Numbers 22:18-25: a reflection

18Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. 19Now therefore please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else the LORD will speak to me.” 20God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.” 21Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. 22God’s anger burned because he went; and the LORD’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23The donkey saw the LORD’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path. 24Then the LORD’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25The donkey saw the LORD’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.

Balaam speaks all the right words. If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, he says, I can't go beyond the word of the LORD my God. It sounds like pure devotion. But his heart is not in his words; he is drawn by the reward, hoping God will let him go and get it. And God, who sees the heart, is angered by his going, though God had given a permission; for God saw the greed beneath the pious words. The donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, but Balaam, blinded by his own desire, did not.

Notice that God saw the heart beneath Balaam's pious words. Balaam said all the right things about not going beyond God's word; but his heart was set on the reward, and God saw it. The pious words did not hide the greed beneath them from God, who sees the heart. Balaam's outward compliance masked an inward desire that God perceived. He could speak the right words, but he could not hide his heart from God, who saw the true intent beneath the pious speech. God is not deceived by outward words; he sees the heart.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can speak pious words while our hearts are set on something else, and God sees the heart. We can say the right things, use the language of devotion and obedience, while our hearts are really bent on our own desire; but God is not deceived by our words, for he sees the heart beneath them, as he saw the greed beneath Balaam's pious speech. Do not suppose that saying the right words covers a heart set on something else; God sees the true intent beneath your words. Let your heart, not merely your words, be right with God; for he sees the heart, and is not deceived by pious speech that masks a different desire, as he saw the greed beneath Balaam's words about not going beyond God's command. Give God a heart that matches your words, rather than pious words over a heart set elsewhere, knowing that God sees the heart's true intent.

Lord, Balaam speaks all the right words. If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, he says, I can't go beyond the word of the LORD my God. It sounds like pure devotion. But his heart is not in his words; he is drawn by the reward. And you, who see the heart, are angered by his going; for you saw the greed beneath the pious words. The donkey saw your angel standing in the way, but Balaam, blinded by his own desire, did not. Show me that you saw the heart beneath Balaam's pious words. He said all the right things; but his heart was set on the reward, and you saw it. The pious words did not hide the greed beneath them from you, who see the heart. His outward compliance masked an inward desire that you perceived. He could speak the right words, but he could not hide his heart from you. You are not deceived by outward words; you see the heart. Take that to my heart, for I too can speak pious words while my heart is set on something else, and you see the heart. I can say the right things, use the language of devotion, while my heart is really bent on my own desire; but you are not deceived by my words, for you see the heart beneath them. Keep me from supposing that saying the right words covers a heart set on something else; you see the true intent beneath my words. Let my heart, not merely my words, be right with you, Lord; help me give you a heart that matches my words, rather than pious words over a heart set elsewhere.