Sunday, I had the opportunity to lead the 10th grade boys in a study of “God is Faithful” and the story of Balaam. In reading the bible front from to back again, I had just recently re-read Numbers 22, 23, and 24 and the story of Balaam was fresh in my mind as a miracle, the interaction with God, and the steadfastness of God. I had never really owned the interaction when leading the boys before, but I was comfortable enough to finally do so.
The miraculous focus of the story is of course the talking donkey. I probably never would have remembered it as a miracle in the Bible, but there it sits in Numbers 22 and is in response to a particular sin by Balaam. The Jews are marching into the promise land and have just wiped out their neighbors, and Moab is afraid they are next. The king of Moab calls on Balaam to curse the Jews and save his nation.
In the story, we learn that Balaam is a prophet. The Moabites seek to turn the tables on the Jews by asking, and then bribing the prophet to be on their side. Next, we learn that Balaam is a prophet who speaks to the one true God and receives answers. Balaam knows he as a man has no power, but he can listen to God and profess what he hears. God tells him to rebuke the Moabites as the Jews are blessed by God, and He will not change their status on account of the Moabites.
The dilemma in the story is that the Moabites persist, and Balaam goes in to ask God a second time what to do. In God’s eyes, Balaam should not have asked twice. It is seen as sin, and God uses the actions and words of the donkey to reveal the sin to Balaam.
Balaam is tremendously blessed as he not only hears the words of God, but he also gets to see an angel with a flaming sword ready to strike him dead. That would serve to get anyone’s attention. God spares Ballam from death and then proceeds to use him to humiliate the Moabites and their friends and fulfill His desire to bless the Jews as they spread out in the promised land.
The lesson focused on the profession of Balaam for and against the nations involved. The goal was to teach the boys that based on who God is, and what He has promised, that He will be faithful and we should act accordingly, victorious. One student noted that his grandmother was a great example of faithfulness because she always follows God. We had a long discussion about the small things of the world that tend to distract us from the service of God. If I could memorize anything, I would have memorized the statement by one of the students that once and for all made know that he was listening and processing. It was profound and covered the pointlessness of living without God, especially when He was always there, and it took action on your part to push Him away.
God is faithful. I am pretty sure I got every student to say that at least once and that they each referenced something that brought it home. God will be faithful to bring all those who believe in His Son home to live with Him in Heaven. The image of a large cube sitting on earth that our pastor discussed is a topic for another day, but oh what a day it will be when God is faithful in this.