Day 64 - 5 March 2021
Day 65, 6 Mar 2021
NUMBERS 23-25
NUMBERS 23
1 (Nu 23:29) And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me seven altars,
and prepare for me seven oxen and seven rams."
2 (Nu 23:14; 23:30) Balak did as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam
offered on every altar a bull and a ram.
3 (Nu 23:15; 24:1) Balaam said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt offering,
and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever
He shows me I will tell you." And he went to a high place.
4 (Nu 23:16) God met Balaam, and he said to Him,
"I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered on every altar a bull
and a ram."
5 (Dt 18:18; Jer 1:9) The Lord put a word in the mouth of Balaam
and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you will speak.â€
6 So he returned to Balak, who was standing by his
burnt offering with all the princes of Moab.
7 (Nu 22:5-6; 23:18) Then Balaam uttered his oracle, saying:
"Balak has brought me from Aram,
the king of Moab from the mountains of the east,
saying, 'Come, curse Jacob for me,
and come, defy Israel!'
8 How will I curse
whom God has not cursed?
Or how will I defy
whom the Lord has not defied?
9 (Ex 33:16; Dt 32:8 ) For from the top of the rocks I see him,
and from the hills I behold him;
there, the people will dwell alone
and will not be counted among the nations.
10 (Ge 13:16; Ps 37:37) Who can count the dust of Jacob
and the number of the fourth part of Israel?
Let me die the death of the righteous,
and let my last end be like his!"
11 (Nu 24:10; 22:11) And Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me?
I brought you to curse my enemies, but now you have certainly blessed them."
12 (Nu 22:38) He answered and said, "Must I not take heed to speak
what the Lord puts in my mouth?"
Balaam's Second Prophecy
13 And Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place from
where you may see them. You will see part of them, but will not see
them all. Curse them for me from there."
14 (Nu 23:1-2) He brought him into the field of Zophim,
to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull a
nd a ram on each altar.
15 (Nu 23:3_ He said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offerings
while I meet the Lord over there."
16 (Nu 23:5) The Lord met Balaam and put a word in his mouth
and said, "Go again to Balak, and thus you will speak."
17 When he came to him, he was standing by his burnt offerings
with the princes of Moab. And Balak said to him, "What has the Lord spoken?"
18 And he took up his parable and said:
"Rise up, Balak, and hear!
Listen to me, you son of Zippor!
19 (1Sa 15:29; Mal 3:6; Jas 1:17) God is not a man, that He should lie,
nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He spoken, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
20 (Ge 22:17; Nu 22:12) See, I have received a commandment to bless,
and He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
21 (Jer 50:20; Ex 29:45-46) "He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob,
nor has He seen perverseness in Israel.
The Lord his God is with him,
and the shout of a king is among them.
22 (Nu 24:8; Dt 33:17; Job 39:9-11) God, who brings them out of Egypt,
has strength like a wild ox.
23 (Nu 24:1) Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob,
nor is there any divination against Israel.
For this time it will be said of Jacob and of Israel,
'See what God has done!'
24 (Ge 49:9; 49:27) A people rises up as a great lion,
and lifts itself up like a lion;
it shall not lie down until it eats the prey
and drinks the blood of the slain."
25 Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them at all, nor bless them at all."
26 (Nu 22:18) But Balaam answered and said to Balak, "
Did I not tell you, saying, 'All that the Lord speaks, I must do'?"
Balaam's Third Prophecy
27 And Balak said to Balaam, "Please come. I will bring you to another place.
Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there."
28 (Nu 21:20) Balak brought Balaam to the top of Peor,
which looks toward ÂJeshimon.
29 Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me seven altars,
and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams."
30 Balak did as Balaam said and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
NUMBERS 24
1 (Nu 23:23; 23:3) And when Balaam saw that
it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as other times to seek
for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2 (1Sa 19:20; 2Ch 15:1) Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel
dwelling in their tents by their tribes, and the Spirit of God came on him.
3 (Nu 23:7; 24:16) He took up his proverb and said:
"Balaam the son of Beor has said,
and the man whose eyes are open has said,
4 (Nu 12:6; Eze 1:28) he has said, who heard the words of God,
who saw the vision of the Almighty,
falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
5 "How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
and your tabernacles, O Israel!
6 (Ps 1:3; 104:16) "Like palm trees are they spread out,
like gardens by the river’s side,
like the aloe plant, which the Lord has planted,
and like cedar trees beside the waters.
7 (2Sa 5:12; 1Ch 14:2) He will pour the water out of his buckets,
and his seed will be in many waters.
"His king will be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom will be exalted.
8 (Nu 23:22; Ps 45:5) "God brings him out of Egypt;
he has the horns of a wild ox;
he will eat up the nations, his enemies,
and will break their bones,
and pierce them through with his arrows.
9 (Ge 12:3; 49:9) He crouches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion,
who will stir him up?
"Blessed is he who blesses you,
and cursed is he who curses you."
10 (Nu 23:11; Eze 21:14) The anger of Balak was inflamed against Balaam,
and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam,
"I called you to curse my enemies, and indeed,
you have certainly blessed them these three times.
11 (Nu 22:17; 22:37) Now flee to your own place. I thought to promote you
to great honor. But certainly, the Lord has kept you back from honor."
12 (Nu 22:18) Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not speak to your messengers
which you sent to me, saying,
13 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go
beyond the mouth of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own mind.
But what the Lord speaks, I will speak'?
14 (Ge 49:1; Mic 6:5) And now, I am going to my people. Come,
I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days."
Balaam's Fourth Prophecy
15 (Nu 23:7; 24:3-4) He took up his parable and said:
"The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
and the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;
16 (Nu 24:4) the oracle of the one hearing the words of God,
and knowing the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
17 (Ge 49:10; 2Sa 8:2; Ps 45:6) "I will see him, but not now;
I will behold him, but not near;
a star will come out of Jacob,
and a scepter will rise out of Israel,
and will crush the borderlands of Moab,
and destroy all the children of Sheth.
18 (Am 9:12; Ge 27:29) Edom will be a possession,
and Seir, a possession of its enemies,
while Israel does valiantly.
19 (Ge 49:10; Mic 5:2) One out of Jacob shall have dominion,
and destroy the survivors of the city."
20 (Ex 17:14) Then he looked on Amalek; he took up his proverb and said:
"Amalek was the first of the nations,
but his end will be that he perishes forever."
21 (Ge 15:19) He looked on the Kenites and took up his proverb and said:
"Strong is your dwelling place,
and you put your nest in a rock;
22 nevertheless the Kenite will be wasted.
How long until Ashur carries you away captive?"
23 He took up his proverb and said:
"Alas, who will live when God does this?
24 (Ge 10:4; Nu 24:20) And ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus
and will afflict Ashur and will afflict Eber,
and he also will perish forever."
25 (Nu 31:8) Balaam rose up and went and returned to his place,
and Balak also went his way.
(Always do what is right in the Sight of the Lord)
NUMBERS 25
Moab Seduces Israel
1 (Jos 2:1; Nu 33:49) While Israel dwelt in Shittim, the people began to
commit harlotry with the women of Moab.
2 (1Co 10:20; Ex 20:5) They called the people to the sacrifices
of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
3 (Jos 22:17; Hos 9:10) Israel joined himself to the Baal of Peor,
and the anger of the Lord was inflamed against Israel.
4 (Dt 13:17; 4:3) The Lord said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the people
and hang them before the Lord in the sun, that the fierce
anger of the Lord turn from Israel."
5 (Ex 18:21) Moses said to the judges of Israel,
"Kill each of the men who have aligned themselves with the Baal of Peor."
6 (Joel 2:17; Nu 22:4) Behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought
to his brothers a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight
of all the assembly of the children of Israel, who were weeping
before the door of the tent of meeting.
7 (Ex 6:25) When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest,
saw it, he rose up from among the assembly and took a spear in his hand,
8 (Nu 16:46-48) and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust
both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly.
So the plague was stopped from the children of Israel.
9 (1Co 10:8; Nu 16:49-50) Those that died in the plague were 24000.
10 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
11 (Dt 32:16; 32:21) "Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron
the priest, has turned My wrath away from the children of Israel,
because he was zealous for My sake among them, so I did not exterminate
the children of Israel in My zeal.
12 (Mal 2:4-5) Therefore say, 'I hereby grant him My covenant of peace.
13 (Ex 40:15; 1Ch 6:4-15) And it will be for him and his seed after him,
even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous
for his God and made an atonement for the children of Israel.'"
14 Now the name of the slain Israelite who was slain with the Midianite
woman was Zimri the son of Salu,
a leader of a chief house among the Simeonites.
15 (Nu 31:8; Jos 13:21) The name of the Midianite woman that was slain
was Kozbi the daughter of Zur.
He was chief over a people and of a father's house in Midian.
16 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
17 "Be hostile to the Midianites, and defeat them,
18 (Rev 2:14) because they have been hostile to you with their wiles,
with which they have deceived you in the matter of Peor
and in the matter of Kozbi the daughter of a leader of Midian,
their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague because of Peor."
Our Daily Bread for 5 Mar 2021
https://www.odb.org/CA/2021/03/05/who-knows
entitled Who Knows?
Eccl 6:12, 7:13, 7:14
12 (Job 14:2; Ecc 3:22) For who knows what is good for man while he lives
the few days of his vain life which pass like a shadow?
For who can tell men what will be after them under the sun?
13 (Ecc 1:15; Job 12:14) Consider the work of God:
Who is able to make straight
what He has made crooked?
14 (Ecc 3:22; Dt 28:47) In the day of prosperity be joyful,
but in the day of distress consider:
God has made the one
as well as the other.
For this reason man will not be able to understand
anything that comes after him.
According to Chinese legend, when Sai Weng lost one of his prized horses,
his neighbor expressed sorrow for his loss. But Sai Weng was unconcerned.
He said, "Who knows if it may be a good thing for me?" Surprisingly,
the lost horse returned home with another horse. As the neighbor
congratulated him, Sai Weng said,
"Who knows if it may be a bad thing for me?"
As it turned out, his son broke his leg when he rode on the new horse.
This seemed like a misfortune, until the army arrived
at the village to recruit all
able-bodied men to fight in the war. Because of the son's injury,
he wasn't recruited, which ultimately could have spared him from death.
This is the story behind the Chinese proverb which teaches that a difficulty
can be a blessing in disguise and vice versa. This ancient wisdom has a close
parallel in Ecclesiastes 6:12, where the author observes:
"Who knows what is good for a person in life?"
Indeed, none of us know what the future holds. An adversity might have
positive benefits, and prosperity might have ill effects.
Each day offers new opportunities, joys, struggles, and suffering.
As God's beloved children, we can rest in His sovereignty
and trust Him through the good and bad times alike.
God has "made the one as well as the other" (7:14).
He's with us in all the events in our lives and promises His loving care.
By: Poh Fang Chia
Reflect & Pray
Can you think of an example where a misfortune turned out to be a blessing?
How can you keep your focus on God in good times as well as in bad times?
Sovereign God, thank You for ordering my life. Help me to praise You
in both good and bad times, believing that You work all things for t
he ultimate good of those who love You.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 4 -The Blessings of Grace Day 6 - A Reasonable Alternative
Isaiah 1:18
18 (Ps 51:7; Rev 7:14) "Come now, and let us reason together, "
says the Lord.
Though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson,
they shall be as wool.
"Is Christianity Reasonable?" Linda Wanted to Know. "I've heard all my life
that faith is a crutch, an invention of weak minds to assure them
of some order in the world."
Linda was not alone in her objection; thinking people for generations
have been asking themselves the same question.
God is not intimidated by our questions; in fact, he confronts the issue
head-on in the Scriptures. "Let us reason together," the Lord invites.
Even according to the most basic of human reasoning,
faith is a reasonable alternative , a rational choice for a thinking person.
God indicates in his Word that confession and forgiveness are "reasonable".
"Think!" God says. "You sin, and you know it,. You are not even able to be
true to your own principles. You cannot deal with your sin by will power
or effort. Bit I can deal with it! I can forgive it - and I will"
We cannot come to faith in God through Christ by intellect alone, of course.
Our spirits much reach out in faith, beyond what we can see. But intellect
supports faith; trusting in Christ is an eminently rational decision.
In Deut 30:1-20 , God set before the people a choice: Life or Death, blessing
or cursing. "Choose Life!" he tells them. We have the same choice.
The ultimate decision is thus simplified, the 'rational' alternative becomes
clear. We can choose death, by attempting to control our own destinies ,
or life, by giving ourselves fully into the hand of the Master.
Application
a) Why is the choice to acknowledge my sin and receive forgiveness a
'Rational choice'?
b) What are the alternatives to such a decision?
c) What other aspects of God's word
and work in my life seem 'reasonable' to me?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Deut 29:9
9 (Dt 4:6; Jos 1:7)Therefore, keep the words of this covenant
and do them, so that you may prosper in all you do.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are ill or injured
Psalm 103:1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits,
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) who forgives all your iniquities,
who heals all your diseases,
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The Lord's Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Saskatchewan
Quick facts on Muslims in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan 2015 population 1125400
est Muslim Population 17279
CNMM Networks: Saskatoon
Saskatoon has seen quick growth in its Muslim population over the past
5 years, which maybe as high as 5000 today. Islamic leaders have
focused specifically on this city , having twice already sent cohorts
of about 70 families to start mosques. There are now 7 Islamic centres
of worship and an ISlamic madrassah (school) located right next to a
Christian school.
Of particular concern recently is the number of young adults who grew up
in evangelical churches and converted to Islam. Most of these are young
women whowere wooed by Muslim man and became emotionally bonded.
Both prior to and after marrying, these women are known to convert to ISlam.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
5th Day of the Month
a) Pray for Canada's First Nation peoples, that the Lord will draw them to Himself
(PS 145:13-18
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon You,
and You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and loving in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.
)
b) Pray for the Lord to search your life , reveal anything offensive and cleanse you from unrighteousness
( ps 139:24 and see if there is any rebellious way in me,
and lead me in the ancient way.
1: John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord to bless those He blesses.
Pray to the Lord to seek his will and not be lead astray.
Pray to the Lord to seek in good times and bad.
Pray to the Lord to repent of your sins and Let the Lord do his work .
Pray to the Lord to keep his covenant.
Pray to the Lord for His healing in your life
Pray for Muslims in Saskatchewan to receive Christ as Saviour .
Pray for the First Nations to know the Lord.
Pray to Lord search away wicked ways in you.
Repent of and turn away from your sins
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
NUMBERS 23-25
NUMBERS 23
1 (Nu 23:29) And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me seven altars,
and prepare for me seven oxen and seven rams."
2 (Nu 23:14; 23:30) Balak did as Balaam had spoken, and Balak and Balaam
offered on every altar a bull and a ram.
3 (Nu 23:15; 24:1) Balaam said to Balak, "Stand by your burnt offering,
and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever
He shows me I will tell you." And he went to a high place.
4 (Nu 23:16) God met Balaam, and he said to Him,
"I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered on every altar a bull
and a ram."
5 (Dt 18:18; Jer 1:9) The Lord put a word in the mouth of Balaam
and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you will speak.â€
6 So he returned to Balak, who was standing by his
burnt offering with all the princes of Moab.
7 (Nu 22:5-6; 23:18) Then Balaam uttered his oracle, saying:
"Balak has brought me from Aram,
the king of Moab from the mountains of the east,
saying, 'Come, curse Jacob for me,
and come, defy Israel!'
8 How will I curse
whom God has not cursed?
Or how will I defy
whom the Lord has not defied?
9 (Ex 33:16; Dt 32:8 ) For from the top of the rocks I see him,
and from the hills I behold him;
there, the people will dwell alone
and will not be counted among the nations.
10 (Ge 13:16; Ps 37:37) Who can count the dust of Jacob
and the number of the fourth part of Israel?
Let me die the death of the righteous,
and let my last end be like his!"
11 (Nu 24:10; 22:11) And Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me?
I brought you to curse my enemies, but now you have certainly blessed them."
12 (Nu 22:38) He answered and said, "Must I not take heed to speak
what the Lord puts in my mouth?"
Balaam's Second Prophecy
13 And Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place from
where you may see them. You will see part of them, but will not see
them all. Curse them for me from there."
14 (Nu 23:1-2) He brought him into the field of Zophim,
to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull a
nd a ram on each altar.
15 (Nu 23:3_ He said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offerings
while I meet the Lord over there."
16 (Nu 23:5) The Lord met Balaam and put a word in his mouth
and said, "Go again to Balak, and thus you will speak."
17 When he came to him, he was standing by his burnt offerings
with the princes of Moab. And Balak said to him, "What has the Lord spoken?"
18 And he took up his parable and said:
"Rise up, Balak, and hear!
Listen to me, you son of Zippor!
19 (1Sa 15:29; Mal 3:6; Jas 1:17) God is not a man, that He should lie,
nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He spoken, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
20 (Ge 22:17; Nu 22:12) See, I have received a commandment to bless,
and He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
21 (Jer 50:20; Ex 29:45-46) "He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob,
nor has He seen perverseness in Israel.
The Lord his God is with him,
and the shout of a king is among them.
22 (Nu 24:8; Dt 33:17; Job 39:9-11) God, who brings them out of Egypt,
has strength like a wild ox.
23 (Nu 24:1) Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob,
nor is there any divination against Israel.
For this time it will be said of Jacob and of Israel,
'See what God has done!'
24 (Ge 49:9; 49:27) A people rises up as a great lion,
and lifts itself up like a lion;
it shall not lie down until it eats the prey
and drinks the blood of the slain."
25 Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them at all, nor bless them at all."
26 (Nu 22:18) But Balaam answered and said to Balak, "
Did I not tell you, saying, 'All that the Lord speaks, I must do'?"
Balaam's Third Prophecy
27 And Balak said to Balaam, "Please come. I will bring you to another place.
Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there."
28 (Nu 21:20) Balak brought Balaam to the top of Peor,
which looks toward ÂJeshimon.
29 Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me seven altars,
and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams."
30 Balak did as Balaam said and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
NUMBERS 24
1 (Nu 23:23; 23:3) And when Balaam saw that
it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as other times to seek
for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2 (1Sa 19:20; 2Ch 15:1) Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel
dwelling in their tents by their tribes, and the Spirit of God came on him.
3 (Nu 23:7; 24:16) He took up his proverb and said:
"Balaam the son of Beor has said,
and the man whose eyes are open has said,
4 (Nu 12:6; Eze 1:28) he has said, who heard the words of God,
who saw the vision of the Almighty,
falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
5 "How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
and your tabernacles, O Israel!
6 (Ps 1:3; 104:16) "Like palm trees are they spread out,
like gardens by the river’s side,
like the aloe plant, which the Lord has planted,
and like cedar trees beside the waters.
7 (2Sa 5:12; 1Ch 14:2) He will pour the water out of his buckets,
and his seed will be in many waters.
"His king will be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom will be exalted.
8 (Nu 23:22; Ps 45:5) "God brings him out of Egypt;
he has the horns of a wild ox;
he will eat up the nations, his enemies,
and will break their bones,
and pierce them through with his arrows.
9 (Ge 12:3; 49:9) He crouches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion,
who will stir him up?
"Blessed is he who blesses you,
and cursed is he who curses you."
10 (Nu 23:11; Eze 21:14) The anger of Balak was inflamed against Balaam,
and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam,
"I called you to curse my enemies, and indeed,
you have certainly blessed them these three times.
11 (Nu 22:17; 22:37) Now flee to your own place. I thought to promote you
to great honor. But certainly, the Lord has kept you back from honor."
12 (Nu 22:18) Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not speak to your messengers
which you sent to me, saying,
13 'If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go
beyond the mouth of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own mind.
But what the Lord speaks, I will speak'?
14 (Ge 49:1; Mic 6:5) And now, I am going to my people. Come,
I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days."
Balaam's Fourth Prophecy
15 (Nu 23:7; 24:3-4) He took up his parable and said:
"The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
and the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;
16 (Nu 24:4) the oracle of the one hearing the words of God,
and knowing the knowledge of the Most High,
who sees the vision of the Almighty,
falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
17 (Ge 49:10; 2Sa 8:2; Ps 45:6) "I will see him, but not now;
I will behold him, but not near;
a star will come out of Jacob,
and a scepter will rise out of Israel,
and will crush the borderlands of Moab,
and destroy all the children of Sheth.
18 (Am 9:12; Ge 27:29) Edom will be a possession,
and Seir, a possession of its enemies,
while Israel does valiantly.
19 (Ge 49:10; Mic 5:2) One out of Jacob shall have dominion,
and destroy the survivors of the city."
20 (Ex 17:14) Then he looked on Amalek; he took up his proverb and said:
"Amalek was the first of the nations,
but his end will be that he perishes forever."
21 (Ge 15:19) He looked on the Kenites and took up his proverb and said:
"Strong is your dwelling place,
and you put your nest in a rock;
22 nevertheless the Kenite will be wasted.
How long until Ashur carries you away captive?"
23 He took up his proverb and said:
"Alas, who will live when God does this?
24 (Ge 10:4; Nu 24:20) And ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus
and will afflict Ashur and will afflict Eber,
and he also will perish forever."
25 (Nu 31:8) Balaam rose up and went and returned to his place,
and Balak also went his way.
(Always do what is right in the Sight of the Lord)
NUMBERS 25
Moab Seduces Israel
1 (Jos 2:1; Nu 33:49) While Israel dwelt in Shittim, the people began to
commit harlotry with the women of Moab.
2 (1Co 10:20; Ex 20:5) They called the people to the sacrifices
of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
3 (Jos 22:17; Hos 9:10) Israel joined himself to the Baal of Peor,
and the anger of the Lord was inflamed against Israel.
4 (Dt 13:17; 4:3) The Lord said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the people
and hang them before the Lord in the sun, that the fierce
anger of the Lord turn from Israel."
5 (Ex 18:21) Moses said to the judges of Israel,
"Kill each of the men who have aligned themselves with the Baal of Peor."
6 (Joel 2:17; Nu 22:4) Behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought
to his brothers a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight
of all the assembly of the children of Israel, who were weeping
before the door of the tent of meeting.
7 (Ex 6:25) When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest,
saw it, he rose up from among the assembly and took a spear in his hand,
8 (Nu 16:46-48) and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust
both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly.
So the plague was stopped from the children of Israel.
9 (1Co 10:8; Nu 16:49-50) Those that died in the plague were 24000.
10 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
11 (Dt 32:16; 32:21) "Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron
the priest, has turned My wrath away from the children of Israel,
because he was zealous for My sake among them, so I did not exterminate
the children of Israel in My zeal.
12 (Mal 2:4-5) Therefore say, 'I hereby grant him My covenant of peace.
13 (Ex 40:15; 1Ch 6:4-15) And it will be for him and his seed after him,
even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous
for his God and made an atonement for the children of Israel.'"
14 Now the name of the slain Israelite who was slain with the Midianite
woman was Zimri the son of Salu,
a leader of a chief house among the Simeonites.
15 (Nu 31:8; Jos 13:21) The name of the Midianite woman that was slain
was Kozbi the daughter of Zur.
He was chief over a people and of a father's house in Midian.
16 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
17 "Be hostile to the Midianites, and defeat them,
18 (Rev 2:14) because they have been hostile to you with their wiles,
with which they have deceived you in the matter of Peor
and in the matter of Kozbi the daughter of a leader of Midian,
their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague because of Peor."
Our Daily Bread for 5 Mar 2021
https://www.odb.org/CA/2021/03/05/who-knows
entitled Who Knows?
Eccl 6:12, 7:13, 7:14
12 (Job 14:2; Ecc 3:22) For who knows what is good for man while he lives
the few days of his vain life which pass like a shadow?
For who can tell men what will be after them under the sun?
13 (Ecc 1:15; Job 12:14) Consider the work of God:
Who is able to make straight
what He has made crooked?
14 (Ecc 3:22; Dt 28:47) In the day of prosperity be joyful,
but in the day of distress consider:
God has made the one
as well as the other.
For this reason man will not be able to understand
anything that comes after him.
According to Chinese legend, when Sai Weng lost one of his prized horses,
his neighbor expressed sorrow for his loss. But Sai Weng was unconcerned.
He said, "Who knows if it may be a good thing for me?" Surprisingly,
the lost horse returned home with another horse. As the neighbor
congratulated him, Sai Weng said,
"Who knows if it may be a bad thing for me?"
As it turned out, his son broke his leg when he rode on the new horse.
This seemed like a misfortune, until the army arrived
at the village to recruit all
able-bodied men to fight in the war. Because of the son's injury,
he wasn't recruited, which ultimately could have spared him from death.
This is the story behind the Chinese proverb which teaches that a difficulty
can be a blessing in disguise and vice versa. This ancient wisdom has a close
parallel in Ecclesiastes 6:12, where the author observes:
"Who knows what is good for a person in life?"
Indeed, none of us know what the future holds. An adversity might have
positive benefits, and prosperity might have ill effects.
Each day offers new opportunities, joys, struggles, and suffering.
As God's beloved children, we can rest in His sovereignty
and trust Him through the good and bad times alike.
God has "made the one as well as the other" (7:14).
He's with us in all the events in our lives and promises His loving care.
By: Poh Fang Chia
Reflect & Pray
Can you think of an example where a misfortune turned out to be a blessing?
How can you keep your focus on God in good times as well as in bad times?
Sovereign God, thank You for ordering my life. Help me to praise You
in both good and bad times, believing that You work all things for t
he ultimate good of those who love You.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 4 -The Blessings of Grace Day 6 - A Reasonable Alternative
Isaiah 1:18
18 (Ps 51:7; Rev 7:14) "Come now, and let us reason together, "
says the Lord.
Though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they be red like crimson,
they shall be as wool.
"Is Christianity Reasonable?" Linda Wanted to Know. "I've heard all my life
that faith is a crutch, an invention of weak minds to assure them
of some order in the world."
Linda was not alone in her objection; thinking people for generations
have been asking themselves the same question.
God is not intimidated by our questions; in fact, he confronts the issue
head-on in the Scriptures. "Let us reason together," the Lord invites.
Even according to the most basic of human reasoning,
faith is a reasonable alternative , a rational choice for a thinking person.
God indicates in his Word that confession and forgiveness are "reasonable".
"Think!" God says. "You sin, and you know it,. You are not even able to be
true to your own principles. You cannot deal with your sin by will power
or effort. Bit I can deal with it! I can forgive it - and I will"
We cannot come to faith in God through Christ by intellect alone, of course.
Our spirits much reach out in faith, beyond what we can see. But intellect
supports faith; trusting in Christ is an eminently rational decision.
In Deut 30:1-20 , God set before the people a choice: Life or Death, blessing
or cursing. "Choose Life!" he tells them. We have the same choice.
The ultimate decision is thus simplified, the 'rational' alternative becomes
clear. We can choose death, by attempting to control our own destinies ,
or life, by giving ourselves fully into the hand of the Master.
Application
a) Why is the choice to acknowledge my sin and receive forgiveness a
'Rational choice'?
b) What are the alternatives to such a decision?
c) What other aspects of God's word
and work in my life seem 'reasonable' to me?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Deut 29:9
9 (Dt 4:6; Jos 1:7)Therefore, keep the words of this covenant
and do them, so that you may prosper in all you do.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are ill or injured
Psalm 103:1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits,
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) who forgives all your iniquities,
who heals all your diseases,
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The Lord's Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Saskatchewan
Quick facts on Muslims in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan 2015 population 1125400
est Muslim Population 17279
CNMM Networks: Saskatoon
Saskatoon has seen quick growth in its Muslim population over the past
5 years, which maybe as high as 5000 today. Islamic leaders have
focused specifically on this city , having twice already sent cohorts
of about 70 families to start mosques. There are now 7 Islamic centres
of worship and an ISlamic madrassah (school) located right next to a
Christian school.
Of particular concern recently is the number of young adults who grew up
in evangelical churches and converted to Islam. Most of these are young
women whowere wooed by Muslim man and became emotionally bonded.
Both prior to and after marrying, these women are known to convert to ISlam.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
5th Day of the Month
a) Pray for Canada's First Nation peoples, that the Lord will draw them to Himself
(PS 145:13-18
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon You,
and You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and loving in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.
)
b) Pray for the Lord to search your life , reveal anything offensive and cleanse you from unrighteousness
( ps 139:24 and see if there is any rebellious way in me,
and lead me in the ancient way.
1: John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord to bless those He blesses.
Pray to the Lord to seek his will and not be lead astray.
Pray to the Lord to seek in good times and bad.
Pray to the Lord to repent of your sins and Let the Lord do his work .
Pray to the Lord to keep his covenant.
Pray to the Lord for His healing in your life
Pray for Muslims in Saskatchewan to receive Christ as Saviour .
Pray for the First Nations to know the Lord.
Pray to Lord search away wicked ways in you.
Repent of and turn away from your sins
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.