It was Leigh who once remarked, “I wish I knew the good of wishing.” A dream may take you somewhere for it has room for plan and purpose. But mere wish is passive and therefore takes you nowhere. The world is full of wishful thinkers, especially as it concerns life after death. Balaam was one of such. When he saw God’s people, Israel, in their true perspective, his immediate reaction was this noble wish: “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!” (Numbers 23:10). Tucked away in our text is the story of the sad end of Balaam. This passage is primarily concerned with the division of Canaan Land to the tribes of Israel, in particular, the portion of the tribe of Reuben. The lands were taken by Israel through conquest in line with divine mandate. In doing this, Sihon, king of the Amorites as well as the princes of Midian were slain. They had opposed Israel and would not give them passage through their land. They died for their hostility and lost their land. Balaam also got a just recompense for his wicked activities against Israel. His attempt to curse Israel was prevented by God. Thereafter, he was instrumental in Israel’s sin in Peor and the consequent destruction of many of the people (Numbers 31:16). Balaam’s wish of ending his life’s course as a righteous man proved futile – he ended up miserably. His biography stands as a warning signpost for all, especially those who merely admire the Kingdom of God and yet do nothing to enter therein. Mere wish does no good. If you desire to die righteous and end up in heaven, you ought to take appropriate steps. Humbly acknowledge and repent of your sins and manifest faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 07:00:07 +0000
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