Day 49

The Danger from Within

Read: Numbers 25-27

Balaam could not harm Israel by cursing her. But he knew how he could harm her and perhaps yet get the pay he wanted so badly. According to Numbers 31:16, it was the advice of Balaam that caused the young women among Balak’s people to lead the young men of Israel astray, luring them through illicit sex and leading them to worship the idol Baal.

It was only decisive action on the part of Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron, that turned back the resulting plague. Let us pray that God will raise up godly leadership in church and state, and let us inspire our own children to be such leaders.

Now a second census is taken, from which the book of Numbers gets its name. The purpose of the census this time is to begin to prepare for the division of the land when the children of Israel will move into the Promised Land. The totals disclosed by the census are about the same as those at the beginning of the book; no growth had taken place because so many had died as a result of disobedience. We grieve as we see many churches that are not growing in number even though they are in the midst of growing areas. True, there is growth which cannot be measured by a census. But sadder yet is the fact that some churches don’t even want to grow, even though the Lord calls us to reach out with the gospel.

PRAYER
Father, cleanse our churches and give them the desire to spread the gospel beginning in their own neighborhood. In Jesus’ name. Amen.