OCTOBER 7, 2025
Numbers 22:9-14 (HCSB)
9 Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaam replied to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent this message to me: 11 ‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”
12 Then God said to Balaam, “You are not to go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
13 So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your land, because the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
14 The officials of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and reported, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
Nathan Cripe
Balaam told Balak’s officials, “God won’t let me go with you.” He obeyed in his actions, yet he didn’t have the conviction or integrity to say “no, I won’t do that because it isn’t right.” It was like a child pouting and saying, “my mom won’t let me come play right now.”Balaam obeyed because he knew he had no power to resist, but not out of love for God or His people...long term we see that his lack of conviction, integrity, and love for God and others hurt a lot of people. Where does our obedience come from? Is it a begrudging, “ok, God, if you say so...I know You’re more powerful than me, so there’s no point in disobeying”? Or is it, “Yes, God, I love You and Your people, and I want to live a life of obedience that honors You and Your people and that points others to You!” Think of the impact Balaam could have had if he had used his influence to share with Balak and to encourage the Moabites to believe in God. Instead, he just sent them back to continue working on their plan to thwart God and His people. Wholehearted, sacrificial obedience to God has such an impact on those around us. Our world, especially Gen Z, is looking for genuine commitment like that!
9 Then God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaam replied to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent this message to me: 11 ‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the surface of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. I may be able to fight against them and drive them away.’”
12 Then God said to Balaam, “You are not to go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”
13 So Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your land, because the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
14 The officials of Moab arose, returned to Balak, and reported, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
Nathan Cripe
Balaam told Balak’s officials, “God won’t let me go with you.” He obeyed in his actions, yet he didn’t have the conviction or integrity to say “no, I won’t do that because it isn’t right.” It was like a child pouting and saying, “my mom won’t let me come play right now.”Balaam obeyed because he knew he had no power to resist, but not out of love for God or His people...long term we see that his lack of conviction, integrity, and love for God and others hurt a lot of people. Where does our obedience come from? Is it a begrudging, “ok, God, if you say so...I know You’re more powerful than me, so there’s no point in disobeying”? Or is it, “Yes, God, I love You and Your people, and I want to live a life of obedience that honors You and Your people and that points others to You!” Think of the impact Balaam could have had if he had used his influence to share with Balak and to encourage the Moabites to believe in God. Instead, he just sent them back to continue working on their plan to thwart God and His people. Wholehearted, sacrificial obedience to God has such an impact on those around us. Our world, especially Gen Z, is looking for genuine commitment like that!
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