"He replied, 'Must I not be careful to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?... But Balaam replied to Balak, 'Did I not tell you, "Whatever the Lord speaks, that I must do"?'" -Numbers 23.12, 26
Balaam's life has been saved because of his donkey, and then his own eyes were opened to see the angel. When he does, he admits his sin and offers to turn back and do what God had originally told him. The angel tells him to go on but only to say what God tells him to say. When he gets to Moab he tells Balak that he can only speak what God tells him to speak, and they head out to a high place where Balak hopes Israel will be cursed by Balaam.
That isn't what takes place. Seven altars are built and fourteen animals are sacrificed, and then Balaam goes to hear from God. He gets the message and returns to pronounce a blessing upon Israel instead of a curse. Balak isn't happy, but as we've seen he isn't one to give up easily. He takes Balaam to another high point and builds seven more altars making another fourteen sacrifices. After this Balaam goes off, talks with God, and brings back another blessing over Israel.
Balaam has been brought, and paid, to pronounce a curse on a people so that another king may defeat them in battle, but he's doing the exact opposite. He is saying something unpopular because it is what God has commanded him to say. He made a mistake in going back with the men, but now, there, he is doing whatever God is commanding him.
Men, God gives us messages that need to be shared. They aren't always fun, or popular, but if it's a message from God that has been entrusted to us, we need to share it. Are you willing to share the message, regardless of whether the audience wants to hear it or not? Are you willing to say all that God says, exactly the way He says it? Or do you want to take the buy out and say whatever gets you the most money?
Let us commit ourselves to be God's messengers, and may we never share a message that He has not given us.
"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
To God alone be the Glory!
Strength and Honor
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