"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but
not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of
Israel.... Then Balaam got up and returned home . . . (Numbers 24:17)."
This is an election year, so there are bound to be "flip-flops." Those running for office will from time-to-time "clarify" their positions. The Republican front runner is well known for this, and yet it seems that he is able to garner a majority of his party's constituents. We could too easily conclude that deception, manipulation, promising and saying anything to get elected, i. e., "speaking out of both sides of ones mouth" is considered virtuous in America.
The ancient Hebrews were more precise. For them there was a fine line between prophets and seers and profit seeking visionaries. The prophet Balaam had been "hired" by the King of Moab to put a curse on Israel. It is an unfortunate reality of our time that there are still many "holy men" and "holy women" and so-called leaders who are campaigning and endorsing this, that and the other because they are PAID TO DO SO. Whether it is an oil company, a business conglomeration, a foundation, a segment of the military-industrial complex, or a drug company foots the bill, there are people of all colors, political persuasions, religions, social organizations, genders, gender orientations and even so-called revolutionaries who are FOR SALE.
It is obvious that Balaam was known to be a "prophet for hire." He had special gifts. He was described as "one whose eyes see clearly, ... who hears the words of God, who has knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are open (Numbers 24:15-16)." One day we will accept and understand that the spiritual gifts that one has, come as part of her or his incarnation, and have little to do with their personal character and integrity. With these gifts they can curse as well as bless. In Christ, that is to say in obedience to divine direction, these gifts serve God's ends.
Several apostles of Jesus prophesied that these bought and paid for prophets can be so gifted and so clever and their words can seem so genuine that if it were possible, "they would deceive even God's very elect." We must not make the mistake of thinking that because someone is very gifted, very successful, very good-looking, very smooth, that what that person says or endorses or promises can be trusted.
Pimps, drug dealers and gang leaders are often very gifted, very successful, good-looking and very smooth. In fact many running for office are not far from that and often supported by the same (Remember Meyer Lanky's support of Herbert Hoover, Jeff Fort's-El Rukns-support of Richard Nixon). So blatant was this that Fort and his first lieutenant Mickey Leland were invited and attended Nixon's inauguration and were later awarded a 1 million dollar grant by the administration).
That's why reading these long articles (sorry for the length), thinking, reflecting on the sacred texts of God's holy Word are essential if we are to avoid deception. And yet as has already been said, even deceivers can get it right once and a while. God is not restricted to "the righteous" when God needs to get a message out. The Holy Spirit of God has been offered to believers as a way of discerning truth from error. Occasionally someone who started off wrong and false gets turned around by God (Saul of Tarsus becomes Paul the Apostle). This was true of Balaam. God spoke to him through his donkey and saved him from becoming an enemy of Israel, and hence an enemy of God's plan.
But not only does this chapter reveal that Balaam disappointed the King of Moab by blessing Israel instead of cursing them. God rewarded Balaam with a special vision of what was to come from Israel. "I see him, but not now; I behold him but not near. A star will come our of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel."
Clearly, because of his obedience to the vision of YHWH (Jehovah, Adonai, the Lord), he was granted a glimpse of the coming king. He was allowed to see one who would "rise out of Jacob/Israel" and establish God's rule in the earth. He could only say, "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near." It doesn't have to be that way for us. Jesus Christ is real--can be NOW for us, and can be NEAR. By acceptance of his righteous obedient incarnation of Life as our life, we, too have the option of SEEING.
This is an election year, so there are bound to be "flip-flops." Those running for office will from time-to-time "clarify" their positions. The Republican front runner is well known for this, and yet it seems that he is able to garner a majority of his party's constituents. We could too easily conclude that deception, manipulation, promising and saying anything to get elected, i. e., "speaking out of both sides of ones mouth" is considered virtuous in America.
The ancient Hebrews were more precise. For them there was a fine line between prophets and seers and profit seeking visionaries. The prophet Balaam had been "hired" by the King of Moab to put a curse on Israel. It is an unfortunate reality of our time that there are still many "holy men" and "holy women" and so-called leaders who are campaigning and endorsing this, that and the other because they are PAID TO DO SO. Whether it is an oil company, a business conglomeration, a foundation, a segment of the military-industrial complex, or a drug company foots the bill, there are people of all colors, political persuasions, religions, social organizations, genders, gender orientations and even so-called revolutionaries who are FOR SALE.
It is obvious that Balaam was known to be a "prophet for hire." He had special gifts. He was described as "one whose eyes see clearly, ... who hears the words of God, who has knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are open (Numbers 24:15-16)." One day we will accept and understand that the spiritual gifts that one has, come as part of her or his incarnation, and have little to do with their personal character and integrity. With these gifts they can curse as well as bless. In Christ, that is to say in obedience to divine direction, these gifts serve God's ends.
Several apostles of Jesus prophesied that these bought and paid for prophets can be so gifted and so clever and their words can seem so genuine that if it were possible, "they would deceive even God's very elect." We must not make the mistake of thinking that because someone is very gifted, very successful, very good-looking, very smooth, that what that person says or endorses or promises can be trusted.
Pimps, drug dealers and gang leaders are often very gifted, very successful, good-looking and very smooth. In fact many running for office are not far from that and often supported by the same (Remember Meyer Lanky's support of Herbert Hoover, Jeff Fort's-El Rukns-support of Richard Nixon). So blatant was this that Fort and his first lieutenant Mickey Leland were invited and attended Nixon's inauguration and were later awarded a 1 million dollar grant by the administration).
That's why reading these long articles (sorry for the length), thinking, reflecting on the sacred texts of God's holy Word are essential if we are to avoid deception. And yet as has already been said, even deceivers can get it right once and a while. God is not restricted to "the righteous" when God needs to get a message out. The Holy Spirit of God has been offered to believers as a way of discerning truth from error. Occasionally someone who started off wrong and false gets turned around by God (Saul of Tarsus becomes Paul the Apostle). This was true of Balaam. God spoke to him through his donkey and saved him from becoming an enemy of Israel, and hence an enemy of God's plan.
But not only does this chapter reveal that Balaam disappointed the King of Moab by blessing Israel instead of cursing them. God rewarded Balaam with a special vision of what was to come from Israel. "I see him, but not now; I behold him but not near. A star will come our of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel."
Clearly, because of his obedience to the vision of YHWH (Jehovah, Adonai, the Lord), he was granted a glimpse of the coming king. He was allowed to see one who would "rise out of Jacob/Israel" and establish God's rule in the earth. He could only say, "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near." It doesn't have to be that way for us. Jesus Christ is real--can be NOW for us, and can be NEAR. By acceptance of his righteous obedient incarnation of Life as our life, we, too have the option of SEEING.
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