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God Protected the Israelites from the Evil Plans of Balack

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[Numbers 24:10-11]

Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded."

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King of Moab, Balack, was afraid that the Israelites would pass through Canaan near his kingdom. So he sent his people to bring a famous magician Balaam to curse the Israelites.

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Even though God did not want Balaam to follow the people Balack sent, he went to the king anyway. However on the way to Balack God sent an angel to scold Balaam.

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The angel of the Lord ordered Balaam seriously.
“You go with these people. However you need only to do what I tell you to do.”
So Balaam went to Moab together with Balack`s men.

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When Balack heard Balaam was coming he went to ‘Arnon’ near the end of his kingdom. When King Balack met Balaam he said,
“I asked you to come faster why are you so late? I will replay you well so help me.”

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However, Balaam answered to Balack,
“Anyway, I did come here, didn't I? However, I can`t say anything on my own. I can only say the words God tells me.”

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King Balack did not care much about that.
He brought Balaam to a nice place and feed him with sheep and cattle.

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The next day King Balack brought Balaam to Baal`s temple.
They could see the end of the Israelites' tents, so he wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites there.

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Balaam made an altar and burnt seven bulls and rams.
Balaam said after God appeared to him, “I have prepared an altar and burnt seven bulls and rams.”

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God told Balaam what to say.
After Balaam heard what to say from God he went back to Balack.
Balack expected Balaam to curse the Israelites greatly.

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Balaam said, “Balack brought me here to curse the Israelites, however God does not want to curse the Israelites, so how can I curse them? The Israelites are different and special than any other country and they will grow bigger in number than we could ever count. I hope I can also live like these Israelites and die.”

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Balaam greatly blessed the Israelites. Balack yelled at Balaam, “What in the world are you doing? I brought you here to curse my enemies, and now you bless them?” Balaam answered, “I only follow what God tells me.”

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When the first attempt to curse the Israelites failed he brought Balaam to another place and tried for the second time. At that place, they did the same thing with the altar and the animals.

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However, still at this time, God did not allow Balaam to curse the Israelites.
Balaam blessed the Israelites again.
Balack`s evil skim had failed again.

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However, Balack did not give up and tried for the third time. He brought Balaam to Mt. Peor where they could see the wastelands of the Israelites. They did not do the sacrifices there. But even at that third attempt Balaam knew God did not want to curse the Israelites, so he blessed them greatly again.

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God protected the Israelites perfectly from the evil skim of Balack to curse them through Balaam. Like this God protects those who rely on God.

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Even today God protects us from where we can see just like He protected the Israelites, so the evil skims of Satan cannot reach us. Let us always thank God who protects us. And let us live our lives for God`s glory.

(You can change the conclusion of this sermon best suiting to your listeners of this sermon. We want to make it clear that the provided conclusion is only a sample conclusion provided by CTM.)