Have you ever played your parents against each other to get what you wanted? Why am I even asking, of course you have. Back in your youth you wanted to go to that party or maybe you wanted to borrow the car, so you carefully planned your attack. You first went to your parent that you thought would offer you the best odds of securing the yes you so desperately desired. Maybe it’s dad. But unfortunately, your ruse is spied out and Dad says no. In your persistence you keep nagging him until you get the brush off, “go ask your mother.” Not a good start but at least your dream is still alive, right? So off you go to continue along the path of getting the answer you want.
Sometimes I think if I had 12 parents growing up, I would have asked all 12 trying to get my yes. Speaking of, how did Snow White ask permission for stuff? Surely, she was smart enough to not start with Grumpy. You see, in our selfish pride, we want what we want. Many times, even to the point of self-delusion. We want something so bad we’re not fully aware of it’s potential to damage or hurt oursleves or others. That’s one of the major reasons why God gifted us with good parents, to protect us from ourselves. But what about after you move out? What about when you become a young adult and you can now pretty much do whatever you want? Who protects you then? Great question.
Today we start the first of a three chapter spread on the story of Balaam. Balaam is quite the curious character from the pages of God’s Word. More is said about Balaam than Mary, the mother of Jesus. More is said about Balaam than any of the Disciples. He’s even mentioned three separate times in the New Testament. (2 Peter, Jude, Revelation) God has given him a lot of page time in the Bible yet still, he is quite the tough character to figure out. In our world today we like to know quickly and easily the core of the individual, are they good or bad? Movies make it easy for us to pick out the bad guy. George Lucas intentionally put Darth Vader in solid black so we could easily peg him as evil. And in that same vein, Luke Skywalker was carefully adorned in all white. Thank you Star Wars, you made my young life easy in deciphering the good people from the bad. If only real life were that easy.
But it’s not that easy with Balaam. He is somewhat of a prophet and somewhat a racketeer. He has access to God, consults God and God even speaks directly to him on 6 different occasions! So, you can’t just simply say that Balaam is dressed in all black since he clearly speaks with God and even obeys His Word. As our story unfolds over the next three chapters your going to see a character that possesses the wily, shadowy traits of the evil one at times, and the spiritual fortitude to ask God for vision and stand for him at other times. I guess the best I can assume is that his pants were black and his shirt was white. And therein lies our lesson, not standing on one side of the fence or the other but constantly trying to straddle it in order to get what we want. It reminds me of a verse about just this, riding God’s fence:
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” Rev 3:15-16
The Balaam story starts with the King of the Moabites, Balak, scared out his wits because the Israelite nation is creeping ever closer to his kingdom. He has seen that Almighty God is with these people and because of this they crush whatever kingdom is in their path. In his panic he sends for help. For a diviner, a fortune teller, a prophet for hire. He sends a caravan and a chunk of money to get Balaam. Now, right out of the gate, this sends up red flags. Apparently, Balaam had a rep of being “for hire” or why else would Balak have this idea that he could hire him?
As the caravan arrives, they quickly deliver the message to Balaam and state that they want to hire him to come and curse the Israelites so they will be able to defeat them. Balaam says that he must first ask God, and that night, God speaks directly to him:
“Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.” So the Moabite officials stayed with him. God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: ‘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.’” But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.” The 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.” Numbers 22:8-13
If we could stop here, I would offer up a big Amen for Balaam. He put the will of God first, consulted God and then obeyed God’s Words. Well done Balaam. But hold your horses, we’re not done. King Balak sends back a gaggle of princes the next time, and along with them he sends more money. A lot more money. Bags of money and a promise for more once the job is done. But folks notice here, even though the price has changed, the request has not. We want you to come and curse the Israelites so that we may defeat them in battle. Let’s look at Balaam’s response as he asks God the same question twice in a row, rooting around for the answer he truly desires.
“But 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. Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.” That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.” Numbers 22:18-20
What an absolutely curious situation we have here. Balaam doesn’t get the answer he wants so he asks God the same question again. The second time God allows him to go, but with the stipulation that he only speak exactly what God tells him. You see, I think Balaam would have asked God 30 more times. He would have kept on asking until his ears heard what his heart wanted. It brings up an interesting thought. God will allow us to do what we want, even if it’s not His will for us.
I heard a term the other day that stuck with me. “Shopping for advice.” This is where you have a certain life dilemma on your hands, and you need some help figuring it out. So you decide to ask people in your life that you respect, value and trust. God’s Word calls this “seeking wise counsel”. (Pro 13:10, Pro 19:20, Pro 12:15) But the funny thing about seeking wise counsel is that the ears may hear it, but the heart may reject it. You see, deep in our hearts we desire exactly what we want. Sometimes our own hearts betray us, and we seek for the answer that will please us the most. We can “shop wise counsel” and continue going from person to person asking for advice until we hear exactly what we want. Just like shopping for that perfectly soft avocado, we can keep looking until we find the advice that will make the perfect guacamole. I like guacamole.
Folks, there’s nothing wrong with seeking wise counsel, in fact, you must seek it out in life if you hope to avoid the pitfalls others have already fallen into and climbed out of. But true wise counsel, true wisdom, comes directly from the Lord. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. And as you enjoy the closeness of the Lord, consult Him. And as you do, listen not with your ears but with your heart. For the best plans for us are not of our own understanding, but of the Lord’s. We may not like His answer, but that’s ok, He’s our Dad and as they say, “Father knows Best.”
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
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