9/8/2023

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 2. 5-6)

“How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced? From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations.” (Numbers 23.8-9)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

As I reread the passage of scripture above I sense that sweet communion of truth which prepares the way for us into our certain future. Let’s ask ourselves: “Why should we curse what God has not cursed and denounce what God has not denounced?” No, I am not empowering the entitlement mentality which is sweeping over the world like a tsunami of selfishness. There are things in this world that need to be denounced and essentially “cursed.” Cursed, as it is used in this context, speaks of “removing life, or a power over life, which is detrimental to the welfare of the human spirit. Such things as illegal drugs (and some legal ones), alcoholism (all things in moderation or none at all if it will lead the weaker person to submit to their failing), gambling (rendering to “caesar what is caesar’s,” playing chance with the rest and leaving God the leftovers), and violent crimes (placing more value on one’s need to consume than one’s call to serve and protect) will fall into that detrimental category. Gleaning from the understanding of Balaam as he shares the word of God with Balak, what is not meant to be cursed and denounced is the movement of God’s spirit to heal and to bless among us. That which stands in the way of the Lord who is Immanuel, God with us or within us, creates a broken road or roundabout path. The consequences themself are detrimental to our own welfare. In the words of Jesus, “It would be better to have a millstone placed around one’s neck and be cast into the sea than to lead one of God’s children astray.” So, let’s ask ourselves, “Why should we curse and denounce the life of discipleship to which we are called and blessed to be and to do?”

I would call your attention to a scene from the gospels when Jesus had gathered with His disciples (probably more than just the circle of twelve) on a mountain to the north of Capernaum, Caesarea Philippi and the Sea of Galilee. Perhaps, Jesus took them as far as the Golan above where the Jordan River begins in the confluence of the Nahal Dan and the Nahal Hermon or beyond. In that mountain range, the Mediterranean Sea and Damascus could be seen east and west. The Sea of Galilee would fade into the horizon to the south and Lebanon to the north. On those mountains one could find temples and shrines erected to a variety of religions encapsulating any number of cultures old and new. It was there that Jesus confronted the disciples with two questions that are posed to us each day as His followers, “Who do people say I AM?” and “Who do you say I AM?” There were many quick answers offered by those who had gathered near to Jesus. They offered the “stock” answers which were preludes to the fulfillment of prophecy found in the writings of the Law and the Prophets concerning the Messiah. For once, Peter was not the first to speak. I wonder if Peter was caught up in the wander of it all as his own mind searched far and wide. Perhaps, Peter was not so willing to speak for the people and only for himself. When those answers were exhausted, Jesus looked to the quiet and stoic Peter and asked, “Well, who do you say I AM?” Peter now was prepared to answer, “You are the Christ of God, the Messiah for whom the world has waited!” Jesus responded with, “Blessed are you Simon whose faith is like a rock upon which I shall build My community of faith and faithfulness. Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you (the words of others) but My Father in Heaven has shown you what is right and good.” But, Jesus wasn’t finished. He would go on to declare, “Now we must go to Jerusalem where I will be arrested, tried, convicted and killed so that I will be raised up on the third day as it has been said.” Immediately, Peter cuts Jesus off (pretty risky business, I should think) and said, “No Lord. This will never happen to you.” In a more modern version let’s here, “Over my dead body, Jesus!” Before anyone could affirm or question, Jesus grabbed Peter in the word “Get behind me, Satan. You are becoming a stumbling block to Me. You are standing in the way of God’s will by putting human concerns first.”

You see, there on a mountaintop from which Balak could show Balaam the “problem” he was confronting, a decision had to be made. It was a defining moment for Balak and Balaam, for Israel and God. In reflection we could hear “Who is it that you say I am?” Balak was asking Balaam that question. Balaam was asking Balak that question. Most of all, God was asking that question. He cuts straight to the heart of the matter: “I will not curse what I have blessed and I will not denounce what I have pronounced!” Mighty ones of God, the time is now in the face of all these “religions” of humanity to ask fewer questions and make definitive claims. Who do we say we are? Who do we say God is? Who do we say is the true Messiah? Further, how will we say it? With words only? Or shall we put our words into action as Balaam did when he was confronted with an expansive view of the situation? Jesus was given such a view by Satan following His baptism and sojourn into the wilderness. His summarized response was “Get behind Me, Satan, you will not be a stumbling block to the will, way and word of God!” Sound advice for us all!

TODAY’S PRAYER IN LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD:

Father, You have revealed to us best in Jesus the Christ. By Him and Him alone shall we gain the eternal life and our place in eternal rest, living for You always. Show us more and by Your Holy Spirit instruct us in the way we should go, the truth we should reveal and the life we shall live with you forever. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.