Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!” Balaam answered, “Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?”
New International Version (NIV)
Balaam was a mercenary prophet. King Balak of Moab didn’t know what to do with the Israelites, so he hired Balaam to curse them. Balaam must have been tempted to compromise and curse the Israelites, but he told Balak from the start that he could only say what God said. After he gave his donkey a good “listening to”, Balaam kept his word. God told him to bless Israel and so he did.
Balak started to realize the problem and he said, in effect, “I paid you. If you can’t curse the people, at least don’t bless them.” It turns out that God’s word is not finally for sale. God is not a human who lies or changes his mind (23:19). What God says, he will do.
Are we ever tempted to compromise the truth for the sake of our audience? Here is a good plan for today: let’s say what God says and do what God tells us to do. His opinion really is the only one that matters.
Pray with me:
Father, help us to live with integrity. You say what you mean and mean what you say. Help us to trust your truth so that we may tell the truth, regardless of the consequences. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story. With references to Tallowood's Read Through the Bible in 2018 daily reading plan, let's focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he lead. He will not fail. Neither will we! Joyfully, Duane
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