May 13 – via Zoom

Opening Thoughts by Dave Wenger

I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints, but let them not turn back to folly. Psalm 85:8 New King James

Children’s Story – Dustin Martin

I am looking for Leroy – the only thing I know is that he has large ears.

There he is.

Donkeys are pretty cool.

In a desert environment, they can even hear another donkey sixty miles away.

One of the most famous donkeys in the Bible is the one who belonged to Balaam.

I don’t know the name of Balaam’s donkey, but I am going to call it Leroy.

In the time of Balaam, the Children of Israel had just spent forty years in the dessert and moved into the Promised Land.

The King of Moab was concerned that the Israelites would take over the land, so decided to have Balaam curse them.

God told him, “No, do not curse the Israelites.”

Eventually the Kind of Moab offered to pay him more money to curse them. Balaam eventually said okay and went on a very long trip with Leroy.

One day Leroy suddenly stopped because he saw an angel in front of him. Leroy sat down three time, then started talking to Balaam by asking, “Why are you hitting me.”

Finally God opened Balaam’s eyes, who also saw the angel and asked him what he should do. The angel said I want you to bless the Israelites – and not curse them.

A true sign that God wants to bless his people.

End of the children’s story, but the devotional was continued for the adults.

When I noticed the fear that was in the land because the Israelites had moved in, I noticed three kinds of fear:

Defiance by the King of the Amorites

Self-Reliance by King Balak

Trust in God – Rahab when she hid the men who were searching out the land.

In this story Balaam’s character was questionable at best and is a challenge to us.

His story even made it to the last book of the Bible.

Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

Are we ever guilty of knowing what God wants us to do, but we do our own thing anyway? Do we justify sin by compromise?

Remember the story of Balaam and his donkey.

The enemy wanted to curse God’s people, but God reversed it to a blessing.

Trust God

He will bless you.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7