24th March
Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho....
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, sent messengers to summon Balaam son of BeOR..... Balak said: “A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful
for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out
of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever
you curse is cursed.” .... Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not
resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the
wilderness. When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him and he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob;
a scepter will rise out of Israel.
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,
the skulls of all the people of Sheth.....
A ruler will come out of Jacob
and destroy the survivors of the city.”
NUMBERS 22:1, 4-6; 24:1-3, 15-17, 19
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the
same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
MATTHEW 5:11-12
