El Shadday-Friday

Sunday, I mentioned that El Shadday was the blessing of Balaam. Have you ever read the story of Balaam in the book of Numbers?

It’s an interesting story about Balak, King of Moab, and Balaam a diviner. It would be a lot to type out as it spans 3 chapters(22-24), but the gist is this. The Israelites moved to town, and Balak, the king of Moab, was scared of their size, so he summoned Balaam, the diviner, to come and curse them.

Balaam said he could only do what God told him to do. Then there’s this part about Balaam beating his donkey and his donkey TALKING to him. (Don’t read it in the KJV to your kids unless you want a giggle.)

Balak begged Balaam to curse them, and Balaam offered sacrifices to God three times, and each time God told Balaam to bless the Israelites, not curse them. Balak got mad and said, I summoned you to curse them, and you bless them!”

Balaam said, “I told you from the beginning that I can only do what God tells me to do!

(Ok, so that is my paraphrase, but I can totally see Balaam throwing snaps as he said, “I TOLD YOU!”)

Balaam was a diviner or a sorcerer. Not someone we would consider to have a direct connection to God, or someone whom we would even think that he would use. I truly hope that the misconception that we need to be perfect to be used as his vessel has been squashed in your mind.

In Balaam’s final message, he says,

“This is the message of Balaam, son of Beor,

The message of the man whose eyes see clearly,

the message of one who hears the words of God,

who has knowledge from the Most High,

who sees a vision from the Almighty (Shadday),

who bows down with eyes wide open;

I see him, but not here and now.

I perceive him, but far in the distant future.

A star will rise from Jacob.

A scepter will emerge from Israel.”

God used Balaam to foretell the coming of Christ, and God used Balaam to bless his people when an earthly king wanted them cursed.

Balaam knew that he could not speak out of turn against God. While his eagerness or greediness initially had his donkey talking to him, he found that if he relied on God, then he could be a blessing.

El Shadday is our sustainer, our almighty, our immovable mountain, and our greatest blessing. As you move into the weekend, I hope you take solace in knowing that Shadday is with you, even when things seem out of control. Even when you feel you are being cursed, God is still blessing you.

Have a great day with Jesus!