August 7, 2024
Daniel Foster
Next Gen Pastor
Numbers 22:15-21
15 Balak sent officials again who were more numerous and higher in rank than the others. 16 They came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Let nothing keep you from coming to me, 17 for I will greatly honor you and do whatever you ask me. So please come and put a curse on these people for me!’”
18 But Balaam responded to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the Lord my God to do anything small or great. 19 Please stay here overnight as the others did, so that I may find out what else the Lord has to tell me.”
20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” 21 When he got up in the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the officials of Moab.
This event as it transpired in history is one of the most unique accounts in all of scripture. We know the story and are taught it as children because it tells of Balaam's donkey that talks to him! I picked up something new this week from this passage. Balak, king of the Moabites, had heard the stories of God’s people being delivered from the hand of Pharaoh in Egypt. More recently in Numbers 21, he heard how the Lord defeated the Ammorites through His chosen people. The king recognized a blessed nation, and wanted to even the odds. He found a known and proven practicer of divination named Balaam. He brought the appropriate fees (22:7) and asked Balaam to curse the Israelites. Some commentators think that Balaam was at some point a true follower of God, perhaps a former prophet who lost his way in pursuit of fame and fortune (2 Peter 2:15). Needless to say, God did not allow Balaam to go with them. Starting in verse 15, we see the second attempt by king Balak to change Balaam’s mind. He amps up his recruiting pitch, bringing MORE people, more PRESTIGIOUS people, and offering to do whatever he asks (V. 17).
The life of Balaam reminds me of our lives in a certain phase. Do you remember when you were a follower of God, maybe even heard and believed His voice in your life, but then you ran away from the land and people you were supposed to be with to go with another group of people. They wanted Balaam to go with them. But God said no. But wait…Didn’t Balaam eventually GO? That’s where we had the whole donkey talking thing. How did that happen if God already said no? Read verse 19. Balaam didn’t send the people away with their increased recruiting pitch. He invited them to stay the night so he could ask again in the morning. This is why (I believe) God was so angry with Balaam a few verses later! He didn’t listen. It’s like going to mom with the question when you didn’t get the answer you want from dad. It’s how we respond when God tells us no, and we don’t listen.
Is God giving you an answer you don’t like? Don’t incite God’s anger like Balaam did. Have you started going with the wrong people? God allowing Balaam’s donkey to speak was (to me) a showing of God’s grace. There is grace for you and for me when we go with the wrong crowd to do the wrong thing. The final lesson here is how God uses our situation to bring about a blessing to his people and not a curse. God can use your mess and make it your message. How can your life story be used to help others grow in their faith?
Next Gen Pastor
Numbers 22:15-21
15 Balak sent officials again who were more numerous and higher in rank than the others. 16 They came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: ‘Let nothing keep you from coming to me, 17 for I will greatly honor you and do whatever you ask me. So please come and put a curse on these people for me!’”
18 But Balaam responded to the servants of Balak, “If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go against the command of the Lord my God to do anything small or great. 19 Please stay here overnight as the others did, so that I may find out what else the Lord has to tell me.”
20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.” 21 When he got up in the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the officials of Moab.
This event as it transpired in history is one of the most unique accounts in all of scripture. We know the story and are taught it as children because it tells of Balaam's donkey that talks to him! I picked up something new this week from this passage. Balak, king of the Moabites, had heard the stories of God’s people being delivered from the hand of Pharaoh in Egypt. More recently in Numbers 21, he heard how the Lord defeated the Ammorites through His chosen people. The king recognized a blessed nation, and wanted to even the odds. He found a known and proven practicer of divination named Balaam. He brought the appropriate fees (22:7) and asked Balaam to curse the Israelites. Some commentators think that Balaam was at some point a true follower of God, perhaps a former prophet who lost his way in pursuit of fame and fortune (2 Peter 2:15). Needless to say, God did not allow Balaam to go with them. Starting in verse 15, we see the second attempt by king Balak to change Balaam’s mind. He amps up his recruiting pitch, bringing MORE people, more PRESTIGIOUS people, and offering to do whatever he asks (V. 17).
The life of Balaam reminds me of our lives in a certain phase. Do you remember when you were a follower of God, maybe even heard and believed His voice in your life, but then you ran away from the land and people you were supposed to be with to go with another group of people. They wanted Balaam to go with them. But God said no. But wait…Didn’t Balaam eventually GO? That’s where we had the whole donkey talking thing. How did that happen if God already said no? Read verse 19. Balaam didn’t send the people away with their increased recruiting pitch. He invited them to stay the night so he could ask again in the morning. This is why (I believe) God was so angry with Balaam a few verses later! He didn’t listen. It’s like going to mom with the question when you didn’t get the answer you want from dad. It’s how we respond when God tells us no, and we don’t listen.
Is God giving you an answer you don’t like? Don’t incite God’s anger like Balaam did. Have you started going with the wrong people? God allowing Balaam’s donkey to speak was (to me) a showing of God’s grace. There is grace for you and for me when we go with the wrong crowd to do the wrong thing. The final lesson here is how God uses our situation to bring about a blessing to his people and not a curse. God can use your mess and make it your message. How can your life story be used to help others grow in their faith?