Balak is furious with Balaam because, instead of cursing the Israelites as herequested, Balaam blesses them at Balak‘s own expense. Balak had provided numerous sacrifices, believing he could buy divine favor. However, hisplan unravels because Balaam obeyed God rather than yielding to bribes.
- P100
To make matters worse, Balak‘s schemes brought a curse upon his ownkingdom. - P100
This story reminds us that we cannot bargain with God to getHim to give us what we want. - P100
How can we possibly buy off the one whocreated everything? Our offerings to God should never be an attempt to earn blessings but an expression of gratitude to the one who provides allthat we have. - P100
God‘s favor is not secured through the giving of materialwealth or through any service we may perform. He gives it freely to thosewho believe and obey Him. - P100
Intercede Together: Nauru
Population: 9,892Major Religions: Protestant 60.4%, Roman Catholic 33.9%
Nauru is a small island located in the Pacific. With limited resources of its own, the nation is in anongoing state of economic instability. Most of the population struggles with unemployment andhealth issues like diabetes. Although the majority identify as Christian and regularly attend church,many have a works-based mindset regarding faith.
Prayer Points
Pray for local believers to gain a better understanding of the gospel.
Praise God for Nauru‘s strong Christian roots and the resources available for teaching the gospel. - P100
The Israelite men engage in sexual immorality with Moabite women and wor-ship Baal of Peor, angering God. God commands Moses to execute the leadersinvolved Phinehas, Aaron‘s grandson, zealously stops a sinful couple, and Godpraises his actions. A plague strikes Israel, killing many, but Phinehas‘s actionsstop the plague. God decrees judgment against the Midianites. - P103
"Can we be friends with non-Christians?" This was a question raised byone of my youth group students. At its core, it reflects an internal strugglebetween two values: the experience of meaningful friendships and the truthof the gospel. - P105
We naturally form relationships in shared spaces like schoolor work. In the case of romantic relationships, many adults today meetpotential partners online, and it is not uncommon for believers to findsomeone they consider an excellent match-except for their lack of faith.
It is no surprise that many young Christians wrestle with the commands ofScripture where God‘s call for purity feels at odds with our own experience.
It is essential to begin with Jesus, who exemplified different types of relationships. He actively sought out sinners, showing them love and eatingwith them, while also maintaining a close circle of disciples whom He con-sidered His family (Mark 3:34-35). Similarly, Paul does not mandate thatbelievers divorce non-believing spouses, but he also advises the church to
"not be yoked together with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14). - P105
We are encouragedto cultivate friendships with non-Christians but if living for Christ is our central purpose, we will naturally seek out our closest relationships withinthe church community.
- P105
When God promised to make Israel a blessing to all nations, His purposewas to bring the world to His standards, not the other way around. - P105
Similarly, we desire close friendships within the faith, not because there is something inherently wrong with friendships outside it, but because we desirefriends with whom we can walk side by side as we follow Christ together. - P105
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