Sunday, March 8, 1998

WHATEVER THE LORD SAYS, I DO

 

Numbers 23:13-26 vs26
But Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell you,
‘Whatever the Lord says, that is what I must do’?"

The bank robber entered the bank with his ski mask covering his
face and his starters pistol drawn, yelling, "Everybody freeze."

He figured the sight of him, would cause fear and panic, and
everyone in the bank would freeze. What he didn’t expect, was
that his words would go unheard, because everybody’s attention
was on a pregnant women who was delivering a baby.

It was apparent to him, that no one there knew what to do. His
first thought was to flee the bank, but the look on the pregnant
women’s face made him stop. The terror in her eyes, caused him
to remember, that one time in his life he was an EMT, an
Emergency Medical Technician. That was before he made friends
with Johnnie Walker, and Budweiser, and Flieshman’s.

He took the mask off, dropped his pistol, and delivered a baby in
the lobby of the bank. When it was over, he was gratefully
embraced by, both mother and father. The handcuffs binding his
hands behind his back, made it impossible to embrace them back.

"Whatever the Lord says, that is what I must do."

A group of teenagers broke into the back door of the house, with
plans of tying up the elderly couple and ransacking the house. A
strong smell of gas greeted them as they entered the kitchen. One
kid said, "This house is going to blow, let’s get out of here."

They left the house as quickly as they entered. As they ran down
the back stairs one boy asked, "What about the old couple in the
house." A response from the group was, "Who cares?"

Apparently he did, because he turned, entered the house. He found
the couple in their upstairs bedroom. He roused them from their
sleep and got them out of the house safely.

The gas company truck left, followed by a police car, with the
boy sitting in the back seat.

"Whatever the Lord says, that is what I must do."

Two stories of bad intentions, turned good. That is the story of
Balaam in a nut shell.

King Balak requests, Balaam to travel nearly 400 miles to
curse Israel, but instead he blessed them.

I can’t blame King Balak for wanting to curse Israel. Since
leaving Kadesh, the Israelites have left behind a path of
destruction. First it was King Arad and the Canaanites, then it
was King Sihon and the Amorites, and lastly it was King Og and
the people of Bashan. No doubt King Balak, fully expected that he
and his people, would be the Israelite’s next victim, so he
summons Balaam.

Balaam was a sorcerer. Sorcerers in Old Testament days, were
thought to have power with the gods. They could be called on, for
the right price, to place a blessing or curse on whom ever you
wanted it.

In King Balak’s case he wanted Balaam to use his powers in
order to influence God and get God to curse the Israelites.

Exactly what Balaam believed or knew about God we don’t
know. Evidently, Balaam had a certain degree of knowledge
about the God of Israel, but clearly not enough knowledge, to
believe in God, or have faith in God. Balaam must have believed
that the God of Israel had some power, because he did plan to
communicate with God, and get God to do what King Balak
wanted.

Balaam’s motivation for asking God to curse the Israelites,
should not be seen as a sign of allegiance to King Balak. His
motivation was King Balak’s promise to give him his house full
of silver and gold.

What happens next in this story, is exactly what happened in the
second story I started with.

God communicates with Balaam, and instructs Balaam to speak
only the words that God, put in His mouth.
Balaam says to King Balak,

"Whatever the Lord says, that is what I must do."

King Balak has been fully warned, but his desire to destroy the
Israelites, makes him deaf to Balaam’s warning. The king takes
Balaam to the top of Mount Bamoth-baal. He sets his eyes on the
Israelites in the plains below and he orders him to curse the
Israelites.

Balaam’s first attempt to curse Israel, results in a blessing to the
them, which angers King Balak.

King Balak must have thought a change of scenery would help, so
he took Balaam to the top of Mount Pisgah. But again, instead of
cursing the Israleites, God blessed them.

King Balak, then took Balaam to a third mountain top, Mount
Peor, but the results were no different. At this point, King Balak
angrily sends Balaam packing refusing to give Balaam his
promised reward. Balam responds,

"Did I not tell you,
 ‘Whatever the Lord says, that is what I must do?"

Perhaps you are thinking, Balaam should have gotten paid, after
all he was faithful in performing his task. What about the bank
robber who delivered the baby and the youth who alerted the
elderly couple? Possibly you are feeling they should not have
been arrested? After all what they did do was good.

Balaam was obedient to God only because he thought King Balak
would give him his house of gold and silver. It appears that
Balaam has turned completely to God, but later on in Numbers,
you will see Balaam could not resist the tempting pull of money
and idolatry. Once he realized that speaking the truth of God was
not profitable, he quickly returned to his old ways.

One can wonder, if only King Balak had paid Balaam, maybe
Balaam would have sworn allegiance to God. But then you have
to wonder, would Balaam had sworn allegiance to God because
he loved God or because of what allegiance to God could give
him.

This bring me to ask you, Why do you confess a faith in God?
Why do you serve God? Why do you offer your gifts of time,
talent, and treasure?

What motivates you?
The promise of what faith in God might bring you?
OR Is it a sincere heartfelt love for God?
Can you say:

"Whatever the Lord says, that is what I will do."

More importantly, Why would you say it?

Because you LOVE God, OR Because it is expected of you.

God’s love for you and me, IS UNCONDITIONAL

Can you say the same thing about your love for God?

"Whatever the Lord says, that is what I will do."

God’s will, will be done. He will not grant requests or wants
which are not consistent with his will.

Knowledge of God is not as lasting as Knowing God

Balak thought a change of location would do the trick, what was
needed was a change of heart.

Balaam was ready to obey God’s command as long as he could
profit from doing so. Obedience and profit. What is your motive
for following God, obedience or profit?

Reverend Richard Hayes Weyer



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