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 alter His will?
Our minds try to push God into the limitations and boundaries that we understand.
But this should not be the case for the christian. We have primary absolute truths.
God’s mind is not changeable and He does not change. God is not like us.
Just because we cannot comprehend that God would set His will and it be carried out without exception, does not mean that this isn’t the case.
In the previous passage we saw that Balaam was changeable. He bowed to the weight of temptation.
And here Balak the king keeps on thinking he can persuade Balaam to curse Israel.
But 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 trouble fallen human.
Which is as true for us as it was for Balaam.
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 You word is far more powerful than even the most broken state.
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.