course.
The desire granted may prove TO
be the most bitter punishment in
human experience when that
course does not coincide with the
Divine Will.
At last Balaam meets with Ba-
lax. Affairs are erected; sacrifices
are offered; prophecies are utter
ed. Balak desires that Israel be
cursed. Gods purpose is to bless,
so under the inspiration of the
Divine afflatus BALKAN utters four
glowing prophecies.
The first prediction foretells the
unique separation of Israel from
other nations. The people shall
dwell alone and shall not be reck-
oned among the nations.
The second is Jehovah's vindi-
cation of his people in the pres
ence of their enemies. HE hath
not beheld iniquity in Jacob,
neither hath he seen perverseness
in Israel"
The third pictures the beauty
and order of Israel. How goodly
are thy tents o Jacob, and thy
tabernacles o Israeli
The fourth prophecy gives
very ancient pre-imitation of the
advent Of our Lord into the affairs
Of men. There shall come Star
out of Jacob and a Sceptor shall
rise out of Israel" A star in
scripture occasionally symbolized
some outstanding personality. 1t
would appear % have this mean
ing in the fourth prophecy of Ba-
laam. As a star gives light, so
this person descending from ia
cob would give illumination. Je-
sus said Il am the light of the
world" He was of the seed of
Jacob. He was the star out of
Jacob.
A sceptor is the symbol of
power. The Star was TO rule. 1t
is predicted of Jesus, THE gov
eminent shall be upon His shout
der" His will shall some day be
done on earth as in heaven. His
power will bring it to pass.
He, whose advent we celebrate
al this season of the year is the
Star out of Jacob and the Scep-
ter out Of Israel" who shall bring
peace on earth and goodwill
among men by the light and pow
er of his own person in their
midst