UBF Daily Bread

GOD’S WILL VERSES BALAAM’S DESIRE

Passage: Numbers 22:1~20

Key verse: 12

Balak Summons Balaam

22 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab^(A) and camped along the Jordan^(B) across from Jericho.^(C)

²Now Balak son of Zippor^(D) saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, ³and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread^(E) because of the Israelites.

⁴The Moabites^(F) said to the elders of Midian,^(G) “This horde is going to lick up everything^(H) around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.^(I)”

So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, ⁵sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor,^(J) who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River,^(K) in his native land. Balak said:

“A people has come out of Egypt;^(L) they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. ⁶Now come and put a curse^(M) on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land.^(N) For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”

⁷The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination.^(O) When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.

⁸“Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.^(P)” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.

⁹God came to Balaam^(Q) and asked,^(R) “Who are these men with you?”

¹⁰Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: ¹¹‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’”

¹²But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.^(S)”

¹³The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”

¹⁴So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”

¹⁵Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. ¹⁶They came to Balaam and said:

“This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, ¹⁷because I will reward you handsomely^(T) and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse^(U) on these people for me.”

¹⁸But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.^(V) ¹⁹Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.^(W)”

²⁰That night God came to Balaam^(X) and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”^(Y)

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After hearing the news about Israel’s triumphs over the Amorite kings, the Moabites were terrified. Therefore, Balak king of Moab wanted to hire a sorcerer Balaam to put a curse on Israel. Balak sent his envoys to Balaam with a fee for divination. Balaam wanted to go with them and to curse Israel to get the fee. But God told Balaam not to go with Balak’s men, and not to put a curse on Israel. So, Balaam sent them home. Balaam was not a man with a genuine heart after God, although he had some spiritual gifts. He was willing to use his spiritual gift for his selfish gain.

The king of Moab sent more delegates back to Balaam and with the promise of more money and honor. The temptation to Balaam was now stronger than the first time. Although he knew God’s will clearly, Balaam allowed them to stay the night and prayed again to God perhaps to change God’s will that he could go and curse Israel. God didn’t change his will but gave Balaam permission conditionally to go. God does not force us. He gives us choice and related responsibility. If we waver between God’s will and our ungodly will, we are struggling with temptation. We need to deny our will and submit to God’s as Jesus struggled in Gethsemane: “…not my will, but yours be done.”

Prayer: Lord, I see my will and desire against your will. Help me to deny my fleshly desire and obey your will willingly.

One Word: Thy will be done!