Numbers 23:1-30. GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED THROUGH HIS PEOPLE

my devotional- 12-25-16

Numbers 23:1-30        Kevin E. Jesmer

Key Verse: 23:23
^“There is no divination against Jacob, no evil omens against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’”

Balaam was testing the limits of God’s grace. He built seven altars, three times, and inquired of the Lord. His heart was bent on cursing God’s people so that he could get wealthy and enjoy the praise and recognition of Moabite officials and their king, Balak. The sacrifices did elicit a response from God. God gave words of blessing concerning his people along with eternal truth. After these words of truth, Balak was still determined. He took Balaam to another high place, and then another, hoping that God would change his mind. Some more eternal truths about God’s character were revealed, truths like …God does not lie nor change his mind; what he promises he fulfills; God is Israel’s king who leads them; he gives them strength and through them, God is glorified. Let’s see.

First, Eternal Truths About God (1-12)

This section is based on verses 1-12, which read, “Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” ² Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar. ³ Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.” Then he went off to a barren height. ⁴ God met with him, and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.” ⁵ The LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.” ⁶ So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials. ⁷ Then Balaam spoke his message: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.’ ⁸ How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced? ⁹ From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations. ¹⁰ Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my final end be like theirs!” ¹¹ Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!” ¹² He answered, “Must I not speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?”

Balak continued to press Balaam to bring a curse upon Israel. If he could then Balaam would receive lots of riches. Balaam sought to inquire of God. If God wanted to curse his people, then Balaam would succeed in his quest. After all, God did bring hefty punishments on his people in the past. Maybe he would want to do it again. And so Balaam continued on a reckless course with the Moabite entourage.

In typical pagan fashion, Balak went up to a high, barren place and offered seven bulls and rams. (1) This place overlooked the Israelite camp, where over three million of God’s people were preparing to enter the Promised Land. It was done in full view of Israel. In this chapter, there were three sets of seven altars built by Balak. But they were of no use for God would never be moved by this act of pagan worship!

After the first set of sacrifices, God gave Balaam a message. Look at verses 4-10, “⁴ God met with him, and Balaam said, “I have prepared seven altars, and on each altar I have offered a bull and a ram.” ⁵ The LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.” ⁶ So he went back to him and found him standing beside his offering, with all the Moabite officials. ⁷ Then Balaam spoke his message: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.’ ⁸ How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced? ⁹ From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations. ¹⁰ Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my final end be like theirs!”  Balak and Balaam expected a curse, but God gave a message of blessing instead. God did not treat Israel like other nations. Though Israel did sin incorrigibly, God was merciful to them and was leading them according to his promises.

There were words of revelation given to Balaam. God’s word contained eternal truths concerning God and his people. The truths were…First, people whom God blesses cannot be cursed. Second, God’s people are set apart from the world. And third, it is better to die the death of the righteous than live a life with the wicked.

Let’s ponder a few of these eternal truths. First, Israel was a nation who lived apart from the people of the world. Look at verse 9, “⁹ From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations”. God has chosen, numbered, separated and blessed his holy people. They lived apart from all of the other nations of the world because God set them apart. Holy means separated for God. They were made holy by God’s grace. They were set on a fruitful path, that would bring glory to the Lord. Not a reckless path like that of Balaam and Moabites officials.

Second, the people of God can never be cursed if God has determined to bless them. There is absolutely nothing that this world can do to curse God’s people. (Galatians 3:13) Paul says in Romans 8:38-39, “³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NIV) We can find peace, rest and eternal blessing in Christ, for he protects us from all curses.

Balaam called the nation of Israel, “The righteous.” That does not mean that they were perfect. It means that they were declared righteous before the eyes of the Holy God. Balaam is speaking of the spotless, Divine Righteousness, imparted on his people by God himself. We too can have that same righteousness imparted to us through faith in Jesus Christ and his precious Gospel. (Romans 6:3-14). It is through faith. Balaam himself longed to die the death of the righteous, that is the death of one of God’s people. But he did not have a desire to live the life of the righteous and he would die the death of the wicked in a few short years because of his sin.

Second, God Wants To Reveal His Glory (13-30)

This section is based on verses 13-20, which read, “¹³ Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me.” ¹⁴ So he took him to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, and there he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. ¹⁵ Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your offering while I meet with him over there.” ¹⁶ The LORD met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.” ¹⁷ So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, “What did the LORD say?” ¹⁸ Then he spoke his message: “Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor. ¹⁹ God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? ²⁰ I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it. “

Balak did not stop. He took Balaam to another location, to another barren height and offered up another set of sacrifices. Balak thought that a change in location might change God’s mind. But it would not be so. God would not change his mind. Let’s see how things unfolded.

God communicated to Balaam and he shared God’s word with Balak. In these words, we find even more eternal truths about our Lord. Look at verses 16-20, “¹⁶ The LORD met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.” ¹⁷ So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, “What did the LORD say?” ¹⁸ Then he spoke his message: “Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor. ¹⁹ God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? ²⁰ I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it. “

God reveals more eternal truths about who he is.

First, God is not human. This seems a little too obvious. But there is whole lot of truth in this statement. Humans have a tendency to lie. Humans make decisions and change their minds. They are fickle. But God is not like us. He never lies. He never changes his mind. He is steadfast and solid like a rock. He said that he will not curse the people that he has blessed and he will not go against his word. Even today, we can trust the Lord. He promises to forgive us of our sins and make us righteous, He promises to impart unto us eternal life. We can count on God. He will shepherd our lives and souls all the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. This is the truth of God, who never lies.

Second, our God carries through with his word. Look at verse 19b, “…Does he speak and then not act?…”  God can speak and act because of who he is. He is the Creator God. He is almighty. He created the heavens and the earth by his word. He spoke and acted and it came to be. This is our God. Again, this bolsters our faith and our assurance in him.

Third, what God promises…he fulfills. Look at verse 19b, “…Does he promise and not fulfill?” God promised to bless his people Israel and that is exactly what he was in the process of doing. The Bible is full of God’s promises. In this chapter, God is fulfilling his promise to bring his people into the Promises Land, despite their sins. This Christmas we celebrate the fulfilment of God’s promise to send his Son, Jesus into this world to be our Savior. (Gen 3:15) God fulfills his promise to deliver us from the power of sin. Jesus will come again and we will be with him forever in his Kingdom. These promises will be fulfilled because God Almighty has promised it.

Fourth, God would protect his people against any divination or sorcery or any evil force. No misfortune or misery would be seen in Israel. Look at verses 21-23a, “²¹ “No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them. ²² God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. ²³ There is no divination against Jacob, no evil omens against Israel….” God would be faithful to his people. The world would see God’s power and protection for his people. Why did he do this?

Fifth, God stands by his people so that he will be gloried in all the earth. Look at verses 23b-25, “…It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’ ²⁴ The people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest till it devours its prey and drinks the blood of its victims.”  Because of God’s outstretched arm, because of his grace and mercy, his people would enter into the Promised Land. They would be raised up, and victorious. The Israelites would be an instrument of judgment upon the Moabites (24). God does this, not to feed their nationalistic pride, but to bring glory to himself. As his people are established, the nations will look and see what the God of Israel has done. The Lord will be glorified and he will draw all people unto himself.

Why does God protect, prosper and bless us today? Yes, he loves us. But the primary reason is that he wants to bring glory to Christ, so that the whole world may know that he alone is their Savior.

Balak and Balaam should have heeded God’s word and repented and sought God’s mercy. But they did not. They continued in their reckless paths a third time. Look at verses 27-30, “Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.” ²⁸ And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland. ²⁹ Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” ³⁰ Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” I can’t believe their stubborn refusal to accept the truth of God. It is not like God was not trying. God tried his best. But they were stubbornly entrenched in their sin. Balak never got his wish to bring a curse upon Israel. And Balaam never received any wealth. Without repenting, Balaam only got frustrated and continued on his reckless path that was guiding him to destruction. If only he could have chosen the wise course for God’s glory!

In conclusion, we have learned many things about our God. For example, God has chosen, numbered, separated and blessed his holy people. The people of God can never be cursed if God has determined to bless them. Divine Righteousness is imparted on his people by God himself. God carries through with his word. What God promises…he fulfills. God would protect his people against any evil force. And why does God stand by his people? It is so that he will be glorified in all the earth and in doing so he can draw all people unto himself, imparting salvation and eternal life.

Prayer: Lord, help me to respond to your eternal truths and change my reckless course.

One Word: See what God has done and is doing!