Blessing is Blessing

The Israelites travelled on and camped in the plains of Moab near the Jordan across from Jericho. Now Balak son of Zipor saw all that Israel ha done to the Amorites. Moab was terrified I the people because they were numerous, and Moab dreaded the Israelites. So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, " this horde will devour everything around us like an ox eats up the green plants in the field."
Since Balak son of Zipor was Moab's king at that time, he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beir at Pethor, which was by the Euphrates in the land of his people. Balak said to him: "Look, a people has come out of Egypt; they cover the surface of the land and are living right across from me. Please come and put a curse on these people for me because they are more powerful than I am. I may be able to defeat them an drive them out of the land, for I know that those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed." Numbers 22:1-6

This story is well worth reading in its entirety. Some beautiful poetry comes out of Baalam towards God's people.

Baalam lived 400 miles away, yet his reputation had been well known: "for those you curse are cursed an those you bless are blessed."

Baalam is not necessarily a godly man but he does seek The Lord for Balak and The Lord says "no!"

A second time Balak sends men to Baalam and this time God allows him to go, because Baalam wants to go.
However an angel of the Lord meets him on the road and goes to kill him but his donkey can see the angel and avoids it. For it's good behaviour it is beaten but then God opens the donkey's mouth and it rebukes Baalam. Children love this story.

The upshot of the story is that Baalam does not curse the people but blesses them three times. He sees God's love on the Israelites.

What God blesses is blessed! I am blessed and highly favoured if The Lord, how about you?

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