Balak felt threatened by the Israelites.
3 And when the people of Moab saw how many Israelites there were, they were terrified. 4 The king of Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This mob will devour everything in sight, like an ox devours grass in the field!” Numbers 22:3-4, NLT.
Balak sends for Balaam to curse the Israelites. He offers up riches for curses. Security for security.
Balaam can only say what the Lord tells him to say, and he blesses God’s people. Balak is frustrated and furious: 11 Then King Balak demanded of Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies. Instead, you have blessed them!” Numbers 23:11, NLT.
Balak takes Balaam to a different spot of Israelites and tries again, driven by fear and fury, looking to curse any part of God’s people.
18 This was the message Balaam delivered:
“Rise up, Balak, and listen!
Hear me, son of Zippor.
19 God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
20 Listen, I received a command to bless;
God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!
21 No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob;
no trouble is in store for Israel.
For the Lord their God is with them;
he has been proclaimed their king.
22 God brought them out of Egypt;
for them he is as strong as a wild ox.
23 No curse can touch Jacob;
no magic has any power against Israel.
For now it will be said of Jacob,
‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’
24 These people rise up like a lioness,
like a majestic lion rousing itself.
They refuse to rest
until they have feasted on prey,
drinking the blood of the slaughtered!” Numbers 23:18-24, NLT
Balaam could only speak what God told him and Balak was full of rage.
Lord, you are truth. You cannot lie. You do not make a promise you don’t fulfill. This verse: “God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox.” You are strength, Lord. You are bigger than any battle I’m facing.
Courtney (66books365)
Sixty-six books in a year 