QT 6 Apr 12, Worldy goods are not a determinant of God's will

Num 22:1-3, 8, 12-13, 15-19 (NIV) Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.

2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.

...

8 "Spend the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will bring you back the answer the Lord gives me." So the Moabite princes stayed with him.

…

12 But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed."

13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's princes, "Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you."

...

15 Then Balak sent other princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16 They came to Balaam and said:

"This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, 17 because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me."

18 But Balaam answered them, "Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God. 19 Now stay here tonight as the others did, and I will find out what else the Lord will tell me."

NOTE: The Moabites clearly understand the situation--much better than the Amorites did. Their response is to have the Israelites cursed by Balaam. And so begins one of the more interesting, perplexing, and commented stories of the bible. Interesting because an animal speaks to Baalam. Perplexing because it is hard to understand Balaam's fault. Commented, because Micah in the OT and Peter and John, in the NT, reference the incident. From the passage itself, a couple of thoughts emerge. One, Balak wanted Israel cursed by God, but why would God curse his own children, and woe to the nations who try to hurt God's chosen people. Second, there is a lot of money and pomp emphasized in the story, as if power and wealth could change or bring about God's will. Third, there seems to be some hesitation on Balaam's account despite the first answer from God because he goes back to God a second time when the money is a little greater. Why, money or power should change God's response is a laughable point. God does change his response, but you have to wonder if that is to deal with something in Balaam's life as opposed to the greater money and pomp displayed.

The application would seem obvious. Worldly goods do not change the God's will. He can operate outside of that realm. What changes our direction in life is when God speaks and calls us in a new direction. We need to listen for his direction and not try to seek our direction.