Sermon # 49 - Choose God's Will Series

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.