FIVE SMOOTH STONES - The Five Ascension Gifts in the Heavenly Shepherds Bag

FIVE SMOOTH STONES — The Five Ascension Gifts in the Heavenly Shepherd’s Bag

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 offered, so when Balak sent more honorable messengers, with greater enticements, rather than immediately confirm 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 certainly honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore please come, curse this people for me.'" 18 Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me." 20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you — that you shall do." 21 So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab .” There are a number of important things contained in these verses. Balaam already knew what God’s instructions were, yet he chose to inquire again to see if he could do what he wanted to do despite these instructions. The young man of God in 1 Kings 13 knew the word of the Lord and intended to follow the instructions, but believed a lie and was tricked into disobedience. Balaam’s weakness was in his own heart and he allowed a stumbling block before his own self. Ezekiel14:4 " Therefore speak to them, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, 5 that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols ."' We must be careful not to let idols take hold in our own heart which might be lifted up against obedience to the Lord. He may send a prophet or a word which, according to the idols, will test our hearts. This may cause us to stumble, and we should want to do all we can not to stumble or fall. We also must watch the details and subtlety of

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