Most of the time when we think of the Holy Spirit, we think of the New Testament accounts of when the Holy Spirit descended in Acts, or when the Holy Spirit filled other characters of the New Testament. In our Wednesday night Bible study, we have talked about accounts in the Old Testament where the Spirit filled men of God to fulfill his purposes. Whether it was to warn groups of people, or to provide extraordinary information, the men who were filled by the Spirit of God had big jobs. In this passage, Balaam has to decide whether to please other men or please God. If he had chosen to please other men, the punishment might have been death. He had already seen instances where God had punished certain Israelites for not following his plan. Balaam, through the Spirit of God, blesses the people, instead of cursing them. Balaam, however, had faults of his own, and attempted to become rich from Balak. His plan, because it was not God’s plan, failed miserably! In our lives, if we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we may be asked to do big things. God will be pleased with those things we do through his Spirit.
“Holy Spirit, thou art welcome in this place.” May we take the words of this simple chorus and make “this place” — our hearts!
Dr. Glen E. Neal, Lenoir, N.C.
Extended Scripture: Numbers 24–27
