Numbers 23:11-15: a reflection

11Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether.” 12He answered and said, “Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD puts in my mouth?” 13Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, where you may see them. You shall see just part of them, and shall not see them all. Curse them from there for me.” 14He took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar. 15He said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet God over there.”

Balak had hired Balaam to curse Israel, but when Balaam opens his mouth, only blessing comes out, for God will not let him curse those he has blessed. Balak is furious: What have you done? I brought you to curse my enemies, and instead you have blessed them. But rather than accept it, Balak tries again from a different angle: Come to another place, from which you can see only part of them; curse them for me from there. He imagines that by changing the vantage point, he might get the curse he wants. But God's word will not change to suit Balak's wishes.

Notice Balak's futile strategy: to keep trying, from new positions, to get the answer he wanted. When God's word through Balaam was blessing, not the curse he desired, Balak did not accept it; he moved to a new location, hoping to get a different result. But God's word would not bend to Balak's wishes, no matter how he maneuvered; from every vantage point, only blessing came. Balak's attempt to manipulate the outcome was doomed; God's word was fixed.

That is a warning against trying to manipulate God, or reframe things, to get the answer we want. Like Balak, we can be unwilling to accept God's clear word or will, and keep trying, from new angles, to get the answer we prefer, maneuvering, reframing, seeking a different vantage point, as though we could change God's word to suit our wishes. But God's word does not bend to our preferences. Do not, like Balak, keep maneuvering to get the answer you want from God. His word and will do not change to suit us. Rather than trying to manipulate the outcome, submit to God's clear word, even when it is not the answer you wanted. God's word is fixed; accept it, rather than trying to bend it to your wishes.

Lord, when Balaam blessed instead of cursing, Balak would not accept it, but kept trying from new vantage points to get the curse he wanted, as though he could bend your word to his wishes. Guard me from that folly. Like Balak, I can be unwilling to accept your clear word or will, and keep trying, from new angles, to get the answer I prefer, maneuvering and reframing, as though I could change your word to suit me. But your word does not bend to my preferences. Keep me from trying to manipulate you, or the situation, to get the answer I want. Help me instead to submit to your clear word, even when it is not the answer I wanted, rather than maneuvering to bend it to my wishes. Your word is fixed; help me accept it and submit to it, not try to change it.