Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

A Profile of the Ancient Hebrew Prophet

But although words of piety came through [Balaam's] lips, beneath them all his heart was set on evil, and a very small test exposed what was hidden therein. God through his own lips told him not to go with the men; still, deep within was the greed for money. God at last gave him permis sion to go; his eyes were opened when the mouth of the ass was opened. Although used of the Spirit of God to prophesy in order to defend Israel, he was more degraded than a dumb ass. The self-will and corruption of man's heart is declared here. The sovereignty of God over-ruled him; he prophesied, although he was not a prophet. 16 D. P. Williams The figure of Balaam stands out alone in the history of the Old Tes tament. The only counterpart to it is that of Judas, the traitor. Balaam rep resented the opposition of heathenism; Judas that of Judaism. Both went some length in following the truth: Balaam honestly acknowledged the God of Israel, and followed His directions; Judas owned the Messianic appear ance in Jesus, and joined His disciples. But in the crisis of their inner his tory, when that came which, in one form or another, must be to every one the decisive question-each failed. Both had stood at the meeting and part ing of the two ways, and both chose that course which rapidly ended in their destruction.17 Alfred Edersheim

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