Numbers chapter 23. Balaam was under a great deal of pressure to curse the Israelites. I'm sure it was a little scary standing before a king and his leaders. How intimidating! I'm sure he had to feel his life could be taken for speaking God's words of blessing. But he knew, by experience, that he had to speak God's words of truth regardless of the outcome. Whether he was arrested, thrown in jail, beaten or killed. Opposition of God's truth is ever-increasing. It could be our peers in school, our peers at work, it could be our government, it could be our lawmakers. Attempts all around the world are being taken to destroy God's word and destroy those who speak it. What will I do? God help me never back down from sharing your truth and standing up for your truth no matter what consequences I face.
Daily Bible Challenge: Day 140 – Numbers 23
Balak is not taking “no curse” for an answer. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I kind of feel like Balak might be a little insane thinking moving to a different area will change the message God has for him through Balaam. This is a reminder that God is always for us!
Exodus 23:22 says, “If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you.”
And Deuteronomy 20:1 “When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.”
God is ALWAYS with us and for us even when the enemy wishes curses upon us. May we always feel his powerful presence and protection over our lives.
I love what we read in Psalm 33:12. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen as His heritage!”
Numbers 23 reminded me of when Jesus was tempted by Satan in Matthew 4 with how Balak had Balaam go to different locations in the hopes that he would get a different response from him. In Matthew 4, Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights without eating so He was hungry. Satan first tried to appeal to His physical need as a human being to eat food. Next Satan took Jesus to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple and Satan seemed to get “religious” here by actually starting to quote scripture, but trying to use it in the wrong way as I thought of this as a spiritual attack. Then Jesus was also taken to a very high mountain. I view this third temptation as being an attempt at appealing to a desire for having political power. Jesus correctly quoted the Word of God each time. What a great and perfect example for us! When temptation comes along, may we respond with God’s Word just like that.
Numbers 23:26 sticks out to me today. But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘All that the Lord says, that I must do’?”
The world may try to wear us down in our stand for the truth, but may our answer be like Balaam’s here. “Didn’t you already get the message? I’m doing what God tells me to do.” Even if we might feel like we are standing all alone, we can know for certain, just like Sarah shared, that God is always with us and for us!
This verse stood out to me…
8 How can I curse
those whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce
those whom the Lord has not denounced?
I am guilty of this. Sometimes I get mad at people and might curse them under my breath, or even get a little passive aggressive.
But I’m quickly reminded of
Matthew 7:3 & luke 6:42
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
I am not perfect.
I am a sinner.
I will work on treating everyone fair and not judge