Irrevocable Blessing

(Numbers 22-24)

While the book of Numbers is full of interesting stories, it is a rather sad and tragic time in Israel’s history. God’s people have been miraculously delivered out of slavery in Egypt, shown the glory of Yahweh on Mt. Sinai, invited into a holy covenant relationship with God Most High, and received God’s laws and the invitation to live in purity and righteousness. They have been led by pillars of cloud and fire, and seen the Lord’s miraculous care and provision time and time again. But in spite of all that God had done for them, we see the Israelites continually failing to trust and obey.

They grumble and complain, they wish to return to Egypt, they let carnal cravings overpower their faith, and they are obstinate and ungrateful. They oppose Moses’ leadership, they fail to trust God’s power and plan, they wish they had died in the wilderness instead of brought to a land flowing with milk and honey, they refuse to believe that God could give them victory over their enemies, and they forfeit the right to enter the Promised Land. They invoke the wrath of the Almighty, they quarrel and complain some more, and they sin against God repeatedly.

And yet, God remains faithful. He keeps His covenant promises. And while He punishes their sin, He also extends mercy, offers salvation, and continues to provide for their needs.

Now, after years of wandering around in the desert, the people of Israel have come to camp on the plains of Moab, along the Jordan river across from the city of Jericho. And Balak, the king of Moab, is terrified to see this large nation camping just outside his territory. He had no doubt heard the stories of how Israel had just defeated Sihon, king of the Amorites and Og, king of Bashan. And he is rightfully fearful of what God’s people may do to him next.

So King Balak sends some of his officials as messengers to the pagan sorcerer Balaam, to try and hire him to call down curses on Israel. When the messengers arrive, Balaam consults with God to see if he should take the job. Which might sound like a righteous thing to do, but I am sure Balaam used divination to consult with spirits of all sorts in order to protect his witchcraft business. He was not concerned with what Yahweh wanted, he just wanted to make sure his back was covered if he agreed to curse the Israelites. But of course, God was not at all pleased, and told Balaam not to go with the messengers or curse His people, because they are blessed. So Balaam declines the offer, and sends the messengers back.

Balak is not impressed. He sends back more messengers, even more numerous and more distinguished than the first. “Come and put a curse on these people,” he pleads, “and I will pay you generously.”

But Balaam answers, “Even if you give me all the silver and gold in your palace, I cannot do anything beyond the command of the LORD.” And yet he invites the messengers to spend the night, saying he’ll try one more time to see if he can get a different answer out of God. That night, God gives him permission to go with the men. But He also makes it clear that Balaam may do only what He tells him to do.

When Balaam goes with the Moab officials, God is very angry and the angel of the LORD (meaning the pre-incarnate Christ) stands in the road to oppose him. This may seem confusing at first...why does God get angry and try to oppose something that He had given permission for? The answer is that there is a big difference between God’s permissive will, and His perfect will. God allows Balaam to go and He will use it for the good of His people, but just because God allows something to happen doesn’t mean He desires it or is pleased with it. And a God who fiercely loves His people can only be angered when wicked men set out with the intention of harming His beloved.

When the donkey Balaam is riding sees the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in His hand, it turns off the road into a field. Frustrated, Balaam beats the donkey to get it back on the road. Once again, the angel of the LORD stands in the way, this time in a narrow pathway through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. When the donkey sees it, it presses close against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot. And again, he beats the donkey. Then the angel of the LORD again moves ahead of them, and for a third time sands to block their path, in a narrow place where there was no room to turn to the right or left. This time when the donkey sees Him, he lays down underneath Balaam right there in the road. Angrily, Balaam proceeds to beat the donkey with his staff.

Then God opens the donkey’s mouth, and it speaks to Balaam: “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” Still angry, Balaam answers the donkey, “You have made a fool out of me! If I only had a sword, I would kill you right now!” The donkey reminds Balaam that he is his own donkey who has never made a habit of such behavior in the past.

Then God opens Balaam’s eyes so that he too sees the angel of the LORD standing there with His sword drawn. Terrified, Balaam falls facedown. Yahweh rebukes him for beating the donkey, and tells him that it’s only because of the donkey’s obedience that He hasn’t yet killed Balaam. He says, “I have come here to oppose you, because your path is a reckless one before Me.” Once again, we see that God was strongly displeased with Balaam’s actions and attitude, even though He had permitted them.

Balaam meekly apologizes, and asks if God wants him to turn back. But once again, God gives him permission to continue on his wicked quest, warning that Balaam must speak only what God tells him to.

When Balaam finally arrives, king Balak is most vexed and anxious to let the curses begin. “Why didn’t you come immediately? Didn’t I give you an urgent summons? And don’t you know that I am able to reward you handsomely?”

“Well, I am here now,” Balaam replies, “But I can only speak whatever God puts in my mouth.”

The next morning, after sacrificing seven bulls on seven altars, Balaam goes to see what the LORD will reveal to him. But rather than the curses Balak is hoping for, God puts words of blessing over Israel in Balaam’s mouth. Balak is outraged. “What have you done to me?! I hired you to curse my enemies! And you have done nothing but bless them.” But, in desperation, he takes Balaam to another location and asks him to try cursing the Israelites once again.

For a second, and then a third time, God continues to speak words of blessing over His people through Balaam’s mouth, much to the king’s dismay and further outrage. (For the sake of brevity, I will not recount each of the blessings here, but I highly recommend that you open your Bible and read them in Numbers 23-24. They are absolutely beautiful prayers of blessing over God’s chosen and dearly loved people.)

When Balak realized that God would only bless His people, he angrily tells Balaam to leave and to forget about being paid for his failed services. But first, Balaam speaks one more word of prophecy, predicting Israel’s victory over Moab and their other enemies.

I think this is a most astounding and beautiful story, especially when we consider its context in the Biblical storyline. All Israel has done is whine and complain, and fail to trust and follow God. And yet when their enemies seek to curse them, God speaks blessing over them.

As spiritual children of Abraham, we too are under God’s eternal and irrevocable blessing. We have inherited the promise from Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” In Christ, we have been given every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. We have been given an inheritance which can never perish, spoil or fade. Every promise in the Book is ours. And even though we are a stubborn and obstinate people who continually fail to trust and obey God, His covenant promises are not dependent on our obedience, but on the perfect and finished work of Jesus on the cross.

When the Enemy of our souls seeks to harm us, his best attempts to condemn us will only serve to further God’s purposes. No weapon formed against us shall prosper! I love the verse in Psalm 27:2, “When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.” This story is a reminder that our jealous and loving God is angered by anyone who seeks to harm us, His beloved people, and that He will not allow the schemes of the wicked to prevail against us.

And yet, if you know the ending of the story of Balaam, it unfortunately is not a happy one. Since Balaam is unsuccessful in evoking God to curse Israel, he finds a way to tempt the Israelites into bringing judgement on themselves. After being humiliated in front of the king and his officers, and after being begrudged a handsome reward, Balaam is determined to bring trouble on Israel. So he has Balak send Moabite women to entice the Israelites into sexual immorality, eating food sacrificed to idols, and bowing down in worship to Baal. And of course, this is not pleasing to God, and He sends a plague on the people to punish them for their sins.

Satan knows that while he can do nothing to alter our permanently secure positions as blessed and dearly beloved children of the Most High God, he can still tempt us to sin, IF and ONLY IF we let him. But unlike the Old Testament Israelites, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us to give us the power to overcome temptation. God has promised that He will not allow us to face any temptation without also giving us a way to stand against it. We have been mercifully equipped with the armor of God: His truth, His righteousness, His good news of peace, His salvation, His Word, faith and prayer. We have been surrounded by an army of heavenly hosts to guard us and help us to remain firm. The Enemy can only gain a foothold in our lives, if we choose to give him one. And even then, we are met with complete forgiveness and grace in Christ Jesus every time we stumble and fall.

Maybe today you need the reminder that you have what it takes to arm yourself against the Enemy of your soul and to pray against temptation. Maybe you need to know that while you will still fall into sin at times, you are covered by the blood of the Lamb.

Perhaps today you just need the reminder that you are blessed beyond the curse of sin, sickness and sadness. You are blessed beyond all measure. And that blessing is not dependent on anything you do or don’t do, but on Jesus. Your Abba Father loves you with a fierce, jealous and protective love. He may allow difficulties that are not His perfect will for us, but He will NOT allow anyone or anything to separate us from His perfect love. The enemy cannot snatch us from His hand. He will not let us be removed from the irrevocable blessing of His love, His presence and His goodness.