5 Smooth Stones

sparing the fl ock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” Balaam had a powerful ministry with the success, or fruit, to go with it. This is why Balak wanted his help. As has already been covered previously in chapters four and thirteen, “There is fruit of the ministry, but also fruit of the minister. The fruit of the minister is the fruit of the spirit.” We need to be diligent about both if we are not to fall into the pitfall of Balaam who sinned, and caused the children of Israel to sin. At any rate, Balaam was a powerful prophet who was in demand to bless and curse, and to release power from God upon the earth. King Balak of the kingdom of Moab was in serious fear of confrontation with Israel who have already defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan. He knows that their success is from the Lord Jehovah, and he could have tried to enter into the blessings of Abraham by blessing Israel, but he wanted Balaam to bring spiritual judgment against their spiritual power and success. Balaam has a weakness in his heart for earthly things, and it is this weakness that sets him up for opening the door for the devil to bring in fl uence. We can see this referred to in the book of Job, which states: Job 1:6 “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.” Satan has no direct access to God, and must hitchhike, so-to-speak, upon the words or actions of someone who does have access to God and his main access to us is through the lusts of our hearts. James 1:14 “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” Balak sent messengers to Balaam asking him to come and curse I srael. Balaam knew what was right and heard clearly from the Lord, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed” (Numbers 22:12) and so he turned the messengers away. But he had a hook in his heart for the rewards Balak had o ff ered, so when Balak sent more honorable messengers, with greater enticements, rather than immediately con fi rm what he had already stated was right, he hedged and asked the messengers to stay and he would inquire of the Lord a second time. Numbers 22:15 “Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more honorable than they. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: 'Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; 17 for I will 136