Devotion 140
DEVOTION 140: “Presumption” coming out of Num. 23
Sometimes we presume the Lord is with us because of a past experience or a victory.
Samson presumed.
Judges 16:20-21 “And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. [21] But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.”
Israel presumed God was with them.
Numbers 14:43-45 “For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you. [44] But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. [45] Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.”
Sometimes we presume our prayers and sacrifices are received by the Lord.
Isaiah 1:11-13 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. [12] When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? [13] Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.”
Balaam presumed his sacrifice will sway God.
Let’s read:
Numbers 23:1 “And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.”
This prophet of God (Balaam) presumed his perfect sacrifice will sway the Word of God.
The Word of God is steadfast. If we stay with the Word, we will not be out of His Will. We will not be found in sin, and vain oblations.
We continue our reading:
Numbers 23:2-11 “And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. [3] And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place. [4] And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. [5] And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. [6] And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. [7] And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. [8] How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? [9] 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. [10] 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! [11] And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.”
It was not Balaam that blessed Israel. It was the Word of God that blessed Israel. The Promised Word of God to Abraham. The Promise Word of God even before the foundation of the world.
Romans 9:11-13 “(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) [12] It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. [13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”
The Word of God will not change because of our works, sacrifices or prayers. The Word of God is to change us, produce fruit in us, and bring us in line to be exactly as the Word. So that His Word becomes our word. His Thoughts become our thoughts, His actions, works or fruit becomes our actions, works, and fruit. We become one with Him in thought, word, and fruit.
We continue our reading:
Numbers 23:12-14 “And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth? [13] And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence. [14] And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.”
In his presumption, Balaam again thought the sacrifices will change the Word of God.
We continue our reading:
Numbers 23:15-27 “And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the Lord yonder. [16] And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. [17] And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken? [18] And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: [19] 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? [20] Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. [21] He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. [22] God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. [23] Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! [24] Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. [25] And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all. [26] But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do? [27] And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.”
The pagan king (Balak) did not know he was confronting the Word of God. Instead of the prophet standing with the Word of God, and be changed by the Word, he sought to change the Word by listening to the Pagan king.
The child of God in Christ is to influence the world, and not be influenced by the world.
We conclude our reading:
Numbers 23:28-30 “And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon. [29] And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. [30] And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.”
Balaam continued to build altars in presumption, instead of lining up with the Word of God.
It’s not our numbers that count.
It’s not the size of our groups or churches that count.
It’s not what we are doing that counts.
It’s God with us, and God in us.
Let the Word of God bring you out of building vain altars. BELIEVE, and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. Stay with the Word, and you will not presumptuously build in vain, but in Christ!
Sometimes we presume the Lord is with us because of a past experience or a victory.
Samson presumed.
Judges 16:20-21 “And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. [21] But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.”
Israel presumed God was with them.
Numbers 14:43-45 “For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you. [44] But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp. [45] Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.”
Sometimes we presume our prayers and sacrifices are received by the Lord.
Isaiah 1:11-13 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. [12] When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? [13] Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.”
Balaam presumed his sacrifice will sway God.
Let’s read:
Numbers 23:1 “And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.”
This prophet of God (Balaam) presumed his perfect sacrifice will sway the Word of God.
The Word of God is steadfast. If we stay with the Word, we will not be out of His Will. We will not be found in sin, and vain oblations.
We continue our reading:
Numbers 23:2-11 “And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. [3] And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place. [4] And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. [5] And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. [6] And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. [7] And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. [8] How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? [9] 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. [10] 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! [11] And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.”
It was not Balaam that blessed Israel. It was the Word of God that blessed Israel. The Promised Word of God to Abraham. The Promise Word of God even before the foundation of the world.
Romans 9:11-13 “(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) [12] It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. [13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”
The Word of God will not change because of our works, sacrifices or prayers. The Word of God is to change us, produce fruit in us, and bring us in line to be exactly as the Word. So that His Word becomes our word. His Thoughts become our thoughts, His actions, works or fruit becomes our actions, works, and fruit. We become one with Him in thought, word, and fruit.
We continue our reading:
Numbers 23:12-14 “And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth? [13] And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence. [14] And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.”
In his presumption, Balaam again thought the sacrifices will change the Word of God.
We continue our reading:
Numbers 23:15-27 “And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the Lord yonder. [16] And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. [17] And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken? [18] And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: [19] 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? [20] Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. [21] He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. [22] God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn. [23] Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! [24] Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. [25] And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all. [26] But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do? [27] And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.”
The pagan king (Balak) did not know he was confronting the Word of God. Instead of the prophet standing with the Word of God, and be changed by the Word, he sought to change the Word by listening to the Pagan king.
The child of God in Christ is to influence the world, and not be influenced by the world.
We conclude our reading:
Numbers 23:28-30 “And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon. [29] And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. [30] And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.”
Balaam continued to build altars in presumption, instead of lining up with the Word of God.
It’s not our numbers that count.
It’s not the size of our groups or churches that count.
It’s not what we are doing that counts.
It’s God with us, and God in us.
Let the Word of God bring you out of building vain altars. BELIEVE, and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. Stay with the Word, and you will not presumptuously build in vain, but in Christ!
Recent
Archive
2026
January
Devotion 479Devotion 480Devotion 481Devotion 482Devotion 483Devotion 484Devotion 485Devotion 486Devotion 487Devotion 488Devotion 489Devotion 490Devotion 491Devotion 492Devotion 493Devotion 494Devotion 495Devotion 496Devotion 497Devotion 498Devotion 499Devotion 500Devotion 501Devotion 502Devotion 503Devotion 504Devotion 505Devotion 506Devotion 507Devotion 508Devotion 509
2025
January
February
Devotion 126Devotion 125Devotion 124Devotion 123Devotion 122Devotion 121Devotion 120Devotion 119Devotion 118Devotion 117Devotion 116Devotion 115Devotion 114Devotion 113Devotion 112Devotion 111Devotion 110Devotion 109Devotion 108Devotion 107Devotion 106Devotion 105Devotion 104Devotion 103Devotion 102Devotion 91Devotion 92Devotion 93Devotion 94Devotion 95Devotion 96Devotion 97Devotion 98Devotion 99Devotion 100
Categories
no categories
No Comments