# 31 2026 Dev. Numbers 22-23. God Blesses! Read all of chapter twenty-two and twenty-three first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Nu. 22 Balak Summons Balaam
Vs.1-13 “Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.” They are ready to enter the land, but not yet. “The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” The King of Moab summoned Balaam, a man of God. Balak wanted Balaam to curse the people of Israel because he feared them. “The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said. “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.” God told him not to go with them. “You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”
Vs.14-20 “Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first.They came to Balaam and said:” come to me “I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.” God told Balaam to go with them but to say only what I tell you.
Balaam’s Donkey
Balaam went with them but “God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him.” The text does not tell us why God apposed Balaam on the way, was it his motivation, a great reward? He was known to be able to divine God’s will, potentially, he could cast a curse on God’s people. His donkey saw what Balaam should have seen, three times his donkey warned him but he did not heed the warning, only after the donkey talked to him and God opened his eyes to see the angel did Balaam repent and acknowledge his sin. What about us today? Are there angels to warn us, to save us from a major transgression? Yes, I believe in guardian angels, and I believe in the guidance of the Holy Spirit! Are we aware, hearing and seeing?
Numbers 23. The Balak, Balaam story continues.
Vs.1-12. Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar. After that Balaam withdrew from them to seek God’s will. Balaam gave the answer “…How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?” Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!” He answered, “Must I not speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”
Vs.13-26. Then Balak said to him, “Come with me to another place where you can see them; you will not see them all but only the outskirts of their camp. And from there, curse them for me.” The same procedures were followed at the new site, 7 alters, sacrifices, seeking God’s will. Here is the answer “Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor. God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.” We also need to understand that God is not human, he is the Creator of the universe and the Holy and Sovereign God over all. Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!” Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?”
Vs.27-29. “Then Balak said to Balaam, ‘Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.” What was he thinking? God just let him know that He, God blessed them and no human can change God’s will. We do well to remember that today! God’s grace is sufficient for us. Thank be to God!
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