按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and through this one fault Satan gained
440
entire control of him。 It was this that caused his ruin。 The tempter is ever
presenting worldly gain and honor to entice men from the service of God。 He
tells them it is their overconscientiousness that keeps them from
prosperity。 Thus many are induced to venture out of the path of strict
integrity。 One wrong step makes the next easier； and they become more and
more presumptuous。 They will do and dare most terrible things when once they
have given themselves to the control of avarice and a desire for power。 Many
flatter themselves that they can depart from strict integrity for a time；
for the sake of some worldly advantage； and that having gained their object；
they can change their course when they please。 Such are entangling
themselves in the snare of Satan； and it is seldom that they escape。
When the messengers reported to Balak the prophet's refusal to accompany
them； they did not intimate that God had forbidden him。 Supposing that
Balaam's delay was merely to secure a richer reward； the king sent princes
more in number and more honorable than the first； with promises of higher
honors； and with authority to concede to any terms that Balaam might demand。
Balak's urgent message to the prophet was； 〃Let nothing； I pray thee； hinder
thee from coming unto me： for I will promote thee unto very great honor； and
I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me： come therefore； I pray thee； curse
me this people。〃
A second time Balaam was tested。 In response to the solicitations of the
ambassadors he professed great conscientiousness and integrity； assuring
them that no amount of gold and silver could induce him to go contrary to
the will of God。 But he longed to comply with the king's request； and
although the will of God had already been definitely made known to him； he
urged the messengers to tarry； that he might further inquire of God； as
though the Infinite One were a man； to be persuaded。
In the night season the Lord appeared to Balaam and said； 〃If the men come
to call thee； rise up； and go with them； but yet the word which I shall say
unto thee； that shalt thou do。〃 Thus far the Lord would permit Balaam to
follow his own will； because he was determined upon it。 He did not seek to
do the will of God； but chose his own course； and then endeavored to secure
the sanction of the Lord。
There are thousands at the present day who are pursuing a similar course。
They would have no difficulty in understanding
441
their duty if it were in harmony with their inclinations。 It is plainly set
before them in the Bible or is clearly indicated by circumstances and
reason。 But because these evidences are contrary to their desires and
inclinations they frequently set them aside and presume to go to God to
learn their duty。 With great apparent conscientiousness they pray long and
earnestly for light。 But God will not be trifled with。 He often permits such
persons to follow their own desires and to suffer the result。 〃My people
would not hearken to My voice。 。 。 。 So I gave them up unto their own
hearts' lust： and they walked in their own counsels。〃 Psalm 81：11； 12。 When
one clearly sees a duty； let him not presume to go to God with the prayer
that he may be excused from performing it。 He should rather； with a humble；
submissive spirit； ask for divine strength and wisdom to meet its claims。
The Moabites were a degraded； idolatrous people； yet according to the light
which they had received their guilt was not so great in the sight of Heaven
as was that of Balaam。 As he professed to be God's prophet； however； all he
should say would be supposed to be uttered by divine authority。 Hence he was
not to be permitted to speak as he chose； but must deliver the message which
God should give him。 〃The word which I shall say unto thee； that shalt thou
do；〃 was the divine command。
Balaam had received permission to go with the messengers from Moab if they
came in the morning to call him。 But； annoyed at his delay； and expecting
another refusal； they set out on their homeward journey without further
consultation with him。 Every excuse for complying with the request of Balak
had now been removed。 But Balaam was determined to secure the reward； and；
taking the beast upon which he was accustomed to ride； he set out on the
journey。 He feared that even now the divine permission might be withdrawn；
and he pressed eagerly forward； impatient lest he should by some means fail
to gain the coveted reward。
But 〃the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him。〃
The animal saw the divine messenger； who was unperceived by the man； and
turned aside from the highway into a field。 With cruel blows Balaam brought
the beast back into the path； but again； in a narrow place shut in by walls；
the angel appeared； and the animal； trying to avoid the menacing figure；
crushed her master's foot against the wall。 Balaam was blinded to the
heavenly interposition； and knew not that God was
442
obstructing his path。 The man became exasperated； and beating the ass
unmercifully； forced it to proceed。
Again； 〃in a narrow place； where was no way to turn either to the right hand
or to the left；〃 the angel appeared； as before； in a threatening attitude；
and the poor beast； trembling with terror； made a full stop； and fell to the
earth under its rider。 Balaam's rage was unbounded； and with his staff he
smote the animal more cruelly than before。 God now opened its mouth； and by
〃the dumb ass speaking with man's voice；〃 he 〃forbade the madness of the
prophet。〃 2 Peter 2：16。 〃What have I done unto thee；〃 it said； 〃that thou
hast smitten me these three times？〃
Furious at being thus hindered in his journey； Balaam answered the beast as
he would have addressed an intelligent being〃Because thou hast mocked me：
I would there were a sword in mine hand； for now would I kill thee。〃 Here
was a professed magician； on his way to pronounce a curse upon a whole
people with the intent to paralyze their strength； while he had not power
even to slay the animal upon which he rode！
The eyes of Balaam were now opened； and he beheld the angel of God standing
with drawn sword ready to slay him。 In terror 〃he bowed down his head； and
fell flat on his face。〃 The angel said to him； 〃Wherefore hast thou smitten
thine ass these three times？ Behold； I went out to withstand thee； because
thy way is perverse before me： and the ass saw me； and turned from me these
three times： unless she had turned from me surely now also I had slain thee；
and saved her alive。〃
Balaam owed the preservation of his life to the poor animal that he had
treated so cruelly。 The man who claimed to be a prophet of the Lord； who
declared that his eyes were open； and he saw the 〃vision of the Almighty；〃
was so blinded by covetousness and ambition that he could not discern the
angel of God visible to his beast。 〃The god of this world hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not。〃 2 Corinthians 4：4。 How many are thus
blinded！ They rush on in forbidden paths； transgressing the divine law； and
cannot disc