Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, started a war against Israel. He summoned Balaam son of Beor to curse you, but I would not listen to him. Instead, I made Balaam bless you, and so I rescued you from Balak. [Joshua 24.9-10]
Balaam's story recurs yet once again in Israel's history. It was evidently a big deal.
If Balaam's story recurs in the Bible, there is surely something we must learn from it besides the account of his donkey talking.
If we take all the recurring negative comments about Balaam into account (the original story found in Numbers 22-23), we must conclude that Balaam, even though he blessed Israel, was evil. From what today's passage reveals, Balaam's only righteous act was his very first refusal to go with Balak's people who summoned him. Once Balaam allowed a second guess (Numbers 22.18-19), it was obvious his heart was not fully committed to the LORD and, at that point, God proceeded to use Balaam just as He did Pharoah and other evil people to accomplish His purpose.
Balaam's "question" of God's will after God had already made it clear provided a storyline that made Balaam famous, but for all the wrong reasons. From the point Balaam gave Balak's envoy a second hearing, he was in rebellion just like Pharoah. God made the decision at that point that He would glorify His name through Balaam, but it would not be to Balaam's good credit. Balaam died in his sin and rebellion against God and Israel (talking donkey and all).
What could Balaam have done differently? He could have simply and definitively refused to entertain the second plea by Balak's people.
So here's the sobering thought: how many times have we clearly known God's will concerning direction in our lives and yet allowed outside pressure to cause us to ask again? Just because we think "God is using us" because of powerful prophecies and miraculous events (like a talking donkey) does not mean we are right with God!
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ [Matthew 7.21-23]
Think of the shame of it. Balaam prophesied magnificently with the talking donkey as a spectacular miracle but Balaam was slaughtered along with all the others who had fought against Israel.
Obedience is a holy thing. Disobedience, on the other hand, potentially puts a person in the damnable position of doing God's will, albeit outside of God's favor (like Pharoah and like Balaam).
Whatever God tells us to do first is what we should do. If He wants us to do something different, He will say it. Otherwise, we might find ourselves saying and doing "all the right things" (prophesying and performing miracles) but for all the wrong reasons.
I cannot help but believe Balaam's story is a stern warning because, after the Numbers 22-23 account of it, it is referred back to in Deuteronomy, Joshua, Nehemiah, and Micah in the Old Testament, and in 2 Peter, Jude and Revelation in the New Testament. Unquestioning first-time obedience is a big deal; Old Testament and New Testament alike.
Father, as I write this article today, I am compelled to review my life for first-time obedience. Jesus' warning about those who "thought they were in" but actually were not gives me every reason to make this review daily in my own life as it pertains to my obedience to Jesus' call upon every believer. May I be found obedient to Your first call upon my life. So be it.
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