“Is a Balak in your backyard?” Wow…… what a topic! Well to set the record straight – a Balak can be in your backyard, on your front porch, in your committee meeting, on your vacation, at your basketball game, at your rehearsal, or even in the escalator with you.
The facts are that the first time we meet Balak in Numbers 22 he is the king of the Moabites at that time. The Moabites were scared stiff, afraid and distressed because of Israel. So the “scared stiff”, “afraid”, and “distressed” Moabites brought their situation to Balak. Balak did not waste time, he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to invite Balaam to leave his home to go to where Israel was and curse Israel. Balaam refused Balak’s first invitation because God had told Balaam not to go to curse Israel, however, Balak would not take no for an answer. He sent more messengers with greater honour to offer Balaam promotion and greater honour. Balak even went so far as to make this offer- “…I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.”[Numbers 22:17]
But you may ask, “What’s so significant about this offer?” – “…I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.”[Numbers 22:17] The significance of this offer was that it was a desperate one! Balak fully well knew that he did not have the power or authority to do whatsoever Balaam asked! There is an identical situation happening in our world at this very moment – many Balak’s are offering things they cannot fulfill or deliver!
Balaam testified that he knew what to do. In response to this new offer Balaam said to Balak’s servants – “…If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.” [Numbers 22:18] But!…Balaam’s wavering began in verse 19 when he said – “Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.” [Numbers 22:19] Sadly, Balaam began to tolerate Balak in his backyard…Baalam began to delay his responses to Balak’s messengers…Baalam began to smell the coffee of honour from Balak…Baalam began to hope to hear a different word from the Lord so that he could collect many treasures from Balak. Everytime I read this entire story it amazes me how Balaam spoke to his donkey and felt comfortable with his donkey talking back to him.
Tolerating a Balak in your backyard is a dangerous thing. It is equivalent to tolerating satan in your backyard. Balak and satan and their agents have one purpose and mission on their minds to destroy you and preserve themselves. Tolerating a Balak in your backyard is a risky thing. It is equivalent to tolerating false advertisement from a company that does not like you. Balak and satan and their agents are like people who encourage you to commit murder and then laugh at you to your face. Tolerating a Balak in your backyard is an unwise thing. It is equivalent to tolerating the enemy of your soul in your private quarters. Balak and satan and their agents are determined to make you sin against your God. You and I have a personal responsibility to hate evil and to stand up for what is good! Everytime!
The satan in your backyard – evict him! The satan on your porch – throw her out! The satan in your committee meeting – discard him! The satan on your vacation – reject her promises of promotion! The satan at your basketball game – reject his bribes of greater honour! The satan at your rehearsal – reject her silver and gold! The satan inside the escalator with you – reject whatever he or she has to offer and send them packing!
If there is a Balak in your backyard you find hard to dispose of, there are two powerful weapons of warfare you must employ. The first powerful weapon is Prayer. There is no devil in hell or anywhere else that can withstand the power of prayer to Jesus. Jesus Himself says: ” Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” [Luke 10:19]. In Matthew 28:18 He indicates that: “…All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
The second powerful weapon is Praise. Praising God by singing His praises, testifying of His goodness, and helping other people are just a few of the many ways we can praise God.
Remember, there is power in the blood of Jesus to overcome every satan, every Balak and all their agents.
*** All Bible texts quoted above are from the King James Version, unless referenced differently.
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