Wrong-Fest.

Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but on the contrary you have only blessed them!” Balaam replied, “Must I not be careful to speak what the Lord has put in my mouth?” Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place from which you can observe them. You will see only a part of them, but you will not see all of them. Curse them for me from there.” (Numbers 23:11-13)

Although Balaam, from the beginning, knew that God did not want him to curse Israel (Numbers 22:12), he continued to travel with King Balak, offer numerous sacrifices to God, and wait to see if he would somehow be able to curse the nation that God had blessed. Balaam was persistent in his effort to do what he knew was wrong in the eyes of God.

The Scripture refers to Balaam’s behavior as sorcery: an attempt to use the worship of the living God as a tool for personal gain and gratification. God warned Balaam, continually, to stop seeking to do what God had expressly forbidden him to do. It is a warning for us to carefully heed. When we worship, what is the motive? And what is the desired outcome? Are we entering in because we want God to give us what we want, without regard to what He wants? Further, are we seeking to curse what God has blessed?

We need to be open to the voice of God, who reveals to us the desire of His heart (see Psalm 37:4). Our prayers, in turn, must fall in line with the desires of God. At the core of our prayers, every one of our prayers, must be the appeal that Jesus taught His disciples: “Your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.” (see Matthew 6:10) How do we know God’s will? By searching His word and seeking His face.

Are the prayers of our hearts in line with the word of God?

Are the practices of our hands in line with the will of God?

Lord, we long to be seekers and doers of Your will. Help us to always bring You authentic worship and unselfish prayers.