Numbers 23:13-26 – When God blesses…

Driven by his desire to curse Israel, Balak did everything Balaam told him to do. In the earlier verses under Balaam’s instruction, he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each of the altars. Then he was told to stand by his sacrifice while Balaam went to another part of the hill to seek the Lord on what to say. That first attempt turned out to be an exercise in futility. Balaam could only pronounce positively about Israel. No curse came forth. Disappointed, Balak then confronted Balaam with a series of questions only to realize that the “seer” could not pronounce anything negative over the people of Israel. What a costly affair, all for nothing! 

Undeterred by the failure, Balak then took Balaam to another part where they could just see a portion of the people of Israel. He must have reckoned that if the entire Israel could not be cursed, perhaps he could at least get Balaam to curse a part of them. So he brought Balaam to the field of Zophim to the top of Pisgah. It seemed that he voluntarily built seven altars and on each of them, he again offered a bull and a ram. Again Balaam told him to stand next to his burnt offering while he proceeded elsewhere nearby to seek the Lord.

When Balaam returned to Balak and his leaders with him, they evidently were anxious to hear what happened in his meeting with the Lord. Balak then apprehensively asked Balaam what the Lord had spoken. It was then that the seer declared:

“Arise, O Balak, and hear;
Give ear to me, O son of Zippor!
“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent;
Has He said, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
“Behold, I have received a command to bless;
When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it.
“He has not observed misfortune in Jacob;
Nor has He seen trouble in Israel;
The Lord his God is with him,
And the shout of a king is among them.
“God brings them out of Egypt,
He is for them like the horns of the wild ox.
“For there is no omen against Jacob,
Nor is there any divination against Israel;
At the proper time, it shall be said to Jacob
And to Israel, what God has done!
“Behold, a people rises like a lioness,
And as a lion it lifts itself;
It will not lie down until it devours the prey,
And drinks the blood of the slain.”

In the first attempt, in verses 1-12, Balaam affirmed God’s blessing for Israel which the Lord had promised to them in the past. This second series of words affirmed that, unlike any other nation, God had a unique relationship with them. He had been dwelling among them since He brought them out of Egypt. And God had been their strong protector since. Balaam also made known that, unlike man, God never reneges on His words. He always does what He says He will do. He has kept and will certainly continue to keep His words. God not only promised to protect Israel from natural disasters but promised also to guard them supernaturally from any omen and divination. Balaam declared that Israel at the right time would realize what God had done for them. He further declared that as a lion, Israel would be a formidable nation that would lick her enemies. 

When Balak heard all that Balaam had said, he must have felt disappointed. He then told Balaam that if he would not curse Israel for him, the last thing he wanted was for him to bless them. The king spoke as if it was up to Balaam. The truth is this, Balaam could do nothing about it. He was a man under direction and could only speak as God wanted him to. He had no choice but to speak what God wanted him to say.  

The lesson: It is good to know that when God is for us nothing can come against us. With divine approval always comes unhindered blessing. Besides, when God is for us,  we will be protected from the forces of evil. He not only delivers from dangers but also protects us from them. It is true that God has so often averted accidents from our lives without our realization. Yes, God’s goodness runs after His people. It behooves us therefore to stay faithfully committed to Him, as He certainly will stay faithful to us!