December 8 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

The Old Testament is full of pictures and prophecies that prefigure the future. All these promises and prophecies were given by God—usually through his servants. In this case, however, God used one of his enemies to speak of the hope of Israel.

The king of Moab saw the twelve tribes of Israel encamped on his doorstep. He became afraid and said, "This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field" (Numbers 22:4).

That's why the king of Moab wanted to lay a curse on the people of Israel, an evil spell that would make them powerless. So he called in an expert whose name was Balaam. Balaam lived far away to the east, so it cost the king of Moab a lot of money to fetch him. But he figured it would be worth it: the curses Balaam knew would paralyze the children of Israel.

Ancient people knew—and feared—the realm of spirits, forces, and magic powers. And in modern times people have again become very curious about the occult, using it for scary entertainment and dangerous games. People like to play with fire.

But the God of Israel is sovereign also over the world of spirits, forces, and powers. This God had laid his blessing on the people of Israel. No power in the universe could turn God's blessing into a curse or his curse into a blessing.

That's how the tongue of Balaam was made a prisoner of God. Balaam opened his mouth to utter the curses for which he was paid, but instead he spoke the blessings God decreed. Three times he was supposed to curse; three times he blessed instead. And the fourth time topped it all: that time Balaam saw in the distance the mighty King who would come from Jacob, the star that would rise from Israel.

No power in the world can curse those who are blessed by this King.

REFLECTIONS

What evidence of people's belief in the occult have you heard about? Why is dabbling in the occult "playing with fire"?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.