Numbers 22:1-20
What else do we need to know when the will (mind) of God on an issue is already made clear in His word?
All that is left is obedience.
God had already made it known to Balaam, the prophet, not to go with the messengers of Balak to put a curse on the Israelites. It couldn’t be clearer than that.
Num 22:12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”
But then the king came up with a brilliant idea; an offer that is too much to be resisted.
Num 22:16-17 “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.”
And so Balaam had to go back to God.
That was where he missed it.
Don’t we also do the same?
When God has already said: Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Don’t get into partnership or relationship with them (2 Cor. 6:14-18); we begin to rationalize; we begin to play smart; we ask people to pray about it for us.
When the mind of God is already known, there’s nothing to pray about again.
And if we insist on praying about it, guess what God would say to you: Go ahead! (Num 22:20).
So I came to this conclusion: You will always hear whatever you want to hear from God.
If God has already told you to stay in a particular place and you keep on bugging him about how they are (mis)treating you, and how the place sucks, God will tell you to “Go ahead” and do whatever you want to do.
If God has already said to stay in a particular ministry, church, business, organization, or even relationship, and you keep praying about it, very soon, you will hear “Go ahead, get a new partner, start a new church, join another organization.
So I’m not surprised when people say God told them to do it; to go ahead and divorce their wife/husband, and marry another person; to marry an unbeliever; or to start their own church or ministry. No surprise at all. Balaam also heard it from God to go ahead. But really, did God?
Once God has spoken, let it keep echoing in our mind. The Psalmist said: Once God has spoken; twice he heard it. Let’s keep hearing the same thing.
May I suggest a better approach to relating with God: If God wants you to do it, He would be the first to tell you, rather than you asking him.
What else do we need to know when the will (mind) of God on an issue is already made clear in His word?
All that is left is obedience.
God had already made it known to Balaam, the prophet, not to go with the messengers of Balak to put a curse on the Israelites. It couldn’t be clearer than that.
Num 22:12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”
But then the king came up with a brilliant idea; an offer that is too much to be resisted.
Num 22:16-17 “This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.”
And so Balaam had to go back to God.
That was where he missed it.
Don’t we also do the same?
When God has already said: Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Don’t get into partnership or relationship with them (2 Cor. 6:14-18); we begin to rationalize; we begin to play smart; we ask people to pray about it for us.
When the mind of God is already known, there’s nothing to pray about again.
And if we insist on praying about it, guess what God would say to you: Go ahead! (Num 22:20).
So I came to this conclusion: You will always hear whatever you want to hear from God.
If God has already told you to stay in a particular place and you keep on bugging him about how they are (mis)treating you, and how the place sucks, God will tell you to “Go ahead” and do whatever you want to do.
If God has already said to stay in a particular ministry, church, business, organization, or even relationship, and you keep praying about it, very soon, you will hear “Go ahead, get a new partner, start a new church, join another organization.
So I’m not surprised when people say God told them to do it; to go ahead and divorce their wife/husband, and marry another person; to marry an unbeliever; or to start their own church or ministry. No surprise at all. Balaam also heard it from God to go ahead. But really, did God?
If God would not have His way, He would let you have your way!Friends, let the word of God, whether written or spoken, settle every issue in your life. There’s nothing else to know once the mind of God is made clear on an issue. His word is settled in heaven; let it settle in your life also. Let it settle with all finality every issue in your life.
Once God has spoken, let it keep echoing in our mind. The Psalmist said: Once God has spoken; twice he heard it. Let’s keep hearing the same thing.
May I suggest a better approach to relating with God: If God wants you to do it, He would be the first to tell you, rather than you asking him.
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