Day 74 One-Year Daily Bible Passages – Numbers 22:21–23:30; Luke 1:57-80; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 11:12-13
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Balaam – God Speaks
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! – Numbers 23:8-10
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. – Numbers 23:19-20
Balak promised Balaam riches and prestige to curse the children of Israel. God wouldn’t let it happen and told Balaam over and over that it was not happening. God’s people were blessed, and not to be cursed. Balak tempted Balaam over and over with things and status. Each time, God instructed Balaam to speak only what God told him. God’s instruction and His Word did not change though Balak tried to change the scenery to get a change of response.
Balak learned the lesson we all must learn. God is not a man, that He should lie. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Yes, His Words all those years ago are still the same today and forever will be.
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His Name is John
Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. – Luke 1:57-63
His Mouth was Opened
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judæa. – Luke 1:64-65
John – The Lord Was With Him
And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. – Luke 1:66
Isn’t that all any of us need? The Lord with us?
Zacharias was Filled with the Holy Ghost
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. – Luke 1:67-79
Zacharias couldn’t speak for a time because of his unbelief. When he was able to speak again, after John was born, these were the words he said. These Words are proceeded by the phrase “Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost.” These were the Words of the Lord to His children, coming through Zacharias.
The Child Grew and Waxed Strong in Spirit
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. – Luke 1:80
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The Righteous Shall Rejoice
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. – Psalm 58:10-11
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A Man of Understanding Holdeth His Peace
He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.. – Proverbs 11:12
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. – Proverbs 11:13
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