How many of you are familiar with the story of Balaam and his donkey? (Num. 22:1-35)
This is an interesting story and as I was brought before me a couple of times recently. My wife was going through it in her devotions and then it came up in mine. She asked me a great question- “Why does God seem mad at Balaam? After all, didn’t God tell Balaam to go meet with Balak?” This can seem like one of those stories where God can appear kind of petty, flippant, or unpredictable. People sometimes seem to get zapped for doing much lesser crimes than some of our Bible heroes or sometimes we have a hard time figuring out what’s behind God’s judgments or commands.
Sometimes I simply can’t understand and have to rest in God’s promise that he is just and loving. Maybe we simply don’t understand the whole story and its historical context, things like that. In this story, though, I think I see a peek of what’s going on.
You see, what happens right away in the story? Balak asks Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam says he’ll asks God about the matter. God tells him quite clearly that he’s not to have anything more to do with these men. You will not curse the Israelites. Balaam gives his answer, but then what happens? Balak tries to sweeten the pot, to entice Balaam to give it a try. Balaam tells him things probably won’t change, but he’ll talk to God again. God repeats that he won’t curse Israel, but he can go with the men as requested. It’s on the trip that he’s then confronted with God’s angel and is almost killed except for the heroic donkey who speaks to him (Num 22:28-31).
So what did Balaam do wrong? He tried to change God’s will. God made it clear he should tell Balak and his crew “No way!” and then be off. But when Balak tempts him to give it another try, he caves. Why? He’s got no reason to doubt God’s word. When God speaks clearly, you listen. Here’s his error, and the reason I think God confronts him so harshly. Balaam is listening to human temptation and is willing to push God to change his mind.
But this is not just a temptation for Balaam. How often have you sat there and bargained with God for things you knew weren’t in his will. How often has he been clearly leading you one place and you kept trying to push the other alternative, seeing if God would let it work. How often have you read one thing in the Bible, but hoped for a loophole.
Not going to happen. God doesn’t go back on his Word. And even if it takes a talking donkey and a wrathful angel, God will help us to see that.
Tags: Balaam, devotion, God's Word, talking donkey
Just to be a pain in the butt, what about the widow who nags God into giving her what she wants? Or Moses calling God out and getting him to stick with the Israelites after the Golden Calf incident?
I know, you pimp my book and this is the thanks I give! lol
By the way, thanks guys!
Hey Joe, I love your site – fshbwl.com, but come on, does God really ‘change his mind’ or ‘repent’?
**scary flashback to Dr. Lessing’s OT Hebrew NACHAM (to repent) lectures**
Did the widow really nag God into getting what she wanted like God was some kind of spiteful heavenly father who was holding out on her until she bowed down just right and twisted her fingers just so and used just he right words to get her wish granted? (Luke 18:1-8) I don’t think that’s what this passage is talking about.
Did Moses really have such an air-tight argument that convinced God to stick with the Israelites even after ‘Goldencalf-gate’? (Exodus 32:7-14) God still would have worked his purposes (brought about the Messiah) even if he struck down all the Israelites as a punishment for the Golden Calf. He says in verse 10 he would simply have continued his covenant through Moses and his offspring.
I can’t help but think that the widow & Moses were simply aligning themselves with God’s will for his kingdom at that time and at that place. They weren’t looking for loopholes for their own will to be done: they were trying see God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven.
**end of bookishly long comment**
I had just finished my bible devotion reading this passage and was also confused as to why God was mad. Thank you for the feedback I seem to understand now. God bless.