Have you ever experienced something so terrible that even the memory of it is painful?Moses did. After their forty-year journey through the wilderness, God's people camped near the banks of the Jordan River.

Finally, the Promised Land was at hand!That's when disaster struck. Sin spread swiftly through the Israelites' camp-and with it, God's wrath and a plague that killed thousands of people.

Moses records the story, but not all at once and not all in one place. It seems as if Moses couldn't bear to dwell on the memory for long.

As a result, the details of this tragic account are scattered across Numbers, Joshua, and the New Testament. The story begins with a soothsayer named Balaam.

Most people have heard the part where Balaam's donkey talks to him, but there is so much more to the story. Hired by a king to sabotage God's people, Balaam spoke directly to God.

He heard God speak. He even delivered God's message about the coming Messiah.

But Balaam did not know God. He refused to listen.

And he missed the message God had for him. So why does this ancient story of a talking donkey and a soothsayer matter to us today?It's a warning to pay attention-to listen and respond-to God's Word.

It's a reminder of God's faithfulness to always fulfill His promises. And it's a call to remember that eternity is only a heartbeat away.

In this comprehensive study, author and Bible teacher Marilynn Hood invites readers to learn from the prophet who would not listen. With a wealth of resources for individual or group study, Balaam: The Soothsayer offers practical wisdom for Christians today.

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