Numbers 24:10-14: a reflection

10Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times. 11Therefore, flee to your place, now! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, the LORD has kept you back from honor.” 12Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, 13‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the LORD’s word, to do either good or bad from my own mind. I will say what the LORD says’? 14Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”

The enemy king Balak is furious. He hired Balaam to curse Israel, and instead Balaam has blessed them three times. In his rage, Balak sends Balaam away, saying he had meant to reward him richly but the LORD has kept him from honor. And Balaam gives his answer, one worth remembering: If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own will. I can only say what the LORD says.

Notice Balaam's declaration, whatever his other failings: God's word was not for sale. He had been offered great reward, wealth and honor, to speak against God's word; and he insisted he could not do it, not for a house full of silver and gold. There was a line he would not cross for any price: he would not alter God's word to suit the one paying him. God's truth, he understood, was not his to sell or bend for reward.

That principle stands, however imperfect the man who spoke it. God's word and God's truth are not for sale; they are not to be altered, softened, or compromised for the sake of reward, whether money, advancement, approval, or favor. Yet the pressure to bend the truth for gain is real; we are often tempted to shade what we say or believe to please those who can reward us. Hold God's truth as not for sale. Do not compromise or bend what is true for the sake of money, advancement, or favor, however great the reward offered. Like Balaam in this, resolve that you cannot go beyond God's word for any price; keep your integrity and God's truth free from the corruption of reward, and speak and hold what is true, whatever it costs or whatever is offered.

Lord, though Balaam had many failings, here he declared a principle worth holding: that if Balak gave him a house full of silver and gold, he could not go beyond your word; your truth was not for sale. Let that principle stand in me. Your word and your truth are not for sale; they are not to be altered, softened, or compromised for the sake of reward, whether money, advancement, approval, or favor. Yet the pressure to bend the truth for gain is real; I am often tempted to shade what I say or believe to please those who can reward me. Help me hold your truth as not for sale. Keep me from compromising or bending what is true for the sake of money, advancement, or favor, however great the reward offered. Help me resolve that I cannot go beyond your word for any price. Keep my integrity and your truth free from the corruption of reward, and help me speak and hold what is true, whatever it costs or whatever is offered.