God's Will | Olivia Leong

You're listening to a message to go from acts church. We hope this message

will light up your day. God's will. Right, we are still in

this theme of Heaven rules right, Heaven rules towards the finishing line. So

this is the church's team that we are embarking on in the year twenty twenty

three. Yeah, all right, God's will, Heaven rules right and towards

the finishing line. So today we're on this topic on God's will. Wow,

very timely, huh. A lot of us are in this juncture of

the seeking God's will and are not forgetting or so recently that we have been

studying at homes about knowing God's will and understanding his will. Right, So

cool, Let's let's dig deeper, shall we. Let's let's hear what God

has to say to us even this morning about his will. Right, Okay,

next light, So we will be studying today or we'll be looking into

this story in Numbers, chapter twenty two. It's a very interesting topic.

If you do not know this story, we shall go through it. It's

a very yes, amusing story. Some would say, right, let's go

for it next. Like, so the background of this story in Numbers chapter

twenty two. Very interesting. Okay. So, so just a background before

that. The Book of Numbers, Chapter twenty number. The Book of Numbers,

it's found in the Old Testament, all right, So beginning of the

Book of Numbers, it's where okay, all right, before numbers, Okay,

before numbers. We remember the Israelites, right, they were traveling,

They were in Egypt, right, And remember how Moses led the Israelites out

from Egypt. Remember, God led the Israelites out from Egypt, true,

Moses, right, And then the Rate Sea parted and then they and they

crossed the Red Sea. The Red Sea drowned the Egyptians. Yeah, the

Egyptians are gone forever. Okay, so done. Now the Israelites are moving

towards where God wants them to go, right. God wants to bring them

to a promised land, a land filled with milk and honey. Right.

So, so they're in this journey, right. So the Book of Numbers

talks about their journey, Okay, their journey towards the promised land. Right.

So here in Mount Sinai in chapter one, Mount Sinai is where God

gave the ten commandments, right, they say the first tablet ever in the

world first tablet or rather two tablets, right, So yeah, Mount Sinai

in ten Commandments, and then from there they traveled, Okay, so it

was several weeks they were in Mount Sinai that was the old generation, right,

and then from Mount Sinai to Kadesh. Yes, so this is where

they were traveling towards Kadesh. And why Kadesh is an important Mounstown landmark.

It's where Moses sent out the twelve Spice into the Promised Land to spy out

the land. Right, That's that's where Kardesh is, all right, and

then yeah, so and also because it's also significant place and time. It's

because that's when God punishes them because from the report from the Spices, right,

the twelve Spies out of the twelve Spices, ten spies came back with

not so faith field report where they discouraged the people, don't go. Don't

go. There are giants who are like grasshoppers. They didn't have faith.

And yeah, so God punishes the entire Israelites because they did not have faith

in him to proceed to the Promised Land, which God says, I will

give you this promised land. But they didn't have faith to move forward because

they saw giants and like so many challenges. No, no, which shall

not go? Don't go? Because of that they have to suffer that the

eight years in the wilders, walking walking, walking walking. Right, the

entire generation, the old generation is wiped out. And yeah, so they

were wondering the wilderness from chapter fifteen, right, so chapter twenty two that's

where we are at. The new generation now has risen. The old generation

is gone, right, and yes, from chapter twenty two to chapter twenty

six, at thirty six, that's where the end of the journey is,

just before they stepped into the Promised land. So this story in chapter twenty

two of the Book of Numbers, this is where the story is. Okay,

so this is just a background of it. Next night, So just

a map for us very quickly, right, So, yes, so here

right here if you can see, yes, Israel, right, they were

traveling from Ramuses. That's where Egypt is. So they were traveling to Mount

I. So you see these triangles here. Mount Sinai is one of the

mountains here, right, and then the rate the rate line. It's where

the Book of Numbers begin right until Kadesh Bania. That's where Moses sends out

the trail spices and Canaan. If you see the borders of Canaan. So

Kadesh Banya is just here. Moses sends out the trail spice over to the

Canaan land to spy out the land. And yes, so Kadesh Banya.

So later the next light will show us that the focus of this slight.

Next light right, So here it's where the Book of Numbers is, all

right, So Kadesh Bania is the place where Moses sends out the trail spice.

They travel for thirty eight years. Da da da dada. So we

fast forward forty years, entire generation gone. So we are now in the

Book of Numbers, chapter twenty two at Akaya growth. Another name for that

is called Shittim okay. So yeah, that that area. Now we are

now at that area. Okay, so just travel along with us, travel

along with the Israelites together. Now we are settling down in the land of

Moab. Oh. Yeah, before I forget um. Yeah, going through

all that from Kadesh Bania, all these thirty eight years, it's not all

smooth journey, right. The Israelites still continue complaining. And every time that

Israelites complain, God punishes them to teach them something to trust God. Right

in that journey, it's it's thirty eight years so okay. So yeah,

and also um in the in the journey, especially crossing through Idom, there

were some wards that the Israelites had to fight, right, because they were

crossing other people's territory, right, and you know they don't like that,

right, and they the people of the land attacked them, right, but

thank God, God protected them and God delivered them from their enemies. Okay,

So imagine with me this journey, all right, it's exciting. Okay,

next slide, so let's read the Book of Numbers, chapter twenty two,

Verse one. A few of your Bibles you can read it, but

from the slide here is taken from the New King James version, so let's

go. Okay, verse one. Then the children of Israel moved and camped

in the planes of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho.

Yeah. So the slide before also canna okay, so yes, so the

planes of Moab is here, right, the planes of Moab is here,

and yeah, the Israelites were camping around here. This line is the River

Jordan, and right across the River Jordan, is Jericho. Yeah, Jericho

is the story where we remember Joshua led the people and Jericho Jericho walls fall

down, right, so yeah, this is just before that, right.

So the Israelites are camping around the land of Moab. Okay, so there

were enemy camps around Okay, so yes, let's continue reading verse two.

Now that's this guy named Balad. Okay, Balah the Sun of Zippor saw

all that Israel had done to the m Rights. So remember I told you

just now they had some wars that they there were some wars that they had

to fight with their enemies. So there were three wars that happened that they

are not that they that that period of time right before they settled in the

land of Moab, the Israelites attack three or rather conquered tree groups of people.

One is a Southern Canaanites, another one was the Amor Rights and the

Basha Knightes. Okay, all this can be found in the Book of Numbers

twenty one, right, so now we're reading numbers twenty two. Okay,

So Bahlah he heard about all this. You know, it's like how news

traveled, Like, Oh, this group of people, they are so strong,

they're attacking so many not just one, two, but three three of

the people of the land there. Well, this group of people very strong,

h So he became very frightened. Okay, So verse three stays and

Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many. And Moab was

sick with dread because the issue of the children of Israel, right, and

and you know, I went to research a bit this group of Israelites.

Guess how many of them? They are? Six hundred thousands of them.

Can you imagine this group of six hundred and not on one group of gangster

there or but six hundred thousand people just moving, you know, towards Balah.

And he's like, so writer and this girl people conquered a few lands

already, So yeah, they're so afraid. Balah is afraid. Next line,

verse four, so more app said to the elders of Median, Now

this company will lick up everything around us as an ox licks up the grass

of the field. And Bala, the son of Zippor was king of the

Morbites at that time. Okay, more bites, he's the king of the

Moorbites, right, So, in one sense, Balad's fear was completely logical

due to the size of the Israelites about six hundred thousand of them in population,

and how they had defeated neighboring nations. On the other hand, if

Bala had only known and believe God's would, he would have had nothing to

fear. God commanded Israel not to disturb or attack the Mobites because he did

not intend to give the Israelites the land of the Mobites that can be found

in Deuteronomy chapter two. Okay, if you can do some research, so

previously, just now the map, if you see, I forgot to show

you just now the map just now shows that the Israelite was crossing through Idom,

but when it comes to the Mobite land, they actually make a round,

you know, because this is the commandment of the Lord not to attack

the Mobites. Ah. Here you can see crazy, Yeah, you see

he crossed through Drome and then go on secret there something like that. Out

there are like, you know, avoiding something. So God told the Israelites

not to attack the Mobites. But this Mobite king don't know God. So

he was of course so scared, right you certainly you want to attack me?

What if I'm the fourth enemy? Right? That they will attack.

But God told the told Israel not to attack. Okay, next light verse

five. Yeah, So because this Balah is so the king of Mobaid Moab,

he was so afraid, so he sent messengers. Verse five stays Then

he sent messengers to Balam, the son of Beor, at Pethor, which

is near the river. The river here refers to the river of Euphrates,

in the land of the sons of his people, to call him saying,

look, a people has come from Egypt. See they cover the face of

the earth and are settling next to me. While six hundred thousand people sounds

like a lot covering the face of the earth. Okay, next slight.

Right, therefore, please come at once, because these people for me,

for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat

them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he who

he whom you blessed, is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.

So here in verse five we can see that actually Balam is a prophet.

Okay, he is I think a well known prophet. Lad that Blah

can like the reputation of Balam is quite quite quite great. Lad In a

way where King of Moab knows that this prophet can actually whatever the prophet curse

the thing of the people will because or whoever he blesses, they will be

blessed. Right, So blah, sorry, it is Balam. He's he

is actually in peth Pethor is actually quite far from here from where blah is

Okay, next light Oh that this verse six is it? Ah? Yes?

So okay, So more App is here. That's where King King Kay

King Balah is there, right, And from more App to Pethor it's about

six hundred cam. It's like going to Pinang and then come back again.

That's how far. It's about eight hours drive if you drive to this car

going. Yeah, So Moreap to Pethor is very far. Okay, now

we use it ours car drive last time they walk, Okay, so you

can't imagine. It's very far away. And he knows of this, this

super prophet called Balam staying there, Okay, cannot really see that. But

actually there's a river that there's a river of the Euphrates near Pethor, right,

So this Balam is staying there and and he's like no well known la

for what he does. Okay. So Okay. Next like verse seven,

So the elders of Moab and the elders of Median departed with the diviner's fee

money money diviner's fee in their hand, and they came to Balam, that

prophet in Beethor, and spoke to him the words of Balah. So Baalam

Balam said to them, So Balam heart what Balah says. And Balam says

the prophet of the bab Alam Prophet says, Lord here tonight, and I

will bring back word to you as the Lord speaks to me. So the

princess of Mohab state with Balam right next light. Okay, yes, So

Balam's first compromise was evident when he invited the man to lodge here tonight so

he could hear from God regarding their offer. Right, it was clearly wrong

in even the olden times and today that it is actually wrong to have a

prophet for higher. Okay. So everything that we do now today it's not

for higher. We do it unto God. We are not paid to do

what we do today. Okay. So same as the olden times. Okay,

it's the same there is it's wrong to have a prophet for higher Okay,

Balam essentially said, let me seek God about this regarding a matter that

was clearly sin. To curse the people of Israel is a clear sin because

the people of Israel is God's chosen people. It's like what Andrew prayed today.

Israel is God's apple of his eye, is the apple of God's eye.

The people of Israel very precious. You cannot curse the people whom God

finds pressures. Right, it's clearly sin. He knows that. Balam knows

that, right, and yet he's still going and seek God for it starts

from Milia or not like huh, God, I one days a girl or

I want this man, but I know he's not a Christian. But you

know, God, I'm still seeking your will, you know, you know

that that sort of thing. You know, sometimes sometimes we know God's will,

but we still want to seek God against his will. Right, I

mean, yeah, that that sometimes we may may one things away, But

here the word of God is very clear here with Balam and Balah, right,

he cared far more about the diviner's feed the money than God's will.

So immediately the heart of Balam was revealed. Though he was obviously a man

with significant spiritual gifts. He was not a man with genuine heart after God.

He was seeking God's will regarding something that was plainly not God's will.

Right, Balam began on a dangerous cause. So now this is the start.

Balam is beginning on a dangerous cause, entertaining, planning, and setting

his heart on something he knew to be sin, and looking for spiritual excuse

to pursue the sin. Because of his love for money, Balam essentially tried

to manipulate God into granting him with special requests. Wow, I tell you

this story. Okay, let's say, well, okay, go so so

so the compromise about lodging here. Next night, you can see the compromise

of how Balam's is lodging here and then the diviner's fee right next life okay,

Verse nine, very important verse. Then God came to Balam and said,

who are these men with you? We pause for a moment this question

verse nine. Verse nine, God asks us. God asked Balam this question,

who are these men with you? Why do you think God asked the

question? Is it because God doesn't know the man? Do you think God

knows the man? I think he knows that God is an all knowing God.

He knows everything. He knows even whatever we are hiding in secret.

He also know. Why do you think God is asking the question? Why

is God asking you? Who are this man with you? Right? Okay?

Next averstand right? So Balam said to God, Blah, the sun

of the Porking of Moab has sent me saying, look at people has come

out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now

curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive

them out. Right. Yes, next light, who are this man with

you? The question that is very important for all of us to take note.

Next light this point I want us to write down on your notebook or

take picture or you know. Remember this. When God asks us a question,

it is a question to the intent of our hearts. He is they're

all knowing and loving God. This kind of question. When God asks us

a question, it's like the Book of Genesis where God asks Adam and Eve

where are you? It's not that God doesn't know where they are. Of

course they are in Eden, right or where are you? God is asking

Adam and if where are you? When when Adam and I've seen right,

God asks them where are you. He's such a loving God. He wants

them to know understand where they are at so that they can repent or you

know, come back to him again. I really thank God that God is

such a loving God. He's so faithful. He doesn't like strike us immediately,

you know, when when when when we do something wrong? I mean,

I mean, God is such a righteous God. He has the power

to even strike us the immediately if you cross the line. You know this,

oay, he would strike us dead. But he's so kind, he's

so merciful, he's so good in a way that he still asks us question,

Hello, where are you now? You're crossing the line? Cross?

Cross back the line? Lie? All right? So God is God is

so kind he asks us a question. So when God asks us a question,

it is a question. To the intent of our hearts is deeper than

the question is. So that question is for us. Okay, for us

to search our hearts. Okay, next life, Okay, continue verse twelve.

And God said to Balam, you shall not go with them. You

shall not curse the people, for they are blessed. Very important verse here,

Verse twelve, Okay, very important. Think no now, because from

this verse twelve we will see how it goes. Okay, Verse twelve very

portant, because this is what God says to Balam, very clear instruction.

You shall go with them. I'm sorry, you shall not go with them.

You shall not go with them. You shall not cuss the people.

Why cannot cuss these people? Because they are blessed? Full stop. Don't

question anymore. Okay, that's the reason. So verse the thing of course,

Bala'm here from God and he has to tell those people staying with him.

Right. So Blah rose in the morning and sit to the princesses of

Blahlah, go to your land, for the Lord has refused to give me

permission to go with you. Verse Fain says, and the princess of Moab

rose and went to Blah and sit. Balam refuses to come with us.

I purposely put these three verses on one's light for us to see something very

important. Okay, next like, okay, it's highlighted. I know it's

a bit hard to do. You all know this game called Chinese whispers.

I don't know why they call it Chinese whispers. Some people call okay,

Malaysians, we call it telephone or some people say uh I don't know.

Some people say broken telephone, broken message, you know, Okay, the

game goes okay. Usually this game is very popular among the leadership trainings or

maybe sometimes kids games also where someone will be given a message. Right,

So there'll be probably a few people right this game, okay, a few

people where the first person will received a real message. Okay, he's supposed

to pass it to the next person, right, and the next person supposed

to tell until the end, and then we will reveal what is the message

that the last person receiving. And it's like whatever, I shall not for

the time. It was sick of time. You shall not play this game

here. But yes, you're y'all recognize this game, right, this game

is found here. Okay, Now the twelfth that's import Okay. God said

you shall not go. You shall not curse the people. They are blessed.

Balam, tell the people go back to your land. The Lord say,

I cannot go, So I cannot go, Balam. He's the prophet

of God. He's supposed to say what God said. He's supposed to tell

the people I cannot go. Okay, God says, cannot go because and

I cannot curse the people of Israel because these people are blessed. He didn't

say that. He didn't say that that that that part is missing, right,

Bam, just saying, Oh God, God say I cannot go,

So I cannot go. He didn't say why. Right, it's actually wrong,

although right, it's not right to not say the full thing of what

God has intended for the people. Right and then not only that. Okay,

So Balam tell the people, the people with him, and that's those

people with him go back to Balah and say this, say why oh oh

Baalam Balam Balham to us he didn't say God didn't say So that part also

already also wrong. Right, So in this, in this it's very dangerous,

right. And Balam wasn't faithful in delivering God's word to the people.

And because of this, because of this, you know, it's it's it's

very crafty. The the evil one likes to use this to to cause destruction.

Right. Let me let me just read this from my notes A.

So that is clear. Right. So Balam did not tell them as he

ought to have done, that Israel was a blessed people and must and must

and by no means because for them and the design would not would have been

cursed. Sorry, then the design would have been crushed, meaning to say,

then a Blah will not will not continue to pursue Balam with more riches.

Right, he would have stopped it. And from there, if if

Balaam was faithful to God, he would have stopped like that. He would

have just said it, and then the story will have just stopped. But

no, it continued. O gave with all these funny fun these things,

right and and yeah, so and let him know, okay, yeah so,

yeah, but he in fact desired them to give his humble service to

Balah and he and let him know that he applauded his project, that means

Ballad's project, and would have been very glad to gratify him. But that

truly he had the character of a prophet and must not go without the leaf

of God, which he had not yet obtained, and therefore for the present

he must be excused. Note those are a fair mark of Satan's divine prohibition.

Sorry, those are a fair mark of Satan's temptation. That speaks dimission,

diminishingly of divine prohibition, as if they amounted to no more than the

denial of a permission, and as if to go against God's law, were

only to go without his leave. Yeah, So basically just have to say

whatever God says. All right, very important, Okay, don't let God.

Don't let the evil one take this too. You know, um really

come up with things that it's not of God. Okay, very important.

That's why I say remember verse tula, this verse trail is very important.

Okay, next night, right, continue on the story. Verse fifteen.

Then Blah against send princess. Okay, so before for fifteen, right,

remember he said, oh Bam doesn't want to come. Okay, So of

course Blah said, huh, maybe I can. I can just do something

else to to to oh Bam to just come, come, come, curss

these people for me. So what did he do? He sent Saint Princess.

Then Baalah against Saint Princess more numerous and more honorable than they Verse sixteen.

And they came to Balam the prophet and said to him, does say

Blah, the son of Zipport, please let nothing hinder you from coming,

for I will certainly honor you, great Lee, and I will do whatever

you say to me. Therefore, please come and curse these people for me.

Verse eighteen. Then Balam. The prophet answered and said to the servants

of Blah, no ba Lah were to give me his house full of silver

and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord, my

God to do less or more. Now, therefore, please you also stay

here tonight, and I may know what more the Lord will say to me.

Hey look verse eighteen. Ah, yo, this guy, he can

sound like whoa very spiritual. Okay, No no, no, no,

no need, no need to give me Blah. If the king or Moab

were to give me all his houses, riches, all his inheritance, you

know I will not I will not do it. But it's okay, you

can stay. Oh that's very dangerous. Oh you can stay out. Oh

you can just go, lad just go, don't don't stay you know right,

he's still inviting that. Oh you're steven. He let me see God

more. Maybe God will say something to me. I don't know it already

because in Verstrail we already saw God says, don't go. Okay, don't

go. That's it, you know, just have to take the word for

it. Just don't go. But then so the story continues, so drama

right again. Next line verse twenty, and God came to Balam. You

know, God, he is so so merciful, he is so merciful,

he would he would still come. You know if if if, if a

strict parent have to have a son like that always disobey, and that always

comes. And I wasn't. I was, Oh, the strict parill just

whack him, you know. Continue verse twenty and God came to Balam at

night and say it to him. If the man come to call you,

rise and go with them. But only the world which I speak to you,

that you shall do Verse twenty one. So Baalam rose in the morning.

So although he's donkey and went with the princess of Moab. Okay,

if you do not know, ah, if you do not know like the

background of this, you will read this verse twenty a bit confused, right,

because God says no at first in verse twelve, right, and then

now verse twenty, God says, go right. You might like why God

says no first and no he said go why right? And and this is

very important, you know, when when God tells us something in the first

time, when God says no, he is faithful to his word. Right.

He is not a god that is like lopsided. Maybe this verse.

Brain confuse you because hey, Olivia, you say God's word is faithful.

Right, He's faithful to is what his truth is? Why now he say

no, our one? Now he's a go right? Why no, he's

a goal because sometimes when God or every time when whenever we want to go

against God's will, God gives us free will. Right, Thank God for

that God gives us free will. He does he is This shows that God

is faithful in a way. He honors our free will. But he is

very sad inside. Of course it didn't say here lie in the verse,

right, but deep down in his heart, God's heart, he is very

sad and he's very angry. Okay, you want to go, you gola,

You go, just gola, you know, go, just go and

make sure you tell them what I tell you. Okay, yeah, you

know he's Balam is now going to walk in his judgment, in God's judgment.

Right now, you want to go, you gola? That's what that's

in Malaysian slang. That's what he means that, right. Yeah, so

of course, but I'm oh God, you say yes suh. Of course

you can see him verse to anyone, he must be very happy. Oh

day God God tell me to go. I go, yeah, happy,

happy, Yes, I could get what I want? Yes, yeah,

Because God says, go, man, I go. Okay, so he

packed up verse to anyone okay in the morning, rose up in the morning,

somewhere. Okayclock, let's go, let's go, God says God,

all right, verse twenty two, Verse twenty two, next night. Yeah.

Then God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the

Lord took his stand in the way as an adversary against him, and he

was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. Now,

if you do not know, if you have not heard what I'm saying right

now, oh you're not really studded, you will come to this verse twenty

two and be very confused because before this God says go, and then he's

get God is angry. Well, very confusing, right, So I'm helping

us to unpack this story. God is angry because it's not his will.

It's not what he has said. In verse twelve. Just now we said,

right, God says no, don't go. That's why he's angry,

even though he's okay, go, go, go go. Of course,

he's very angry to a point where here he God sends this Angel of the

Lord have to come and stand against Balam as an adversary. The translation of

the word adversary here means satan like. So the angel comes with a drawn

sword like facing the enemy. Right, So imagine you don't want to you

know what I mean? And angel, you're working a nicely and then you

face an angel that's an adversary like in front of you. You don't want

to go against God's will. Right. God is so merciful, you know,

he didn't strike Balam did immediately. He's so merciful. And one thing

Balam to repent showing in some science don't go, don't go so many times.

Okay. Anyway, here and he was riding on his donkey and his

two servings. So the Angel of the Lord came with his drawn sort next

night. Okay, Yes, very important, Another very very important point.

You can take picture right on your notes God. When God permits it doesn't

mean that he approves it. Okay. Sometimes yeah, it's okay, nothing

I crossed the line. I'm still alive. I'm reading you know, I

still have my salary, I still have my family. Everything seems okay.

I wasn't strike it by the lightning, Like I just crossed the line.

Nothing wrong. God permits it doesn't mean he approves it. Even as I

share this, I'm actually trembling. Okay, it's it's it's scary sometimes,

you know, just to think of this thought. God permits it doesn't mean

he approves it. Yeah, So it's so important to search our hearts every

day to know that we are walking in his will. Right, Okay,

next slide, verse twenty three. Now the donkeys saw the Injure of the

Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in the hand, and the

donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Blah

struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. The donkeys saw the

angel Blah didn't see. Sorry, Baalam didn't see the angel. Okay,

next side, So this is first time, okay that Baalam whacked the donkey.

Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards

with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. And then

and when the donkeys saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against

the wall and crashed Balam's foot against the wall. So Balam of course struck

the donkey against pity donkey, right, but the donkeys just so, I'm

not gonna cross, but still gonna wake by the master. Okay, the

donkeys saw next like, um, yeah, that was the second time.

Now the third time, when then the angel of the Lord went further and

stood in the narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the

right or to the left. And when the donkeys saw the engine for the

third time, I saw the injury of the Lord. She laid down under

Bellam. So Balam's anger was he was so angry. Balam anger was aroused,

and he struck the donkey with his staff. Yo. Next slide.

Okay, wait before the next light verse twenty seven, right when the donkeys

saw the injury of the Lord. You know, this is a very unusual.

Difficult circumstances of this journey might have suggested to Balam that this trip was

not of God. Yet Balam probably took it as Yet. Balam probably took

it all as being attacked from the enemy and used the circumstances to strengthen his

hope that God wanted him to work as a prophet for hire. This shows

the great difficulty of judging God's will by circumstances. Many circumstances can be interpreted

in many ways, right, and it can easily deceive us very dangerous people,

really precious, precious friends, brothers and sisters. Sometimes we feel that

the circumstance of our lives determines God's will for us. Let's not B B

B be deceived by this this thought. Okay, the circumstances around us may

seem okay, but it is not all right. Okay next uh yeah,

wait, okay, continue on yes verse next light, Oh yeah, this

one okay, yes, verse the name. Then the Lord opened the mouth

of the donkey and said to Balam, what have I done to you that

you have struck me these three times? Right the donkey. Now, God

opened the donkey's mouth, what have you done? And Balam said to the

donkey, Now Balam has already gone kukola going to talk to the donkey.

Right and talking the donkey not in normal words, are not in like very

easy but very deep conversation somewhere okay, vers tending night. And Bam said

to the donkey, because you have abused me, I wish there were a

sword in my hand and the or now I would kill you. Okay,

next next verse, so the donkeys say, am I not your donkey on

which you have ridden ever since I became yours to this day? Was I

ever disposed to do this to yours? Did I ever do such thing to

you? Dear Master? Have I ever done this to you? And Babam

said no. Wow, deep conversation in the donkey. Okay, next night,

yeah, correct. So this another point that I want us to take

away from today. Take picture right notes. Okay, when someone close to

us who fears God stops us in our tracks, be alert to listen and

obey right the donkey. The donkey may refer to a friend. The donkey

could be a friend, could be a parent or your parents, or could

be your spouse, could be even our children, could be church leaders,

could be someone whom we are leading. You know, someone who fears God

stops us in our tracks. Remember to listen and obey. Sometimes we may

not be able to see it. Okay, next light, verse twenty two.

I sorry. Verse thirty two. Then the Lord opened Balam's eyes.

Well, finally he can see. Okay, he saw the age of the

Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword. In his hand, and

he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. Next light and the

Angel of the Lord said to Balam, why have you struck your donkey these

three times? The whole I have come out to stand against you because your

way is perverse before me. Okay, this perverse word, I maybe if

we read in this context, seems like this perverse is the act of beating

the donkey is one way, yes, but it's the perverse here is referring

to disobeying God's word when he crossed the line. The perverseness of this of

disobeying or disobeying him right verse day treat the donkeys. Saw he saw me

and turn aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside

from me, surely I would also have killed you by now and let her

live. While God is so mercyful. Again, he did not strike Bah.

You know God is so merciful, saw so merciful. Next life and

Ballam said to the Angel of the Lord, I have seen. Finally he's

repenting. Thank you God, he's repenting. I have seen, for I

did not know you stood in the way against me. Now, therefore,

if it displeases you, I will turn back if if if he's still he's

still don't get if what do you mean if he God? Is it?

No? No, if it displays out God, Balam is confused. Okay,

if if it difference, I would then turned back versettified. Then the

Angel of the Lord said to Balam, go with this man, but only

the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak. So Balam

went with the Princess of Balah. Of course. Yeah, next night.

Yeah, So if it displeases me, this this, this verse really speaks

of what is in Balam's heart. Balam seemed and decided as to if he

really was displeasing God. He asked, if it displeases you God made God

made his will clear to Balam many times. Yet Balam still vicious for the

answer he wanted from God. And Balam made it evident he did not want

what God had already clearly revealed. Next like next verse statistics and that's all,

Oh yeah, sorry, I got an emoji. Okay, it's like

I own this guy. Really, God is so merciful to him, while

God just try him. Then, no, my God is so merciful.

God tells us this God, we have this story in the Bible really for

us to learn. Okay, next like okay, so this historical event,

it's not. This historical event is very important, right, so important to

the fact that it has to be quoted several times in the Bible throughout the

Bible. In Second Peter two fifteen to sixteen, say Peter was writing this

letter's right, he also referred to this incident. They have forsaken the right

way and have gone a straight following the way of Balam, the son of

Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness verse sixteen. But he was rebuilt

for his iniquity. A dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice, restrained the

madness of the prophet. Jude chapter one, verse eleven says, whole to

them, for they have gone in the way of king, have run greedily

in the era of Balam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Kora.

In the Book of Micah, chapter six, verse five says, oh,

my people, remember now what Balah, king of Moab, counseled,

and what Balam the son of Beor answered him. From Achaia grove to Gilga,

that you may know the righteousness of the Lord. So important this event

in the Bible in numbers, chapter twenty two. Next right, and yeah,

so what happened to Balam after all that? Okay, if you don't

have time to go through it, but let me summarize what happened to him

at the end of the day. So Blahlah asked him to curse, right,

to curse Israel. So eventually, of course, yeah, blah blam.

The prophet Balaam was very wanted the divine's fee, diviner's fee, so

he went with blah blah blah blah blah and tried to curse Israel, but

he couldn't curse Israel. Instead, he blessed Israel instead three times at three

different locations. Okay, come, come, curse, curse reel for me

at this location where very spiritual, Oh cannot ask, So Blam blessed Israel?

Is it? Then Blalah was angry, Why are you why you curse?

Why you blessed Israel? I asked you to curse them. I bring

you to another place maybe better, you know, like the say like like

like a spiritual you know better, you know you go that you can sure

curse run, But eventually did not. Then the other third place or so

he tried to try to bring Balam, the prophet Balam to another place.

For sure, you can curse Israel here, but it didn't happen. Also,

wow, you see, if you are in God, right, if

you're in God, no matter what kind of prophet or what kind of people

wanted to curse you, right, you, it cannot happen because you are

protected in His will right will. Also precious to hear this, really,

so Balham gonna curse Israel. And Balam suggested to Balah a mode by which

will cause Israel to sin and bring God's judgment upon that. So so eventually

the prophet Balam say, oh, I cannot, I cannot curse Israel.

He yeah, so let's do something else. So Balam suggested something else to

Blah. You want to conquer these people, right, I tell you,

I tell you a secret. So this secret is very very bad, okay,

towards the people of Israel. So let's see what is it? Okay.

The doctrine of Baha is spoken in Revelations Chapter two was fourteen that it

was true the teaching of Balam, that Balah learned the way by which the

Israelites might be led to sin. So yes, that's a secret I can

conquer. There's people, Okay. So the next light in Revelations chapter two

was fourteen says, but I have a few things against you because you have

there those who hold the doctrine of Balam, who taught Balah to put a

stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things, sacrifice to idols,

and commit sexual immorality. That was that secret. You just do it,

and that's it. You cannot Israel down. That was that was that?

Okay, cause them to sin, God brings the judgment upon them. So

it happened that the Israelite was disobedient. They fell into this it it thinks

sacrifice to idols and commits sexual adultery, and God punishes the people of Israel.

Okay, yes, next light. Yeah, So, however, what

happened to this prophet? Huh? In there was a battle in Numbers Chapter

thirty one was Ending of Numbers, the Book of Numbers. Already in a

battle between the Israelites and Medians, Balam was slain while fighting the side of

Balah. So eventually, cutlong story short, Balam was also killed in that

war. God has really have his judgment over the prophet of balam next light.

So yes, all these things, as First Quaranthians chapter ten tells us,

now these things become our example to the intent that we should not last

after evil things, as they also lasted. Yeah, it's for our lesser

next light. Right. Similarly in verse eleven of First Quarantines chapter ten,

now all these things happen to them as examples, and they were written for

our admonition, our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come

next line. Right. So to understand the will of God, I will

not go through in detail, but just a very high level. If you

need the notes of further further explanation about all this, you can reach out

to your home leaders about the understanding of God's will and knowing God's will.

Okay. So there a few points that we have pointed out about dealing with

misconceptions and God's will and God's moral will very important, Okay, due to

time, I will not go to them. Next line. And also knowing

God's will discerning his good, per acceptable and perfect will in Romans chapter twelve,

verse one to two. God's will is good, acceptable, and perfect

is it is good for us? Okay? And making making decisions in a

trusting relationship with God, and God is so gracious enough to give us an

avenue where we can make our own decisions within limits. Right. For example,

like in the Book of Genesis where God plays Adam and if there was

an instruction not to eat of that, you can eat everything else, but

not of that tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So that is

an example. Okay, obedience in the general calling before a specific calling.

I really like this verse a lot, like this point because God or has

already given us his instructions, which is here in the Word of God,

and it's very clear we just need to follow this. Okay. Whatever that

is not said of this, we continue to just trust God in his written

word. And yeah, come to surveys, come for homes, and then

we hear and discuss together to hear what God is saying to us. All

right, next, Like okay, so my story okay, right, So

during my time in the final year of every student from primary school and I

was a primary school okay, in the primary school of government schools there,

we were required to sit for this exam called upsr Uji and Pernilliance Aklaranda Primary

School Achievement Exam. The exam candidates results will determine which secondary school they will

be going too, right correct correct right right right yeah, yeah, yeah

okay, and with excellent results, they will be automatically assigned to an excellent

secondary school. For the girls okay here because I was in Pinang, so

for the girls it will be Saint George's Girls High School, which is like,

wow, excellent school, and the guys will go to Pinang Free School,

which is also a very excellent school. Those from Pinang Rodora anyone from

beiter Yeah, yes, agree, right agree right yeah yeah so yeah,

yes correct. So so, coming to the end of my primary school,

I was assigned to a nominal school by default. My parents probably knew that

I wouldn't be able to score well enough in the exam to enter the excellent

school, so they tried enrolling me to a better school than the nominal school.

It was SMK Convent Green Lane. Then okay it was it was good

schooler right convent yeah whatever? Convent, yes a good right, Okay,

So they tried to apply this school for me, which is also the closest

good school from where we were staying. Unfortunately, our home address is in

Itam doesn't entitle me to enroll in this good school. So my parents conveniently

asked a friend for her address who stays near this good school, and submitted

the application using that address. Thank god, eventually the application got rejected.

Besides that, of course that time, you will feel so sad. Okay,

never mine. Besides, I remember after my ups ARE exams, the

teachers would go through the questions in the class to discuss the answers for every

subject, and to my disappointment, I didn't score an A for my mats,

really humble saying yeah I didn't. Yeah. So I was so sad

when my UPSR results were announced. Ha. Finally the day time, but

I had read it that the results came out and all my results were out

except for my maths result. Oh my god, you have to put me

in this dynamo. Okay, this is a very mysterious. That time,

after a few days, there was a news article that reported that a few

thousand ups R candidates results nationwide were held back due to some unforeseen reasons which

I can't remember. Also, I needed to get an A for my MATS

in order for me to be entitled to go to this excellent school, which

I knew I wouldn't be getting any because the Jady mark right, I know

I wouldn't get Ready, Lad, I just go whereverever you sent me.

Due to this, I was attending this nominal school, nominal secondary school for

about a month plus. Finally the results came out and miraculously I got an

A. I don't know how. God has a better plan, and in

hindsight I could understand the reason why God has so mercifully given me an aim

or my maths, even though I don't deserve it. I don't know how,

but God is so merciful allowing giving me this A for me to go

to this school, this excellent school, which I'm not excellent, but anyway,

I went into this excellent school and coming to the end of my secondary

school, it was only this school and a few schools nationwide that my school

was included that has it Information technology I taught as a subject for the Secondary

School Assessment examination. I think SPM then and true, Dad, I Scott

well easily and also STPM. I remember I also did STPM in school.

Thank God that they have this subject and I took it, and thank God

for the guidance of the teachers and everything I went to. I managed to

secure a place in University of Layah studying computer science faculty, and led me

to a job here in Cyberjaya. Right, and this is where I am

here today. I think I think it was not of God's mercy. I

think I'll be somewhere else. I think I wouldn't have met and Roussell.

I wouldn't have I wouldn't be here right, really, really, thank God.

Thank God that my parents did not waste their time appealing the rejected application.

That Dad would be going against God's will in not being truthful in providing

our home address for the application. Really really thank God. So God's will

is sovereign. Though our intention may seem good, but the method is wrong.

God would not have been pleased with it. So thank God for his

grace and mercy showing that His ways and parts are always higher and better than

ours. Really, all glory to God. We hope you've been blessed by

this message. For more information on our church, please visit as Church to

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week is going to be a good week, a hit for you. God bless