King James Daily Bible Study: Stubborn About God's Will
Date: Tuesday February 22, 2011
Chapters: Numbers 21-22
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-february-22
Details of Today's Reading: The Canaanites of Arad destroyed, the people murmur, are plagued with fiery serpents, repent, then are healed by a fiery serpent, their journey toward the promised land, Balak and Balaam.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word stubborn is defined as fixed or set in purpose or opinion, difficult to handle, treat, or overcome, I imagine we all have areas in our lives where we are fixed in our opinions or are difficult to overcome. While this can often be a problem, there is one thing that we as Christians need to be stubborn about and that is the Word of God, in other words, to be fixed on the Word of God or God's opinion. The Bible says, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” - Psalm 1:1-3. God's opinion and mans are like oil and water, they do not mix, our opinions can get us into trouble, but God's always lead to a prosperous life no matter what challenges we face.

Perhaps one of the most difficult things to do when we are facing challenges is keep our focus on God, most often we have questions that seem to have no answers or some even get angry and walk away from God altogether. It's much easier to blame God than to deal with the situation, the Israelites were no exception, the second they faced a challenge they began complaining to Moses, but this time they spoke against God as well.

“And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” - Numbers 21:5-9.

The light bread, known as manna is representative of Christ, “Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” - John 6:49-51. The fiery serpents are representative of sin, the wages of sin are death, the brass serpent is representative of God's judgment upon all, all who looked upon the serpent were saved, which is representative of Christ, who was made to save us from death. All who look to Christ are saved from that fiery death and live. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:23.

When we are stubborn about God's Word it helps us to be stubborn about His will, God talks to us through Scripture in a way like no other. It keeps us grounded, it protects us, guides us, and lets us be aware of any dangers ahead. Remain stubborn in our own will and we can really be headed for disaster. God makes a point to tell us about a man named Balaam, Balaam was a godly prophet who allowed himself to be corrupted by riches. Balak, the king of Moab formed a plan with Balaam to get the people of Israel cursed, that is, to set God against them.

“He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed... And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.” - Numbers 22:5,6,16-19.

God's promise and warning to Balaam, was the more you try to curse my people the more blessed they will become. Yet, he had a strong desire to accept the offer, and hoped that God might give him leave to go. He had already been told what the will of God was, therefore, he should have just walked away, instead of telling them to stay there. Once Christ enters your life you are one of God's and nothing or no one can curse God's people, Satan is going to try time and time again to tempt His faithful servants, but remaining in God's Word will remind us to just walk away and the more they try to curse you the more God blesses you.“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” - I Corinthians 10:13.

Do you think Balaam listened to God? No. He allowed Balak to convince him to meet with him. However, as Balaam was heading toward Moab, God did everything He could to stop and warn him not to meet Balak, including getting a donkey to speak to him.

“And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him...And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee...Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.” - Numbers 22:11,27-29,31.

God has many ways to bring down the hardhearted heart, but when our eyes are opened, we shall see the danger of our sinful ways, and how much it is in our best interest not to press forward. The only way to get our of our own stubborn will is to become stubborn about God's will. We must not think, that because God does not always restrain men from sin that He approves of it, or that it is not hateful to Him. God opposes sin and will at all costs try to warn us not to go there, but if we press on He will allow us to fall into our own lusts, including the consequences of it. The only way to avoid the consequences of sin is to pay attention to the warning signs. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” - James 1:12.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Moses who was faithful to pray to God for the people who repented. “At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” - John 16:26,27.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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