My two nephews and two nieces who are always with me are nice people, but, lately, I noticed that they had been cruel to the stray cats in our neighborhood. One of them had attached to a tail of a kitten a clothespin. His sister wanted to help the poor kitten, but, the kitten thought he will get another clothespin, so, he ran away fast. One of them at another occasion made a collar with string for another kitten and had almost strangled the kitty. His brother freed the poor kitty. Another one wanted all the stray cats to disappear, so, she chased them with a broom while telling them to get lost.
To stir up their conscience and convict them of their cruelty against the poor kittens and stray cats, I told them the story about Balaam and his donkey. The story was pretty effective. They repented of their cruelty and change the ways they treated the stray cats. HAHA!
The kids enjoyed the storytelling session, but, I learned a lot too. I wanna write it here, so, I could go back at it when time comes that I needed it.
Numbers 22, 23, & 24
Balaam was a servant of God who had become famous for his blessing and/or cursing. Balak, the king of the Moabites, had summoned him to put a curse on the Israelites. (Balak and his people were fearful of the Israelites because of what God did for them in Egypt and thru the wilderness. So, he thought he can only defeat them if he first put a curse on them.) He promised gold and riches to Balaam in exchange for his 'cursing services'. He even sent Moabite princes to bring his message to Balaam. JUST THAT GOD told Balaam he must not go with them. Balak might have thought he was way greater than God or he was really that desperate - that he sent more princes and more distinguished than the first batch to Balaam PLUS with the assurance of more rewards.
Balaam was ecstatic when God permitted him to go with the princes, but, God's anger burned against Balaam. An angel of the Lord wanted to kill Balaam, but, Balaam's donkey saved him three times. The poor donkey got beatings in exchange for her good works. So, God let her talk and reason with Balaam. (Read it and it is pretty amusing and heartbreaking at the same time.) God even backed up the donkey's honest and good intentions by opening the eyes of Balaam. Even the angel of the Lord rebuked Balaam for his cruelty against his animal. Balaam repented and wanted to go back home. Yet, the angel of the Lord told him to continue his journey BUT he must only do what God has told him to do. So, he blessed the Israelites three times instead of cursing them as the ones who summoned him wanted.
To stir up their conscience and convict them of their cruelty against the poor kittens and stray cats, I told them the story about Balaam and his donkey. The story was pretty effective. They repented of their cruelty and change the ways they treated the stray cats. HAHA!
The kids enjoyed the storytelling session, but, I learned a lot too. I wanna write it here, so, I could go back at it when time comes that I needed it.
Numbers 22, 23, & 24
Balaam was a servant of God who had become famous for his blessing and/or cursing. Balak, the king of the Moabites, had summoned him to put a curse on the Israelites. (Balak and his people were fearful of the Israelites because of what God did for them in Egypt and thru the wilderness. So, he thought he can only defeat them if he first put a curse on them.) He promised gold and riches to Balaam in exchange for his 'cursing services'. He even sent Moabite princes to bring his message to Balaam. JUST THAT GOD told Balaam he must not go with them. Balak might have thought he was way greater than God or he was really that desperate - that he sent more princes and more distinguished than the first batch to Balaam PLUS with the assurance of more rewards.
Balaam was ecstatic when God permitted him to go with the princes, but, God's anger burned against Balaam. An angel of the Lord wanted to kill Balaam, but, Balaam's donkey saved him three times. The poor donkey got beatings in exchange for her good works. So, God let her talk and reason with Balaam. (Read it and it is pretty amusing and heartbreaking at the same time.) God even backed up the donkey's honest and good intentions by opening the eyes of Balaam. Even the angel of the Lord rebuked Balaam for his cruelty against his animal. Balaam repented and wanted to go back home. Yet, the angel of the Lord told him to continue his journey BUT he must only do what God has told him to do. So, he blessed the Israelites three times instead of cursing them as the ones who summoned him wanted.
- God's servants must and should speak the word of God regardless of who they are speaking with - princes or kings or whoever. God's servants must and should know that their master is God and not mortal men with possessions or positions.
- When God says no, it is a NO! Don't negotiate or else you'll receive his anger. Who can stand against the anger of God? Let the stubborn receive what their stubborn heart wanted.
- When God says you are blessed, you are blessed. Who can curse whom God himself bless? If you are a child of God, (Jacob - obedient to self or Israel-obedient to God), no sorcery or divination can stand against you.
- Hello, there is nobody greater than God. Why would people resort to witches and sorcerers when they are nothing before God?!? God will surely shatter them just like what God did to Balak. As in now, any child of God out there being held in spiritual witchcraft, claim and receive your freedom in Jesus name.
- People of God, just bless. Bless and do not curse - yep, even your own enemies. Just bless as what God has commanded.
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