Numbers 22 – 24
This reading is the story of Balak and Balaam. Balak want Balaam to curse Israel because of what they MAY do. Verse 22:12 is God telling Balaam how to respond:
Don’t do it. The people whom Balak wants you to curse are already blessed.
Now Balaam is not an Israelite, but a man who knows and respects God. And he is being told by the Eternal One not to do what Balak requests. This story fascinates me since it does not directly address any Israelites, but rather two outside the nation who are struggling with what will happen. One is concerned about what will happen to Moab, while the other is concerned on what would happen if he went against God.
Verse 22:30 is one that you have to just say huh:
Donkey: 30 Aren’t I the very same donkey you’ve always ridden? Have I ever been disloyal or hurt you?
Imagine you are on a trip and this stubborn animal starts to talk to you. What would you say? I love this story since it shows God can work through even a stubborn ass, so we all have hope of being used!! I often wonder about was the donkey actually speaking or did Balaam imagine it. God may have created the image in his head and although real to him, the guy next to him may have just seen a single sided discussion.
As I read these stories he tells Balak more than once to set up seven altars while not actually sacrificing anything. Verses 23:1 and 14 are two instance and I was expecting a Elijah moment where God comes down and consumes the offerings before Balak so he understood who was in control. Verse 24:10 shows Balak was furious:
He was absolutely furious with Balaam, smacking his hands together with anger.
Balak (confronting Balaam): I can’t believe this! I brought you all this way and asked you to curse my enemies, but instead you actually blessed them. And you did that not just once, mind you, or twice, but three times.
He is not getting his way, yet Balaam does not submit to a man but rather to God. This is something we need to do as often as we can, to ensure we are not listening to the world. Now when God talked with Balaam was this a audible voice or a still small voice in his head that he was able to decipher as God. Either way even without the “voice” we need to understand God’s will in our lives and what is man trying to tug us away.