Monday 12 Dec 2022

December 12: Numbers 24:2-7

Key Verse: Numbers 24:6
‘Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters.

Devotion:
Balaam was a prophet who lived amongst the people of Israel when they were travelling through the desert. It must have been quite a sight to see all of the tents made up in a camp knowing all of the people were doing this because they wanted to please God. They did not have any direct way of knowing they were pleasing God other than what the prophets told them.

God wanted the people to know what they were doing was appreciated by God, so He spoke to them through Balaam at this time. The poetic way in which the display of obedience is described means God definitely was watching them and was pleased with the way things were going.

Sometimes we lose sight of what God says to us because we don’t listen to the people of God speaking to us; God uses people to speak to us because He knows we don’t all listen intently to the Spirit. He knows some will find it difficult to listen to the Spirit, so He talks to us through others…

I have learned to listen to people when they tell me they have a message from God for me. I have learned to stop and spend time waiting for God to speak. I have learned God will always speak to me when I ask Him something – it is not always the same way though. Sometimes it is through others, sometimes through what He does and sometimes even in dreams; we just have to stop and listen!

Points to Ponder:
How often do you stop to listen to friends?

How often do you stop to listen to God?