“And Balak said to Balaam, ‘What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold you have done nothing but bless them.’ And he answered and said, ‘Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth.’” Numbers 23:11-12
Balaam was a soothsayer, a fortune-teller. King Balak of Moab called upon him to curse the Israelites that he might defeat them in battle, for he had seen them defeat their enemies along the way as they traveled to the Promised Land. He did not want to be next on the list, so he attempted to enlist the help of the supernatural - the occult. But things didn’t go as he planned.
Despite Balaam being a pagan, he honored God - though it took a few encounters with an angel and the angel’s speaking through Balaam’s ass to get his attention.1 In the end, Balaam had to speak the word of God - God’s Word will out.
When we run counter to the Word and will of God things never go well. God cannot be manipulated, and His Word cannot be twisted for sinful purposes. We are to receive the Word with an open heart for the blessing it is - both the Law and Gospel, but especially the Gospel for it brings salvation through the sacrifice of Christ.
How foolish is the one who tries to use the Word of God to justify his sin? He is not like an angel speaking out of an ass, but as one who is speaking out of his own … well, you know the phrase.
Prayer: God Almighty, grant me the wisdom to follow your Word where it leads and not use it as a roadmap for my sinful desires. Help me to speak your Word purely using it for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness2 - for my uplifting and that of others. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.