The Holy Spirit – Day 6

Yesterday, we considered Balaam’s experience with his donkey, and his eagerness to go on a quest to Moab when God had clearly forbidden him to speak against the Israelites. We may have been shocked that he would think an earthly king’s reward is more desirable than obeying God, who richly blesses obedience, but self-will, and greed, can ruin good judgement. We may acknowledge that it is difficult to set aside our own will and plans when God calls us to be obedient to Him; and like Balaam with his donkey, we sometimes lash out at the one through whom the LORD is trying to reach us, because we fail to see the true picture.

Today, however, we focus on a prophet who did not allow his own will to distract him from God’s purposes for him: Micah was faithful to the LORD, and delighted in having the power and the justice of His Spirit in him.

God used Micah to confront the sin of His people in Israel and Judah. This sin manifested itself as injustice, unkindness, idolatry, and dishonesty in worship. Micah immediately rose to the mammoth task of warning them of God’s imminent judgment against them because of these things. However, he also spoke positively of God’s great love and mercy for those who repented and were obedient to Him, and loved others.

Micah experienced hope and peace because he recognized that his strength came from the Spirit of the LORD, and rejoiced that God had mercy and power to forgive those who are sorry for their sin: “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy” (Micah 7:18).

Let us consider what is uppermost in us: delight in righteousness and peace like Micah, or, like Balaam, the domination of ambition, power and wealth that blinds us when the LORD tries to guide us onto the right path, and thus thwarts His answers to prayer. We would not want Him to have to stand in front of us with a sword to stop us going against His will!

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). We are not always able to hear the LORD speaking to us audibly, but as we grow in knowledge and understanding of His Word, the Bible, we discover that we can discern His will and can walk humbly with Him in righteousness, in the power of the Spirit.