Numbers 23:25-30: a reflection

25Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.” 26But Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I tell you, saying, ‘All that the LORD speaks, that I must do’?” 27Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.” 28Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks down on the desert. 29Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.” 30Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.

Balak, the king who hired Balaam to curse Israel, grows frustrated as Balaam blesses them instead. He tries again and again, taking Balaam to different vantage points, building altars, offering sacrifices, hoping somehow to obtain a curse on the people God had blessed. But Balaam can only say what God gives him: All that the LORD speaks, that I must do. No matter how many altars Balak builds, no matter how many places he tries, he cannot obtain a curse on the people God has blessed. God's blessing on Israel could not be reversed by any of Balak's schemes.

Notice that Balak's schemes could not reverse God's blessing. He tried repeatedly, from vantage point to vantage point, altar after altar, determined to get a curse; but he could not, because God had blessed Israel, and no human scheme could overturn what God had done. Balaam could only speak what God gave him, and God gave blessing, not curse. However Balak maneuvered, however he tried to manipulate the outcome, he could not reverse God's blessing on the people. What God had blessed remained blessed, beyond the reach of any scheme to curse it. The blessing of God stood firm against all Balak's efforts to overturn it.

That is worth taking to heart, for what God has blessed or purposed cannot be reversed by human schemes against it. We can fear the schemes of those who would harm us, the maneuvers and efforts of others to curse, thwart, or undo us; but Balak, with all his altars and vantage points, could not reverse God's blessing on Israel. What God has blessed or purposed stands firm against human scheming; no maneuver can overturn it. When you fear the schemes of those who would harm or thwart you, remember that no scheme can reverse what God has blessed or purposed, as Balak could not curse whom God had blessed. Trust that what God has blessed or purposed cannot be reversed by any human scheme against it, as Balak, with all his altars, could not obtain a curse on the people God had blessed; for God's blessing stands firm against every effort to overturn it, and no scheme of those who would harm us can undo what God has purposed for good.

Lord, Balak, the king who hired Balaam to curse Israel, grows frustrated as Balaam blesses them instead. He tries again and again, taking Balaam to different vantage points, building altars, offering sacrifices, hoping somehow to obtain a curse on the people you had blessed. But Balaam can only say what you give him: all that the LORD speaks, that I must do. No matter how many altars Balak builds, he cannot obtain a curse on the people you have blessed. Show me that Balak's schemes could not reverse your blessing. He tried repeatedly, from vantage point to vantage point, altar after altar, determined to get a curse; but he could not, because you had blessed Israel, and no human scheme could overturn what you had done. Balaam could only speak what you gave him, and you gave blessing, not curse. However Balak maneuvered, he could not reverse your blessing. What you had blessed remained blessed, beyond the reach of any scheme to curse it. Take that to my heart, for what you have blessed or purposed cannot be reversed by human schemes against it. I can fear the schemes of those who would harm me, the maneuvers and efforts of others to curse, thwart, or undo me; but Balak, with all his altars, could not reverse your blessing on Israel. What you have blessed or purposed stands firm against human scheming. When I fear the schemes of those who would harm or thwart me, help me remember that no scheme can reverse what you have blessed or purposed, Lord, as Balak could not curse whom you had blessed. Help me trust that what you have blessed cannot be reversed by any human scheme against it.