For today’s meditation we will consider Numbers 22:6, “Please come and curse these people for me, because they are too strong for me. Maybe then I'll be able to defeat them and force them out of the country. I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed." (GW)
Balak was the king of Moab, and there was a great multitude that was proceeding towards his country. These people were none other than the people of Israel. Balak realized that the Israelites were a mighty nation, and that he would never be able to prevail against them through war. It was this thought that prompted Balak to find a prophet, whom he would bribe to curse the people of Israel. If that prophet’s curse was fulfilled, Balak knew that He would be able to defeat the Israelites. A few men were chosen and sent to the prophet Balaam, and the words in the verse mentioned above was spoken by the men to Balaam. They invited Balaam to come and declare a curse on the Israelites, and they also mentioned that their king had sent him a bountiful gift if he was willing to do so. Knowing the enormity of the gift, Balaam was tempted, and wanted to oblige Balak and his men. Balaam did not for a moment consider the kind of people who had approached him, and he was so blinded by greed that he got ready to speak a curse on the people of Israel.
Balaam enquires of the Lord
However, Balaam wanted to find out what God wanted him to do and this is what we read in Numbers 22:8-9, “Balaam said to them, "Spend the night here, and tomorrow I will report to you whatever the LORD tells me." So the Moabite leaders stayed with Balaam. God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these people that are staying with you?" (GNB)
The men who visited Balaam were invited to stay overnight, and God asked Balaam as to who these people were who were staying with him. It was a strange question by God, who knows everything, and even perceives the thoughts of all men, in whose sight nothing is hidden. Balaam had made a mistake, and this question was God’s way to help him realize that he was doing wrong.
There was a similar question that God asked Adam as he hid in the Garden of Eden. God called out to Adam and said, ‘Where are you?’ It was not that God did not know where Adam was, but Adam had forgotten who he was, and the purpose for which God had created him. So also when Cain in his anger killed his brother Abel, the Lord asked Cain as to the whereabouts of his brother. The reason God asked these questions was only to help these men become aware of what they had done and get convicted to know that they have strayed away from God.
Be cautious of your associations
This question that God asked Balaam saying, "Who are these people that are staying with you?" is an indicator that God is mindful of the people that we associate with. Oftentimes people have messed up their lives because of wrong friendships. Many children and young people have wasted their future because they have chosen inappropriate friends. As children of God be sure that the friends you have, and those who counsel you are ones whom God approves of and accepts. If not, it is better to put an end to those friendships. It is so important that our relationship with God should be our top priority, because God alone is faithful, and does not change.
David made a choice
David says it this way in Psalm 26:3-4, “I see your mercy in front of me. I walk in the light of your truth. I did not sit with liars, and I will not be found among hypocrites.”(GW)
We see that David chose to not be in association with those who were deceitful and pretentious. The world teaches us to be accommodative, and be friends with everyone. As believers we must keep in mind that as members of the church of God we are called to be ‘set apart’ from this world. All of us are called to be holy, and to stay away from the uncleanness and everything that defiles us. David mentions the reason for this is that he had perceived God’s mercy, and had decided to walk in truthfulness. To David God’s grace and truth were far more important than the friendships that were not beneficial to him.
As children of God, we sometimes trust our friends so much, and hope that they will help us out of all our difficulties. There are those who value friends even over their families. Friends are an important part of our lives, but we should know how to draw our boundaries, failing which we might even lose out on our relationship with our families. All of our friends and counsellors should be those that God favors, and if this not so we must let go of them.
Balaam’s response to God
This was Balaam’s response to God as found in Numbers 22:10-11, Balaam answered, "Balak, son of King Zippor of Moab, sent them with this message: 'Some people have just come from Egypt and are spreading out all over the countryside. Now come and curse them for me. Maybe I'll be able to fight them and force them out.'" (GW)
If we observe Balaam’s reply to God, it seems that Balaam had forgotten that he was talking to the God who knew everything, including what was in Balaam’s heart. He gave great detail about King Balak, and even shared the ancestry of Balak as though God was not aware of it. God was asking this question to Balaam only to help him realize that he was doing the wrong thing. Balaam’s heart was so caught up with worldly wealth that was being offered that he was unable to perceive the will of God.
Often when we place our desires, and our will above God’s will, we will forget who God really is. Our prayer should always be that the Lord’s will alone be done in our lives. We know our past and our present to some extent, but only the Lord know our past, present and future. Submitting everything to God’s will is therefore the best thing we can do.
There are some youth who while searching for their life partner, have a long list of requirements, but sadly God’s will doesn’t feature in them. The top priority should be to do God’s will, for only when we choose to do God’s will the future will be blessed. Pray for God’s will in every decision and you will be sure to experience God’s blessings and the raises that He will give. Sometimes when one falls in love, they can only see the good things and are not able to perceive the negatives of such a decision. This is the reason why one should seek God’s will sincerely, God will reveal His will in His time, for He is a God who speaks to us. God’s will is always the best, and we will truly be able to say that ‘this thing proceeds from the Lord and it is marvelous in our eyes.’
God’s command to Balaam
God said to Balaam in Numbers 22:12, God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them, and do not put a curse on the people of Israel, because they have my blessing." (GNB)
The word of God was forthright to Balaam. God knew that Balaam’s heart was set on the money, and the clear instruction of God to Balaam was that he should not go with the men nor should he curse the people of Israel. We see that God is gentle and counsels him that it was not good for him to accompany these men to curse His people. Notice how God did not force Balaam to obey Him.
That was the same way God dealt with Adam too. He told Adam and Eve to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but observe how they had the free will to choose and there was no compulsion to obey.
There are some who ask as to why God did not prevent them from making some wrong decisions. Remember that God does not interfere with our free will. God will counsel us, and those who listen to His counsel will have a joyful life.
Balaam had a bigger enticement
King Balak was not ready to give up on Balaam. He decided to send more men with much better gifts to allure Balaam.
We read in Numbers 22:17, for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’” (ESV)
This was a serious test for Balaam who really longed for the honor that King Balak would give to him.
As we read this we realize that it is not an easy task to let go of evil associations. Often we may have this same conflict, where the Lord may deny us something, and the world is enticing us to have it. The question then is, ‘Are we going to listen to the voice of God or to the clamor of this world?’ It is good for us to honor the God who created heaven and earth for He has promised that He will honor those who honor Him. No king of this earth can honor us more than God could, and hence we must ask God for strength to do the will of God alone, and obey God’s commandments alone.
Balaam’s conflict
This conflict in Balaam’s hear is revealed in Numbers 22:18-19, But Balaam answered, "Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not disobey the command of the LORD my God in even the smallest matter. But please spend the night, as the others did, so that I may learn whether or not the LORD has something else to tell me." (GNB)
Notice how Balaam was so sure that he could not disobey the word of God for all the silver and gold that King Balak would give him, and yet we see that he had a ‘but’ at the end of that conversation. Balaam permitted them to stay another night so that he would go again to God to find out what God thought about it, thought Balaam knew for certain what God wanted him to do.
When God says something we better obey, and if we allow the ‘but’ and ‘if’ to take over, we will land up in trouble. Very often our prayers are faulty, unnecessary and those that anger God. We know that God does not approve of some things because His word clearly says so, and yet we keep asking God if we can go ahead to do those things. Let us not anger God, but be willing to be obedient to His word.
When God denies something and we go on asking for it we put ourselves in a hazardous place.
God allowed Balaam to go
This is what happened as we read in Numbers 22:20, That night God came to Balaam and said, "If these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you." (GW)
As Balaam kept asking God, he was surprised to know that God granted him permission to go with the men who came from Balak. God let Balaam go only because He got wearied of Balaam’s constant imploring.
Those who have adolescent children know that sometimes when they are underage, and want to drive a vehicle, as parents we won’t permit them to. Sometimes, when the children keep on pestering the parent, they may just give in, and let them drive, but often this will prove perilous to the children.There are those who have already decided what they want, and just to appease their hearts they continue to keep praying to God or just to impress others. Sometimes when someone does not like a suggestion from another person, instead of expressing their disfavor, they will conveniently say that they will pray about it. It is good for us to tell things as it is, and if we do not like something we should say so, and not make it sound spiritual by saying we will pray about it.
God interrupted Balaam
Though God allowed Balaam to go, this is how God felt as found in Numbers 22:22, But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. (ESV)
God was indignant that Balaam, and his stubborn ways made him an adversary to God. The dangerous situation was that God was angry with Balaam, and the prophet was unaware of it. Though God gave permission the angel of the Lord stood in the way of the prophet to stop him from moving forward.
There are many who believe that because they are saved, all of God’s anger against sin has been cast on the Lord Jesus and hence they can live any way they want to. This is a faulty understanding, and let us be reminded that if we continue to do all those things that displease God, there is no way that God can bless us.
The donkey saw what the prophet couldn’t
We read in Numbers 22:23, When the donkey saw the angel standing there holding a sword, it left the road and turned into the fields. Balaam beat the donkey and brought it back onto the road. (GNB)
While Balaam was blinded to see that the angel of the Lord stood before them, Balaam’s donkey could see him. The riches that Balak offered Balaam has surely blinded his eyes. It was a sad state that the prophet could not even recognize what an ordinary donkey could.
The world offers riches, happiness and luxuries and often these have blinded the eyes of many people. If God should stand against us, we are in a perilous situation. When we hold on to some things stubbornly, and allow things or people to blind us, we too will be in the same predicament that Balaam found himself in. Let us ask God to help us never to overstep His word.
There are three important lessons that we learn from this message.
Firstly, we must be careful to choose our friends wisely. We must be sure that the friendships we hold on to are approved by God. If these friendships are not endorsed by God, it is better to let go of them. For some who feel that your mobile phones are a problem, it is not an issue to change your number. It is important that we have God’s favor and approval in everything. Those friendships that defile us should most certainly be set aside.
Secondly, pray for God’s will to be done, and submit to it wholeheartedly. Jesus is the best example for this. As He prayed in the garden before His crucifixion, Jesus pleaded with God the Father to remove the cup of suffering from Him if it were possible. However, Jesus submitted to God the Father and said, ‘Yet not my will, but yours be done.’ The question is, ‘Are we willing to pray as Jesus prayed?’
Thirdly, we should never give room for anything or anyone to distract us, and turn us away from God.
These three are very important decisions we need to make as we live in perilous times. Only the Lord can be our help, support and protection. No matter how affluent we are nothing can save us, for only the Lord can protect us and keep us. May God help us to choose our friends wisely, do His will alone, and be focused on Him as we continue this journey with the Lord.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
