March 18, 2021
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Reading along with us in Numbers? Here’s today’s reading:
Numbers 23 (NIV)
Balaam’s First Message
1Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 2Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar........Continue Reading
Balak is so stubborn! He will not accept the answer God has given him so many times. Reminds me of how we can sometimes ask for things of God over and over not trusting His timing .
This is actually pretty humorous. Here we have a guy who is ungodly trying to use a guy that hears from God but plays at it and tries to use God to His own greedy ends. Both are working it. Balak brings his offering and thinks that if he has Balaam look at the people from a different angle, then maybe the answer he gets will be different. It is representative of the ways that unbelievers sometimes participate in the things of God based on their presumption of what works or what they have heard, but because they don’t have a heart for God or are willing to submit to him it doesn’t work. But because they think they’ve done something right, they blame God for His lack of response. God wants our hearts, not just our half hearted or manipulative efforts.
So twice Balaam gives Balak the word of God that blesses the people of Israel. What is humorous is that he tries multiple times to get a different answer from God. It’s clear that he wants to give Balak what he wants so he can get paid. So Balaam does right by continuing to speak God’s words but does wrong by catering to Balak to ask Him multiple times.
But in it all, God remains faithful, true and gracious. He is patient with all this foolishness because He wants to give Balak and Balaam the chance to get it right and protect His people and declare to this pagan king the glory of God revealed through the people of Israel.
Numbers 23
I’ve got some catching up to do And kind of lost. Reading this. It seems Balak thinks changing places might somehow change Balaam’s mind to curse the Israelites. And more importantly, somehow get God to change his mind. Good luck with that!
Numbers 23
Clearly Balak doesn’t get how God works. He seems to think that Balaam can recite some mantra and God will do as he asks/directs. Perhaps that is how the false gods work…but not the living God.
Numbers 23
Arise, Balak, and listen;
hear me, son of Zippor.
19God is not human, that he should lie,
not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill?
20I have received a command to bless;
he has blessed, and I cannot change it.