Shalom!

 
This week we take a look at Balaam who operated as a prophet of the Almighty, albeit with completely impure motives. Our Creator has given each one of us gifts and talents; but of all spiritual gifts, the gift of prophecy is to be desired -
 
1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
 
Balaam certainly did not "pursue love" along with his gift of prophecy. In fact the wickedness of his heart quickly becomes apparent. Balaam is negatively mentioned three times in the Brit Chadasha (NT):
 
Jude 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
 
2 Peter 2:14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed-- an accursed brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.
 
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.
 
Balaam's gift of prophecy was shadowed by his greed, pride, and lack of fear for YHWH. He never acknowledged where his gift came from:
 
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
 

Balaam's gift of prophecy came from the "Father of Lights", however, Balaam used this gift for darkness. Where there is darkness, the enemy has rights - it's his turf, as he is the prince of darkness. We must completely surrender ourselves to the Light, or that part of darkness in us can become a tool of the enemy. We can be incredibly, spiritually gifted and be of no spiritual use in the Kingdom. Don't use the gift He's given you to get something for yourselves. A spiritual gift is a blessing and with that blessing comes a corresponding responsibility on the part of the blessed one to acknowledge, accept, and faithfully steward one's blessing.

 
Balaam wanted earthly riches, and Yeshua told a parable about "greed":
 
Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18 "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' 20 "But Elohim said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward Elohim."
 

A person who uses his/her gift for light brings glory to the Father:

 
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
 

Balaam was interested in bringing glory to himself. There were four main oracles that Balaam spoke. As he goes from one prophecy to the next, see the downward progression of the wickedness of his heart and puffed up pride:

 

1st oracle - Bemidbar/Numbers 23:7-10

23:7 And he took up his oracle and said: "Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram... (brags that it was king Balak who called for him)
 

2nd oracle - Bemidbar/Numbers 23:18-24

23:18 Then he took up his oracle and said: "Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, son of Zippor! (commands the king to listen to him)
 

3rd oracle - Bemidbar/Numbers 24:3-9

24:3 Then he took up his oracle and said: "The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened, 4 The utterance of him who hears the words of Elohim, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open (brags about his gift)
 

4th oracle - Bemidbar/Numbers 24:15-24

24:16 The utterance of him who hears the words of El, And has the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open (claims not only to see and hear, but to have knowledge of the Most High)
 
Our loving Father has everything perfectly under control and will not allow a curse by the enemy on those He has already blessed:
 
Proverbs 26:2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight.
 
Today we live in a world where individuals/nations are often attempting to "curse" Israel. Yet even in Balaam's prophecies, it indicates what will happen to those who choose to be enemies. Note that El is "bringing" Israel out of Egypt...that Hebrew verb indicates an ongoing process which continues today:
 
Bemidbar/Numbers 24:8 "El is bringing him (Israel) out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones And pierce them with his arrows.
 
Why has Israel survived until this day? If you study her battles, you will soon see the miraculous nature of most of them. It must never be forgotten that YHWH made a covenantal promise to the "seed of Israel":
 
Jeremiah 31:35 Thus says YHWH, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (YHWH of Hosts is His name): 36 "If those ordinances depart From before Me, says YHWH, Then the seed of Israel shall also cease From being a nation before Me forever."
 

YHWH Elohim has a plan, and His enemies are not a problem for Him:

 
Psalm 60:12 Through Elohim we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.
 
So that is Elohim's part. And what part does Israel play? Through the oracles of Balaam we see the intended identity, purpose, and destiny of Israel. As YHWH's anointed people, Israel was given the task of being a "light to the nations". Israel was to be the most powerful example it could be of a nation living under YHWH's instruction (Torah). This is Israel's calling and He will equip and train ALL of Israel to become that light.
 
Isaiah 42:5 Thus says El YHWH, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it: 6 "I, YHWH, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations
 
The Torah is our Creator's Voice. The life of Messiah Yeshua is the Father's footprint. Both are of the same essence and point to and bring glory to the Almighty. When we keep His commandments, we testify to the world that He exists. This is letting your light shine:
 
Isaiah 60:1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of YHWH rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but YHWH rises upon you and His Glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
 
John 14:15 " If you love Me, keep My commandments.
 
Walk in the gift and the purpose the Creator has given you. Stay away from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. That fruit will convince you that you have the right to make decisions based on your own worldly desires.
 
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of Elohim abides forever
 

Earlier this month, Michael Mark, Torah scholar and loving father was violently gunned down in his car. Listen to his daughter, Shira, to hear an example of "light" being lived out. Warning - the grief you will hear from his daughter will break your heart - Shira speaks

 
Shabbat Shalom!

Ardelle