02/02/2021 – Day 261 – Numbers 21 – 24 / How can I skip over the talking donkey? (Chapter 22) / “Eyes wide open” – Ch. 24
Matthew Henry, as usual get’s to the meat of it in chapter 22 , verses 1-14:”Balaam was no stranger to Israel’s cause; so that he ought to have answered the messengers at once, that he would never curse a people whom God had blessed (Jimmy’s note – See God’s promise way back to Abram in Genesis 12:3); but he takes a night’s time to consider what he should do. When we parley with temptations, we are in great danger of being overcome. Balaam was not faithful in returning God’s answer to the messengers. Those are a fair mark for Satan’s temptation, who lessen Divine restraints; as if to go against God’s law were only to go without his leave. The messengers are not faithful in returning Balaam’s answer to Balak. (Jimmy’s note – that age old failing: Don’t tell the king what he doesn’t want to hear…) Thus many are abused by the flatteries of those about them. and are prevented from seeing their own faults and follies.”
Matthew Henry
But praise God, with Him all things are possible. Observe Balaam’s progression in stepping out from his first to his fourth prophecy in chapter 24. The third and fourth prophecy seem to start identically but note the transformation in one line where he goes from “The utterance of him who hears the words of God” in 24:4 to “And has the knowledge of the Most High” in 24:16.”
Here is my footnote on 24:15, 16 – “Eyes wide open” :
“When we come to Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, we no longer walk in darkness. Non-Christians are like someone who is driving directly toward the sun, low on the horizon. It is very difficult to see clearly. But it is so different when driving with a low sun behind you – everything can be seen clearly. To those who have never believed and trusted in Jesus Christ, nothing will be clear. They search outer space to try to find their origins, because they don’t know where they came from. Neither do they know why they are here, or where they are heading. However repentence is a complete change of direction. When we repeat and trust in Jesus, all things become clear. Our eyes are opened to the truth, and we hear the words of the Lord,. We come to know Him and why we are here. We are not an accident, but were made by God for God. That is the purpose of our existence; to enjoy Him and creation forever.”
Soli Deo Gloria!