July 16, 2019
Don't Live Out Your Faith Halfway
Numbers 22:1–20
Callie Nixon
Central Truth
We can't live out our faith halfway. God loves us because we are His, and He will use us according to His great plan. So we can live our faith in FULL!
Key Verse | Numbers 22:12
God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed."
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
There are so many people to be disappointed with in these verses that it is difficult to know where to begin! When we read this passage, as well as the ones we've read over the last few days, it is easy to find ourselves frustrated with the Israelites because of their continued complaining to the Lord. Rather than trusting His plan, they are wishing they could go back to Egypt where they were in slavery (Numbers 20:3-5)!
We can get frustrated with Moses, who has allowed his pride to get in the way of his service to God (Numbers 20:8-12). And we are disappointed in Balaam, who while he believes in the one true God, is living out his faith "halfway" by also taking large sums of money from people in order to tell them prophecy, as well as using omens (see Numbers 24:1) and divination (Joshua 13:22). We can find ourselves reading the Bible in judgment, looking down on our ancient brothers and sisters, frustrated at their "halfway faith."
But friends, how often do we do the very same thing? We miss the easy way we lived before we encountered trial and hardship, debt, or a chronic disease, desiring to return to that place rather than trust God now. We rely on our own pride and our own gifts instead of trusting God completely. We want to serve the Lord, but only when it is comfortable for us. I am guilty of all the above!
The beautiful thing is that even while Israel was complaining and Balaam was working for God with impure motives, God was still working out a plan not only to save His people, but to bless them. Thanks be to our kind God who loves us in spite of ourselves! Let's get busy today first trusting God with our whole hearts, then getting out there and serving God with our whole lives!
Discussion Questions
1. Is there anything you are holding back from the Lord (i.e., Lord, I will do anything for you, just please let me keep my job security and my comfort level)? Is there something He might be asking you to give up for Him?
2. Do you understand that if you have trusted Christ, you are a part of God's chosen people? He loves you! Knowing that, do you spend most of your time complaining to Him or serving Him with gladness? How might you serve Him with gladness today?
3. Where are you, like the King of Moab, trusting other people to solve your problems instead of the Lord? How might God be asking you to trust Him more deeply today?