Old Testament: Num 24.10–11

To read the Bible in a year, read Numbers 23–25 on February 29, In the year of our Lord Christ 2024

By Don Ruhl 

While it is true that, “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life” (Proverbs 22.4), it is also true that living by the word of God also will keep us from some honor. 

The prophet Balaam discovered this truth, but he did not like it. The king who had hired him to curse Israel found out that the Lord God would not curse Israel, and that Balaam simply told the foreign king what God said. 

Then the king of Moab showed his displeasure: “Then Balak’s anger was aroused against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, ‘I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have bountifully blessed them these three times! Now therefore, flee to your place. I said I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the LORD has kept you back from honor” (Numbers 24.10–11). 

Later, Balaam found a way to get the Lord to curse Israel, but as long as Balaam followed the Lord’s word, the Lord did keep Balaam from Balak’s wealth. 

However, the Lord would have blessed Balaam beyond measure later, if he had remained faithful to the word of the Lord. 

Questions: 

• Is wealth such a temptation to you that you would compromise the word of God to get it? 
• What can man do for you that the Lord cannot? 

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Don preaches with the Savage Street Church of Christ in Grants Pass, Oregon. 

Listen to his sermons here: GrantsPassChurchOfChrist.com