From Parasha: Balak

 

Never Argue with a Donkey

Through the mouth of Balaam, the LORD explained to King Balak why Israel cannot be cursed: God has already promised to bless them. God is not fickle. Having already promised to bless Israel, He cannot reverse Himself. He cannot change His mind. Unlike human beings, God's integrity is absolute. Therefore, the attempt to place a curse upon Israel is utterly futile....
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A Talking Donkey!

Tags:  listening, messages from God, power of speech, spirituality, voice of God

Just because we cannot see the spiritual does not mean that we should be unaware of its presence. After opening the donkey's mouth so that it could speak, God opened Balaam's eyes so that he could see the angel too. The implication is that ordinarily we are no more capable of seeing spiritual beings than animals are capable of uttering human speech....
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Balaam's Evil Plan

Tags:  ambition, covetousness, flesh, greed, idolatry, lust, materialism, power, provision, self-control

Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. (Romans 13:13-14)...
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Life's Little Interruptions

If God can speak through a donkey, He can speak through anything and anyone. A person should always be attentive to the words of others, always listening for the voice of the LORD. ...
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Shout of the King

Tags:  Rosh Hashanah

Balaam attempted to place a curse on Israel three times. Each time, the LORD turned the curse into a blessing. Instead of cursing Israel, Balaam involuntarily spoke prophetic oracles of blessing over Israel. The oracles of Balaam offer several glimpses of Messiah and point toward His coming....
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Balaam and the LORD

The Holy One, blessed be He, has consideration for the dignity of mankind and, knowing their weakness, He shut the mouth of beasts. For had they been able to speak, it would have been impossible to put them to the service of man or to stand one’s ground against them. For here was this donkey, the most stupid of all beasts, and there was the wisest of all wise men, yet as soon as she opened her mouth he could not stand his ground against her! (Numbers Rabbah 20:14)...
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The Error of Balaam

The story of Balaam is evidence that not everyone who calls on the name of the LORD is necessarily a good guy. It is possible to know about God, and even suppose that “God is on my side,” while being quite godless. Our history is marred with endless examples of zealous religious leaders who believed they were doing God a favor by persecuting Israel. Balaam is their forerunner. He spoke ‘God talk,’ but his heart was full of malice and greed....
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