Balak takes Balaam to multiple places overlooking Israel’s camp, hoping that Balaam would curse Israel. Each time Balaam waits for a word from God, and shares it with Balak.
“And Balaam took up his discourse and said, ‘Rise, Balak, and hear; give ear to me, O son of Zippor: God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it. He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The Lord their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them. God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of the wild ox. For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, “What has God wrought!” Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up and as a lion it lifts itself; it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey and drunk the blood of the slain.’ ” (v18-24)
Balaam blesses Israel, because God has blessed them, and he cannot curse someone whom God blesses. The enormous risk is that Balak is likely to execute Balaam for speaking the opposite of his wishes, but that is not a deterrent for Balaam – talk about courage.
There is not only blessing but prophesy as well in the words of Balaam (God). It sounds like Israel is not going to rest until all of God’s enemies are destroyed (the lion’s prey is devoured). I can’t imagine how this sits with Balak and the princes of Moab who are with him.
My learning for today is that we need to follow God boldly, no matter what the potential risk is. I imagine one of two things was true for Balaam – he was terrified yet overcame fear with God’s strength, or he was so emboldened by God that he did not have fear. Either way, he blindly obeys despite a most certain death. Jesus too was obedient, even unto death. My question is, are there any ways in which I am failing to obey God out of fear for what may happen? If so, may God grant me the boldness to overcome that fear.
Father God, I we lay our lives at Your feet. You are the one true God, Lord of heaven and earth – whom shall we fear? Our hope is in You, creator of all that was, is, and is to come. Please be our boldness, please be our strength, and please be our words, so that we may proclaim Your word for Your glory. To You be all honor and praise, forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training