The persuasive rhetoric in the broadcasting of anti-Israel bias in the world media can be described as a pandemic of lies. The spiritual health of multitudes is being affected by those who are denouncing God’s chosen people, in widespread, epidemic proportions. International organizations and networks are hanging in the balance as they dangle on the edge of judgment (Deuteronomy 28:66). Also many questionable leaders have chosen to castigate and scold the Jewish nation for rightfully defending her people. These leaders and their supporters have placed themselves in an extremely dangerous position with Almighty God and as far as the truth is concerned –remain with eyes closed.
Israel is fighting a war which began on October 7th, 2023. She did not initiate it. Many Jewish families are heart-broken and have been knocked sideways off the beaten path while they wait for their beloved husbands and sons to return to them after leaving home to go to battle against their attackers. Israel must protect the Land of Israel for God’s Name sake as He will one day rule the world from Zion.
Israel’s reputation has been severely damaged by personalities and uninformed people who attack the Jewish nation. Through anti-Semitic slogans which stir up mob demonstrations, the noise of irrational voices broadcasting words they do not even understand, and baseless hatred which is allowed to walk the streets of free countries—all are done in the name of “freedom of speech.” Prejudice against and punishment of Israel walk side by side around the world damaging the name God gave His people: Israel. As Christian friends of Israel we need to guard our hearts and not degrade Israel in any form of speech or action.
As a Christian living in Israel for nearly forty years, I ask believers in numerous denominations why they divest from the only nation in the Middle East where they can live as a believer in Jesus Christ and not be harmed. They may say to me, “I read a story where some religious Jews spat on tourists.” Yes, this is true; however, after two thousand years of Christian hatred spewing out of the mouth of Christianity—I think, what is a few occasions of people being spat on once or twice? There is real fear in religious Jews that they will be forced to convert when they meet a “Christian.” They know that Christians have separated from their Jewish foundations and no longer want to be a part of them. Multitudes of Christians have their eyes closed to Israel. That is why many Jews have their eyes closed to Jesus. The Arabs, in the name of Islam’s doctrine have been trying to win the game of “pay and slay” for centuries with eyes closed tightly to Israel. Even Balak in the story from which we are going to learn, was offered pay to slay the Jewish nation through his spiritual gifts.
The unbelievable massacre of Israeli youth, changed the lives of the entire nation on Oct. 7th, a quiet Shabbat morning. My daughter arrived in Israel that morning from America to come and help me to plan her dad’s funeral. Upon arrival I told her “We are at war!” While driving to Ben Gurion airport, Jewish families and friends had just awakened to the dawning of a sacred day and were experiencing a nightmare from hell. What was to be a day of rejoicing, turned into a morning of terror within the grounds of the pastoral settings of quiet Israeli communities. As the door of the abyss, below the surface, opened fiercely, some of the most monstrous and barbaric beasts ever seen in history started butchering, slaughtering and,– carving up human bodies as if it was a game being played. Even the baking of tiny babies found charred in ovens was part of their grotesque and gruesome undertaking, from another world most of us know nothing about. It would turn out to be the most unforgettable morning the nation has ever experienced in the Land.
Innocent civilians suddenly realized they were the targets of annihilation. With 3,000 rockets launched, –and Hamas fighters everywhere, cold blooded murderers left many with indelible stains of blood everywhere. There were massacres in 21 communities where 1,139 Israelis fell and, many more were wounded from the Nova Music Festival. An estimated 3,000 Hamas militants invaded southern Israel. About 250 Israelis, including soldiers, were taken as hostages to the Gaza Strip…as Satan laughed all the way to the underground tunnels.And the world blames Israel?!? How could so many eyes be so blind? A satanic desire to erase the name of Israel from Planet Earth believing, “hatred is sacred” gets imbedded in Muslim children in the first days of birth. Small children are not given a chance to feel the love of a Jewish person before the brainwashing starts in the first few days.
On 13 April, 2024 we were told to expect over 300 ballistic missiles which would be launched towards us and to be prepared. I remember it was around 10:30 pm as I was standing at the foot of my bed wondering if I should go to the safe room when I suddenly heard the sound of a rocket exploding not far from our home. I surprised myself when I turned around and said, “I’m going to sleep.” I felt complete peace that night and just knew GOD was with us. In the morning, we learned that Israel’s Faithful God had intervened with 99% accuracy as Israel news reported all missiles had been intercepted. One Israeli scientist summarized it. He said the sword of terror we experienced of hundreds of missiles all aimed at us could not have been 99% eliminated unless God Himself had been fighting in the war. It was as if one person had shot them all down everywhere all at once with one weapon. I believe when God finished, He thundered a big “Heaven Rules!” We need to see this with wide open eyes. The Almighty is Israel’s Defender and He will protect His Holy Name and His oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It is my sincere prayer that someone reading this lesson will see what Balaam finally saw.
The biblical account between Balak and Balaam (Numbers 22-24) represents how the hardness of human hearts can conjure up the spirit of anti-Semitism, like a witch from the depths of darkness. It curses God’s chosen people. People today, around the world are denouncing the Jewish nation and poking God in the eye! The turncoat betrayals and condemnations are from hardened hearts and God says He will deal with it! Balaam was a religious person (a seer) in ancient times. He used his oracles (prophetic words) to make money. Given the challenge to berate and curse Israel, (like man does today) he “almost” gave in for the goods. However, God intervened and gave him a warning he would never forget. Let’s gather the pieces of the story together– to give a warning to the churches today.
Balak, king of Moab, had heard of Israel’s war victories and imagined in his heart that they were going to attack his people. He decided he would drive them away. To do that he would employ Balaam, the prophetic voice of that time, to curse the Jewish people. He conspired with an evil heart to convince Balaam to cast a spell against Israel. Likewise, in today’s world, international funding flows freely into governments of nations where someone benefits from conspiring against Israel. By agreeing to castigate Israel,– it is no different to Balaam who was considering taking the offer he was being made, to sully the future and reputation of the Hebrews.
When God saw the error in judgment Balaam was about to make, He spoke directly to him. His Voice must have thundered in his ears! “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people for they are blessed” (Numbers 22:12) . Upon hearing God’s voice Balaam arose early the next morning and began his journey to inform Balak that the Almighty had refused to give him permission to curse Israel. Balak, a pagan king, immediately ordered his messengers to make an even more enticing offer to Balaam – if he would only use his prophetic gift to curse the people. By this time neither silver or gold was of interest to Balaam as he tells the messengers “I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God …” (Numbers 22:18).Then God returned to Balaam during the night. “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them: but only the word which I speak to you – that you shall do” (Numbers 22:20). It was then that Balaam made the blunder of his life. He rose early – perhaps too quickly – and began his journey to Moab without seeking God for what God wanted to say to him! Likewise, Christian leaders today often speak too quickly from pulpits and in private conversations before they know the whole story of what is happening in Israel. Many of us are concerned for the church and our nations. We must warn those who ignore Israel – before it is too late!
On his way to Balak, an angel of the Lord stood in the road to block Balaam’s way. His loyal donkey’s eyes were opened as it spotted the angel. She turned aside. Balaam struck his donkey to get her back on the road – while the angel stood still between the vineyards. As Balaam’s donkey pushed itself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot, he struck her again out of frustration. Then the donkey lay down under Balaam and his anger turned to fury as he struck her again. The animal had bowed before the Lord when it laid down. Amazingly, God caused it to open its mouth and speak to Balaam saying, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times … 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 you?” (Numbers 22:28-30). In this moment of shock and reflection – it was when the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes. He was immediately able to see the angel with a drawn sword and Balaam bowed his head, fell flat on his face and asked God for forgiveness. Here is where he made his decision not to curse Israel. The angel reminded him that the next time he spoke to Balak, to say only the words God would give him. Today, people who know very little about Israel are speaking words against God’s chosen nation. Yes, many people are paid to say what they say. While screaming, castigating and belittling Israel with words of reproach and humiliation while being blinded by satanic hatred, they make the wrong choice, (as Balaam almost did). They lose the blessing they could have had – and instead, they invoke a curse on themselves by condemning His nation.
Balaam firmly told Balak he must speak only what God told him. The pagan king did not give up easily, and so he tried another time with an even more attractive offer in his unrelenting determination to lead Balaam to a yet higher place of worship (of Baal). Balaam asks again for more time to hear from the Lord. The Lord again speaks. Balaam’s heart becomes more convinced “… how shall I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced?” (Numbers 23:3-10). Greatly disappointed, the king of Moab ruthlessly attempts to push Balaam one last time. Now Balaam says to himself that it is time to take up his oracle (prophetic word). He firmly explains to Balak that there is no reversal of God’s blessing on Israel! Balaam now is seeing the future promises for Israel and even hears the shout of a future King among them. In spite of all that had happened, the persistent monarch tempts Balaam AGAIN. Balaam immediately sees now since the Lord had opened up his eyes,– that it pleases God to bless Israel. He immediately puts an end to every spirit of intention to entice him to curse Israel through sorcery.
While we do not know all that happened with Balaam, he set his face toward the wilderness turning to Balak and says for the final time: “My eyes have been opened and I see the vision of the Almighty, and as I fall down, it is with my eyes wide open” (Numbers 24:4). In modern vernacular “I have asked God to forgive me. I finally got it, I was wrong, I didn’t know…I was blind but now I see!” And so, it is … with strong delusion running amok among the entire world, how desperately the eyes of multitudes need to have their eyes opened! Too many have been influenced through monetary gain to demonize the Jewish people. God awaits those who will awaken, and will ask for forgiveness– and then stand and speak for the sons and daughters of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Balaam sees into the future that those who oppose Israel will lose and suffer defeat. We need to realize there will be no anti-Semites in God’s Kingdom now or in the world to come: not one.
The original faith in the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) was a sect of Judaism which left Jerusalem after the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. It made its way through history “… from Jerusalem where it went to Greece and became a philosophy, then it moved onto Rome and became an institution, traveled on to Europe and became a culture and ended up in America becoming an enterprise.” (Rev. Richard Halverson, former Chaplain of the U.S. Senate) It was there that the faith lost its identity. It is not too late. We can return with the “restoration of all things” (Acts 3:20-21) if we hold our course and stand strong on truth.
Balaam’s final words (paraphrased) were,“you can give me all the money in the world, but I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord…I must speak only what the Lord tells me, and I see in the latter days a Scepter rising out of Israel – King Messiah.” The Spirit of the Living God unlocked Balaam’s door of lack of understanding. We read of a changed man. I praise God for the testimonies of changed men who have come out of Islam after their eyes were opened to Jesus. This is wonderful. In the end, Amalek will be destroyed along with the anti-Christ until all cursors of Israel perish. Victory for Israel is certain! (Numbers 22-24). We must pray that the true Bride will join the redeemed of Israel in the coming Kingdom of God and have her eyes opened. We also pray for Israel’s eyes to be opened to God’s Messiah.
God really wants to so much do for all people what He did for Balaam – to open every eye to see Israel’s role in world redemption. He would not do something for Balaam that He would not do for others. God wants pastors to see His will for Israel from His Word. If a pastor is really a true shepherd, he will not change or blatantly ignore God’s promise in Genesis 12:3.
We need to join Israel in her spiritual battle and stand alongside her in the spirit of prayer. May we open wide our eyes to understand His plans and purposes for Israel. May not one of us be found cursing the Jewish people (as Christianity did for so many centuries.) For this to happen, we need a real awakening. The oil of the Holy Spirit needs to be applied to multitudes in the Christian world in order for many to see the promises God has made for His chosen people. It is a decision – a decision we need to make–to bless, love and be in right relationship with God’s chosen people.
Dear God our prayer is: “… anoint our eyes with eye salve that we may see” (Revelation 3:18).
–Sharon Sanders–