No matter how many times we resist God’s truth, His truth remains. King Balak never intended to listen to God. He always intended for Balaam to curse God’s people. He was so focused on that objective there was no room to hear what God was telling him through Balaam. Balaam can only speak what the Lord tells him. “How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?” Numbers 23:8. King Balak’s response? Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them!” v. 11.

Maybe a different place to see them would help so Balak takes Balaam to the top of Pisgah. Again, Balaam speaks what the Lord tells him. “Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me son of Zippor. God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.” v. 18-20.

Even with God mentioning him by name…Balak, son of Zippor…you can almost see Balak tearing out his hair in frustration. Then Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!” v. 25.

Do you ever wonder what these stories in Scripture from so long ago have to do with us living today? From the very beginning God had a plan for all of us and it began through a people. No man can thwart God’s plan. His plan of salvation began with the Israelites, the descendants of Abraham, his faithful friend. It continues through us. There is no separation. “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:21-24.

In spirit and in truth…go back and give them this word. What word? God’s truth. God’s plan is for our salvation and He will accomplish all He sets out to do. I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” Romans 11:25-29. To Balak, the people were enemies. To God, they were loved. His plan stands and we are loved because of it. Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord” Or who has been his counselor?” (Isaiah 40:13) “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” (Job 41:11) For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Romans 33-36.

Go back and give them this word. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:10-12. Balak couldn’t dissuade God from His love for the people. Balak couldn’t love the people; he only saw them as his enemy. He was blind. God is not. His plan stands. To him be the glory forever! Amen.