Numbers 21-22

As the people of Israel are led by the LORD through the wilderness they are coming into contact with the hostile  people of the land through which they have to pass beginning with the Moabites, Canaanites and  Amorites. The LORD was strengthening the Israelites in their journey and giving them victory over their enemies which was striking fear and dread in the hearts of the kings and Mesopotamian people, so much so that Moabite king Balak hired Balaam a diviner to curse Israel. Through a series of revelations Balaam receives a word and instruction from the LORD but chooses instead to do the opposite and goes to Moab to satisfy the request to curse. What I find most interesting is Balaam's willingness to obey the command of the Angel of the LORD. 

Numbers 22:38 (NKJV) "the word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak."

As we read throughout the gospel of John, Jesus consistently only did and spoke what the Father instructed him, in terms of surrender of the will I think how often I miss the mark and instead of approaching the LORD with humility I yield to my own selfish ambition. Submitting and surrendering to the mighty hand of God in humility is the right response that is pleasing and properly orients man to God positioning him to receive grace. God's sovereign kingdom authority is the exercise of God's kingship, authority, right to rule based on His might, power and glory (adapted from Steven Hawthorne) and requires willing humility on our part to live with conviction in word, thought and deed. 

"God never crushes a man's will into surrender, He waits until the man yields up his will to Him. That battle never needs to be refought." ~Oswald Chambers

John 12:29-30 (NKJV) "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."

O LORD I ask that you would fill me freshly with your Holy Spirit this morning equip me with Your words today, strengthen me in my resolve to faithfully hear your voice, to speak and do all that you give me this day. LORD let your will be done in my heart and my life this day that you might increase and be glorified greatly through my lived testimony. Great are you LORD and greatly to be praised, I choose to humble myself under your mighty hand, as clay in the potter's hand use me LORD to advance and expand your Kingdom authority through souls saved and disciples made. For the King and the Kingdom.

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