Numbers 23:16-24: a reflection

16The LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and say this.” 17He came to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. Balak said to him, “What has the LORD spoken?” 18He took up his parable, and said, “Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, you son of Zippor. 19God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and he won’t do it? Or has he spoken, and he won’t make it good? 20Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it. 21He has not seen iniquity in Jacob. Neither has he seen perverseness in Israel. The LORD his God is with him. The shout of a king is among them. 22God brings them out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. 23Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; neither is there any divination with Israel. Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What has God done!’ 24Behold, a people rises up as a lioness. As a lion he lifts himself up. He shall not lie down until he eats of the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.”

When Balaam, hired to curse Israel, opens his mouth, he can only bless, for God has determined to bless. And in his oracle comes a great declaration of God's unchanging reliability: God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and he won't do it? Or has he spoken, and he won't make it good? God does not lie, does not change his mind, does not fail to do what he has said. What he has promised, he will do; his word is utterly reliable.

Notice the declaration of God's reliability: he does not lie or change, and what he has said, he will do. Unlike humans, who lie, change their minds, and fail to keep their word, God does not lie, does not change his mind, does not fail to make good what he has spoken. Has he said, and he won't do it? The question expects the answer: no. What God has promised, he will surely do; his word is sure. He is not fickle or unreliable, as humans can be; he is utterly faithful to his word, doing what he has said. God's promises are certain because God is not a man that he should lie.

That reliability of God is worth resting in, for it means we can trust his promises utterly. We are used to human words that may not be kept, promises that fail, minds that change; and we can bring that doubt to God's promises, wondering whether he will really do what he has said. But God is not a man that he should lie; what he has promised, he will surely do. Do not doubt God's promises as though they might fail like human ones; God does not lie or change, and what he has said, he will make good. Rest your trust on God's utter reliability, his faithfulness to his word, which does not fail as human promises fail; for God is not a man that he should lie, and has he said, and he will not do it? Trust the God whose word is sure, who does what he has promised, unlike the fickle words of men, and rest on the certainty of his reliable word.

Lord, when Balaam, hired to curse Israel, opens his mouth, he can only bless, for you have determined to bless. And in his oracle comes a great declaration of your unchanging reliability: God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and he won't do it? Or has he spoken, and he won't make it good? You do not lie, do not change your mind, do not fail to do what you have said. What you have promised, you will do; your word is utterly reliable. Show me the declaration of your reliability: you do not lie or change, and what you have said, you will do. Unlike humans, who lie, change their minds, and fail to keep their word, you do not lie, do not change your mind, do not fail to make good what you have spoken. What you have promised, you will surely do; your word is sure. You are not fickle or unreliable; you are utterly faithful to your word. Your promises are certain because you are not a man that you should lie. Let me rest in that reliability, for it means I can trust your promises utterly. I am used to human words that may not be kept, promises that fail, minds that change; and I can bring that doubt to your promises. But you are not a man that you should lie; what you have promised, you will surely do. Keep me from doubting your promises as though they might fail like human ones; you do not lie or change, Lord. Help me rest my trust on your utter reliability, your faithfulness to your word, which does not fail as human promises fail.