Immerse: Beginnings Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 258
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IMMERSE
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BEGINNINGS
23:17–24:2
So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab. “What did the Lord say?” Balak asked
eagerly.
This was the message Balaam delivered:
“Rise up, Balak, and listen!
Hear me, son of Zippor.
God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
Listen, I received a command to bless;
God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!
No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob;
no trouble is in store for Israel.
For the Lord their God is with them;
he has been proclaimed their king.
God brought them out of Egypt;
for them he is as strong as a wild ox.
No curse can touch Jacob;
no magic has any power against Israel.
For now it will be said of Jacob,
‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’
These people rise up like a lioness,
like a majestic lion rousing itself.
They refuse to rest
until they have feasted on prey,
drinking the blood of the slaughtered!”
Then Balak said to Balaam, “Fine, but if you won’t curse them, at least
don’t bless them!”
But Balaam replied to Balak, “Didn’t I tell you that I can do only what
the Lord tells me?”
Then King Balak said to Balaam, “Come, I will take you to one more place.
Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them from there.”
So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, overlooking the wasteland. Balaam again told Balak, “Build me seven altars, and prepare seven
young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.” So Balak did as Balaam
ordered and offered a young bull and a ram on each altar.
By now Balaam realized that the Lord was determined to bless Israel,
so he did not resort to divination as before. Instead, he turned and looked
out toward the wilderness, where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe
