The Third Blessing
Numbers 24:2 – When Balaam lifted up his eyes, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. 3 – Then he uttered this oracle: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;
verse 4 – the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open: 5 – ‘How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, and your dwelling places, O Israel!
Verse 6 – They are like valleys stretched forth, like gardens by the river’s side, like aloes that the LORD has planted, and like cedar trees beside the waters. 7 – He will pour the water out of his buckets, and their descendants will be like abundant water; their king will be greater than Agag, and their kingdom will be exalted.
Verse 8 – God brought them out of Egypt. They have, as it were, the strength of a young bull; they will devour hostile people and will break their bones and will pierce them through with arrows. 9 – They crouch and lie down like a lion, and as a lioness, who can stir him? Blessed is the one who blesses you, and cursed is the one who curses you!’”
In vision Balaam’s eyes were opened to see the truth about God’s people: their beauty; their peace; their strength. This is the truth about the connection that all of us can have with God.
Let not current events blind us to how God would have us see things. Let not current events stir us with unrest and cause us to lose faith in God.
Let us remember that God is preparing places for us in His father’s house. Let us remember that in every place of difficulty we may find green pastures beside still waters where we can find refreshment from God for our souls. Let us remember that nothing in all the world has the power to move us from God’s love – not even death.
Where two are gathered 