Numbers 24:1–2: “Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.”

February 3rd, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Twice in Numbers 23 King Balak took Balaam, the backslidden prophet, to a place where they could look out over the Israelites. He asked Balaam to curse the people. So Balaam made sacrifices and waited to see what the Lord would show him, but instead of cursing the people he blessed them. In Numbers 24, Balak asked Balaam a third time to curse the people of God. The first two times Balaam walked off at a distance and tried to use sorcery. He was consulting the devil, becoming double-minded, having a divided heart. But the third time he did something different; he simply went and met with God to hear what God would say to him. Balaam had sought power from polar-opposite sources. And at last he was tuned in enough to recognize that God’s hand of blessing was on the Israelites, and this time the Spirit of God came upon him.

We shouldn’t read too much into this and assume Balaam was now right with God. Scripture records other occasions where the Spirit of God came upon wicked men, such as the high priest Caiaphas in the gospel of John: “Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation” (John 11:51). Again, just like when God used Balaam’s donkey to speak to him, this should give us pause. We must be careful not to assume too much when the Spirit of God uses us to bless someone else.

God’s grace is an extraordinary gift, so generously given, even when our own attitudes and holiness are at their lowest point. This backslidden man of God was struggling with his own desire for material gain. But against that black backdrop we find the bright light of God’s grace trying to break through into his soul.

“LORD, we do not want to be so stubborn that You have to pry us out of our sin. Give us an undivided heart and singleness of mind to walk with You in integrity this day.”