Reading
SAA Notes
God made it very plain to Balaam that Israel was His own special people. Balaam knew that God had specially delivered Israel from Egypt. Balaam had a good understanding of the Good News, yet he betrayed the Lord. Balaam and Judas are enigmas for us; nonetheless they are a potent warning and challenge.
SJA Notes
* Lord God, please be merciful to us today, for in You our soul takes refuge, in the shadow of Your wings!
“God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.”
This is a topic that humanity has wrestled with throughout all of history.
Does God change His mind?
What about Jonah?
Surely Moses seems to be able to alter God’s will?
Our minds try to push God into the limitations and boundaries that we understand.
But this should not be the case for the believer!
We have primary absolute truths.
God’s mind is not changeable and He does not change.
God is not like us in this.
Just because we cannot comprehend that God would set His will and it be carried out without exception doesn’t mean this isn’t the case.
In the previous passage we saw that Balaam was changeable. He bowed to the weight of temptation.
Here Balak the king keeps on thinking he can persuade Balaam to curse Israel.
For a time Balaam walks in obedience and delivers the word that God puts to him.
God’s word is paramount here, even when the vehicle is a broken and troubled person, fallen humanity.
As with Balaam so with us.
We are all broken and filled with trouble, but God’s word shines bright even when delivered poorly or from a clay jar!
“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!” Psalm 119:10
* Dear Lord God,
Thank You that Your word is far more powerful than even the most broken state we can find ourselves in.
Thank You for the absolute truths Your word teaches us. You do not lie. With You there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Thank You for saving us, enemies though we were; sanctifying us, weak and pitiful though we are.
Amen.