Friday, July 5: “Unlikely Prophet”

Numbers 24: 2: “Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.”

Balaam, the original prophet for profit, had been trying for quite a while to curse the children of Israel, just to acquire a “handsome reward” from the king of Moab. Does this seem like a likely candidate to be come upon by the Spirit of God, and to prophesy God’s blessings on Israel and His curses on Moab? About as much as his donkey … but wait … oh yeah, God used him, too (Numbers 22: 28-30). As we’ve seen all week, the Lord can use the most unlikely of men–or animals–to fulfill His will.