Inside Job

If it wasn't so sad it would be funny. Israel camps too close to Moab, and Balak and the Moabites are scared skinny that Israel will do to them what she has done to other nations in her path (22:2, 3). In desperation Balak sends for Balaam to put a curse on Israel to deaden the effect of her presence in his territory. Balaam refuses on the grounds that God will not allow him to curse what He, God, has chosen to bless. (22:12, 13, 18, 38; 23:12, 26; 24:12, 13). Balaam delivers several oracles ending with one that plainly warns the Moabites that God will bring on them what they want brought on Israel.

On the heels of this episode we discover that what the armies of Moab couldn't do, what a prophet was held back from doing, the women of Moab succeeded in doing.

"While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices of their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor. And the Lord's anger burned against them" (Numbers 25:1-3, NIV). God's judgment was swift and painful (25:8, 9).

The most dangerous enemy of our souls works from within us. We can hunt for devils under every rock, but he hides most effectively coiled around our own unbridled desires. Look within and then do as James so clearly tells us: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up" (James 4:7-10, NIV).

It's only one little cell, what harm can it do? Lots—if that one little cell roaming around in my body has "cancer" written into its DNA.

The enemy is within—look out for it.