Today we continue with the story of Balaam and Balak. Yesterday I left you with a talking donkey.
Balaam, the man of God, the man with the talking donkey, still needed to meet with King Balak. Balak was determined to have the Israelites cursed. This was his only hope to keep his kingdom and power.
Read Numbers 21-24 for the full story.
Balak took Balaam to several locations where he could see the Israelites’ camp. It was vast. Each time Balaam was supposed to make a statement proclaiming a curse on them. Each time Balaam’s words brought blessing and Balak’s anger. Each time Balaam told Balak that he could only say what God had told him to say and that he could not curse what the Lord had blessed!
It’s here in Numbers 23:19 that we find my favorite verse in the Bible.
“Balaam went back and saw him and his officials standing beside the offerings. Balak asked, “What did the Lord say?”
18 Balaam answered: ‘Pay close attention to my words—
19 God is no mere human! He doesn’t tell lies or change his mind. God always keeps his promises.
20 “My command from God was to bless these people, and there’s nothing I can do to change what he has done. 21 Israel’s king is the Lord God. He lives there with them and intends them no harm.” Numbers 23:17-21 CEV
Do you see this? God doesn’t tell lies, He doesn’t change his mind and He ALWAYS keeps his promises! If this verse isn’t true, if God changes his mind and can lie, then we can’t have confidence in anything else in the Bible. But, this verse is true! God keeps his word.
Amazing!!
Have you ever had anyone tell lies about you or try to destroy you by ruining your reputation? This king wanted these people cursed, he wanted to annihilate them and have the Israelites wiped from the face of the earth. He seemed to be stronger and better equipped than Moses was. But…God had blessed them and so the king could do them no harm.
How encouraging are these verses to us? God, the Father, who gave blessings to the Israelites has also made promises and given blessings to us. He doesn’t change His mind and He doesn’t lie. Our enemies may want us cursed but God is on our side.
“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:10 CEV
“Keep your lives free from the love of money. And be satisfied with what you have. God has said, “I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.” 6 So we can feel sure and say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. People can do nothing to me.” Hebrews 13:5-6 ERV
“People will make weapons to fight against you, but their weapons will not defeat you. Some people will say things against you, but anyone who speaks against you will be proved wrong.” The Lord says, “That is what my servants get! They get the good things that come from me, their Lord.” Isaiah 54:17 ERV
God’s word is filled with His promises. Promises He made and will not break. Blessings He will keep forever. God’s word will never fail us, we can be confident of that.
“Your kingdom will never end, and you will rule forever. Our Lord, you keep your word
and do everything you say.” Psalm 145:13 CEV