Numbers 22-24

Some preliminary thoughts I offered previously regarding Historical/ Literary Background and the original application

Today, I am writing to offer my thoughts on how this passage applies to our lives at present.

Contemporary Application

The first application one can make is that it is extremely important Christians, no matter what place or circumstance they find themselves in life, keep God in the equation. It is important to bear in mind that God, whether overtly or covertly, is constantly at work in the hearts and lives of his people. It is nonsensical to pray for God to help someone get a certain job/ position, and when they get it to attempt to do everything in their own strength. Neither does it seem wise for a couple to pray God bless them with the birth of a child, only to forsake God’s strength and guidance during the process of raising the child. If Christians do not keep God in the equation, and wrongly choose to live as though their “eyes are not opened,” then they will be the punchline to the joke along with than Balaam, Balak, and the nations.

Also, it is evident in this passage that human beings are very impotent in this story. Balaam and Balak both have agendas, and neither can thwart the will of God. God is sovereign over every aspect of creation. He deals with nations, both negatively and positively. If we remind ourselves of this, we will be less likely to overreact to unwanted political developments, devastating national disasters, and personal crises. If we believe in the Sovereignty of God and trust in His providence, then we can have confidence his plan will not be knocked off course.

Another point of emphasis is that this story cuts the feet out from under the paganistic view that has crept into the church that individuals can manipulate the determinative will of God. Balak and Balaam both suffer consequences for their failed attempt at this. While Christians will not articulate it as such, behavior among many in the church proves a transactional approach is taken in dealing with God. Christians can handle allowing God to be the one who blesses and curses, as long as they can determine exactly what the curse or blessing is.

Too often people who pray diligently for healing of sickness do not experience it. Too many missionaries who are involved in fruitful work are forced home because of lack of resources. In other instances, Christians who are lazy and selfish enjoy financial gains, or a church leader who is immoral experiences a great increase in his ministry. If God blesses those who are obedient, and punishes those who are disobedient, then these events are difficult to reconcile. However, this story reminds us that while people can never be sure of outcomes, God is always sure of outcomes, as they conform to his will. Believers must have eyes to see this, to, as 2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

Due to the fact that we can never be certain of the outcome of our actions, it is also important to note the futility of spending substantial time worrying and fretting about circumstances. Rather than sit and contemplate how we can care for ourselves, we would be better served if we would sit around and consider how God cares for us.  It would be more helpful for a pastor who is frustrated and feeling like a failure, pastoring a church of 25, to devote his mind to the responsibility he has helping bring those 25 individuals to spiritual maturity and blessing he has in the opportunity to invest in their lives. While problems and difficulties should not be avoided, fixing our eyes upon the Lord enables us to cultivate attitudes that are characterized by gratefulness and thanksgiving and will also enable us to maintain a proper perspective of God’s strong hand in our lives.

One last principle that is seen in this pericope is that Christians cannot rest simply because their eyes are opened once. Moses saw God face to face yet did not enter the Promise Land. The generation that saw God part the sea and deliver them from Egypt, murmured, complained, and rebelled against him. Balaam fell prostrate before the angel of the Lord and had the Spirit of God come upon him to proclaim His word, yet is himself is used to lead Israel astray. This must serve as a warning to Christians that we must deliberately and diligently keep our eyes opened and remain aware of God’s work in our lives. There are consequences for our actions, and we must avoid becoming the source of ridicule like characters in this story by living our lives in a manner that will reflect our understanding the God is ultimately in control, shaping events on a macro and micro level, for His purposes and glory.