August 8, 2013
GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS?
Numbers 22:1-20
Bobby Crotty
Central Truth
Nothing we do appeases God's sense of justice. Only Christ did that. We need to stop doing things for God and simply follow Him. He wants a relationship. He wants us to know Him and put Him before everything else.
Key Verse | Numbers 22:18–19
Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God. Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me." (Numbers 22:18–19)
Numbers 22:1-20
Balak Summons Balaam
1 Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River 1 22:5 That is, the Euphrates in the land of the people of Amaw, 2 22:5 Or the people of his kindred to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message. 8 And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” 12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” 13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.” 14 So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’” 18 But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more. 19 So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.” 20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”
Dive Deeper | Numbers 22:1-20
I'm a pretty good guy. I trusted in Christ at two, went to church my whole life, and made decisions based on my faith. I have served in the Army, led Bible studies, and taught Sunday school.
Balaam seems like a pretty good guy. He lived in a heathen nation, but still knew God and obeyed Him. When Balak sent messengers to Balaam asking him to curse Israel, he checked with God and sent them away. Balak sent more and greater messengers, and Balaam asked God again, but this time God let him go.
So, why in the world does Numbers 22:22 say God was angry because Balaam went? God told him to go!
Jude 11 gives us a clue. It says, "Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam." Balaam was guilty of greed.
As a soothsayer, Balaam practiced sorcery and divination, which were forbidden by God (Deuteronomy 18:10-13). Balaam used his knowledge of God for personal gain. When he asked God, he was going through the motions to please God. So God allowed him to go, knowing the motives of Balaam's heart. Yet, God would ultimately bless Israel through Balaam's actions.
God desires obedience, but He never coerces us. John 14:21 tells us that we love God through obedience. He must allow us the opportunity to disobey Him if we are to truly love Him. Balaam is an example of God allowing us to sin. Disobedience, however, always brings pain, which explains why our world is so messed up. That pain, though, gives God no pleasure. He hurts for us the same way a father hurts to see his child behave unwisely.
In my life, I have mostly tried to do the right thing. I did everything that made me a "good" Christian. But I have discovered that what God wants is a relationship with me, not my poor attempts at good behavior. God is the only One who can be good, and He did everything on the cross. I can do nothing. Yet, I still slip back into trying to do things for God sometimes. But the last two years, He really has been first in my life, and that has made all the difference.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you use God or let Him use you? How so?
2. How do you perform for God? How do you rest in the assurance that He already did everything and just wants you to know Him deeply?
3. What do you need to do to lighten the burden of performance?
4. Is a relationship with God the most important thing in your life?
5. Can everyone else tell that by being around you?