Spurgeon Daily Devotional Bible: March 5

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Spurgeon Daily Devotional Bible: March 5


Today is: Thursday, December 26th, 2024 (Show Today's Devotion)

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Morning

“
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.”

Num_22:1-20

Num_22:1-3

Yet they ought to have rejoiced, for the Amorites had been their great enemies, and Israel had put them down: but men who are bent on opposing God’s servants are under such an infatuation that they know not their own mercies.

Num_22:4-6

Moab hated Israel, but did not come to open fighting at first. Many are the underhanded enemies of Israel, but God will defeat their devices.

Num_22:9

Probably Balaam was surprised beyond measure that God should actually come to him. He had been a mere magician, but now for awhile the true prophetic spirit filled him.

Num_22:12

What an opportunity for Balaam, if he had but been blessed with grace as well as with the prophetic gift. Here the Lord told him of a blessed people; why did he not cast in his lot with them?

Num_22:13-14

So far so good. Under the pressure of fear Balaam is obedient, but will he hold on?

Num_22:15-17

Here are larger bribes—how will the prophet act now?

Num_22:18-20

He wanted to go, for he loved the wages of unrighteousness, and to try him he has a conditional permit to go if the princes come again and press him, but not else. We shall see in our next reading how his evil heart broke this gentle bond. He was a great man, an enlightened man, and for a while a supernaturally endowed man, but a grain of grace would have been of more value to him than all this, and for lack of it he perished miserably. O Lord, give us grace rather than the rarest endowments.

Evening

“
Beware of covetousness.”

Num_22:21-35

Num_22:21

It does not seem that the princes pressed him to go, it would rather appear that they started off before him; they were evidently on before when the angel met him. A covetous man needs no tempting, he is ready for anything.

Num_22:22-23

Balaam knew he could not curse Israel, but he showed his will to do so by going with the men. God was justly angry with such an evil intent.

Num_22:22-23

Who can be proud of seeing visions since this poor beast saw an angel, and saw it sooner than a prophet?

Num_22:22-23

Even an ass pays reverence to the angel of God. What are those who sneer at all divine things?

Num_22:24-29

Balaam did not seem to be either surprised or alarmed. He was familiar with supernatural wonders, and was moreover so taken up with the one idea of gaining Balak’s reward that he neither feared nor cared. Greed for gold hardens men’s hearts beyond measure; this passion created the monster Judas and others of his class.

Num_22:30

The best comment upon this is to be found in Peters Second Epistle; “He was rebuked for his iniquity, the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.” To go with the Moabites to obtain rewards by trying to do what he knew was contrary to God, was utter madness; even a beast was more wise than he, and it was meet that he should be so rebuked.

Num_22:33

God takes notice of cruelty to animals, the angel expostulates with Balaam for cruelly to his ass.

Num_22:34

He yields under pressure, but his heart goes after gain.

Num_22:35

Knowing the right, he yet desired to win the rewards of wrong doing, and went as far into opposition of God’s will as he dare.



From vanity turn off my eyes;

Let no corrupt design,

Nor covetous desires arise

Within this soul of mine.



Make me to walk in Thy commands,

‘
Tis a delightful road;

Nor let my head, or heart, or hands,

Offend against my God.