5 Smooth Stones

This is not too unlike the old prophet in 1 Kings 13, who had not been anointed for years and longed for the anointing through the young man of God, but his sel fi sh desire hindered the young man, and he did not help the young man of God as a father in the faith would. Balaam saw the anointing of God and the promises for Israel and wanted the blessings, but would not accept any of the responsibility along with those people, but rather used his spiritual knowledge to teach Balak how to cause Israel to bring judgment upon themselves by causing them to sin, and thereby removing themselves from under the protection of the grace of God (Numbers 24:14). Numbers 31:15 “And Moses said to them: "Have you kept all the women alive? 16 Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.” This is repeated in Revelation 2:14, “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacri fi ced to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.” While Balaam could see the blessings of God available to the children of Israel and to those who would bless them (Numbers 24:9) he was not willing to sacri fi ce anything for what he saw was available. Moses, as a prophet, chose exactly the opposite. Hebrews 11:24 “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to su ff er a ffl iction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” Moses exchanged earthly glory and rewarded for the promise of a heavenly reward, Balaam chose an earthly reward in exchange for the promise of a heavenly one. He continued to live where he could have the bene fi ts of the earthly glory and eventually paid for it with his life. Joshua 13:22: “The children of Israel also killed with the sword Balaam the son of Beor, the soothsayer, among those who were killed by them.” The test of Balaam is a two-edged sword. The minister must be above the temptations of “gold, glory and girls (guys),” which are the lusts of the fl esh, the rewards of sin, and compromise. But also, everyone must take responsibility not to allow the teachings of a minister, no ma tt er how anointed he or she might be, to cause them to leave following the gospel and follow after iniquity which will allow the enemy to have access to hinder the promises and calling of God for that person. Ma tt hew 18:6 "Whoever causes one of these li tt le ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be be tt er for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth

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