Numbers 23 | God is Never Neutral

We all try to bargain with God. We want Him to engage with our preferred agenda, act in ways to bless our actions, and ensure favorable outcomes for us.  Numbers 23 shows us what happens when we have our plans apart from God's will and try to conform God to suit us rather than be shaped by Him. Holy frustration is experienced to move us to greater humility.

PART I | Summoned to Curse, Sent to Bless | Numbers 23:1-12

While Israel moving is through wilderness toward the promised land, experiencing a mix of resistance, faithlessness, defeats, and victories the focus has shifted to the Moabite perspective. Balak, the son of Zippor, the Moabite king is fearful of being overrun by Israel. He seeks to have them cursed by Balaam a diviner. Enroute to Balak, God speaks to Balaam through a donkey and he is met by the Angel of the Lord who tells him to only speak to Balak the word God tells him. It is in this context where Balaam sacrifices and receives an oracle. He recounts to the leaders of Moab that he has been summoned to curse and denounce Israel yet is clear this is impossible because he cannot curse who God has not cursed. All power and authority belong to God and God alone who Balaam says can be seen over and active everywhere. Any true messenger from God is nothing more than a mere mailman. Balak is incensed that Balaam hasn’t cursed Israel but has affirmed their blessing. He wants the messenger to give him the message he wants not what is true. Balak, like us all seeks to hear what he wants to hear and have the prescribed outcomes he desires. He’s actually not interested in God’s will but his own. When these two wills are in conflict, we will either humble ourselves under God’s word or continue in prideful resistance. Balack chooses the later, we should press into the former.

PART II | Are you sure about that? | Numbers 23:13-24

Balak assumes that either Balaam or the Lord got it wrong, so he has Balaam try a second time to curse Israel from a different location. Like going back to check the fridge a second time after finding nothing to eat the results for Balak are less than satisfying. Balaam’s second oracle doubles down on God blessing Israel as their savior, redeemer and protector. When God speaks, He will fulfill what He promises. God’s irrevocable blessing is on Israel regardless of what Balak wants. God is present with them on this wilderness journey, He brought them out of slavery from Egypt and He will savagely protect them like a wild ox. Balak wanted them cursed by God and instead there blessing (and by opposition Moab’s cursing) is assured.

PART III | Let’s make a deal! | Numbers 23:25-30

Rather that acceptance and or repentance, when Balak doesn’t get the answer he seeks he starts trying to bargain with God through Balaam. “Hey maybe you could just stay out of this one, since you’re not gonna curse them, could you also just not bless them?” He assumes wrongly that he is in a position to negotiate with God so has Balaam continue a third time to receive a “favorable” oracle. For Balaam’s part he is clear he will only give the message God has for him. When we’re in opposition to God, we want Him to remain “neutral” in our lives, yet God is never neutral or unengaged. He is always For His glory and the joy of His people.

*Series Note: I am currently in a Masters in Applied Leadership program at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. In our Bible Survey class we are to select a chapter from our assigned weekly reading to mediate on and write a brief devotional. These blog posts are adapted from these weekly assignments.