Numbers 24:1-2 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him
Do you have a lucky rabbit’s foot? Do you remember these things? Or maybe it was a pet rock, or a therapy dog, or a certain way you stand before a big interview. Small rituals can play a big role in some people’s lives.
It doesn’t have to be Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) to help bring a feeling of control in a chaotic world. It can be many other things. You know if you have one of these rituals if when you miss it, and something goes wrong, you remember you didn’t do it.
Sports people are often very superstitious. They have their lucky shirt or cap. They do things the same way every time in order to not jinx it. They build routines into their day to bring a sense of peace. They fold their sweat cloth a certain way and tuck it into their belt.
Now I am not saying that routine isn’t good. If we had to reinvent getting dressed every day, we would soon run out of ways to put on our pants! There are only so many ways to put on pants. No need to reinvent it every morning.
Our text tells us about Balaam, a man who made a living telling people about their future. And he must have been pretty good at it, since he was summoned by the rulers of Moab and Midian, groups of people who were opposing Israel moving into the Promised Land. He was called from modern day Iraq to modern day Israel to do their bidding against Israel. His job: curse Israel.
Balaam has already blessed Israel two times, much to the dismay of the leaders who wanted curses. Balaam saw something that signaled the LORD’s pleasure in the blessings he had said over Israel. What he saw, we don’t know. But what he saw changed his perspective on his job and on Israel.
Now instead of going through the ritual motions, setting up seven altars and sacrificing two large animals on each altar, Balaam simply looked to the wilderness and saw Israel camped out before him. Could it be that Balaam saw the pillar of could and fire over the Tabernacle?
But something happened in that moment that must have shocked him. Instead of the usual methods, God’s Spirit comes on him. I can imagine the shock when the LORD comes on him. He musts have noticed the difference between the real thing and what he had been doing. I wish we had his thoughts recorded during that moment.
We do know that something happened. The next two messages he gives begin the same way. His eyes are now clear, seeing reality as it is. He is hearing the words of God, not his own imaginings. He sees the Almighty, and his reaction is to fall face down on the ground. He now knows his own frailty and inclinations. His eyes are open.
Have you ever had a moment when all you could do was fall on your face before the LORD, your ears and eyes opened, hearing the direct message of the LORD for you? Humility results. A understanding of our unworthiness and of HIs holiness. Words fail in those moments to describe both the internal experience and the external results.
Balaam is changed by his experience. He goes on to give a total of seven messages of blessing to Israel that would result in their enemies being defeated. Seven.
The Arnold Journey 