At one time or the
other, we all probably may have experienced the persistence of a
child who does not want to take “No” for an answer. It sometimes seems like the
first "No" provides the energy to make a come back again and the motive behind
the tenacity is that somewhere in the one track mind of a child is the
hope that given the right amount of doggedness ,they would
eventually get a yes. But even we as adults also are guilty of this and it is the
next error we see Balaam committing.
" Balaam refused to come with us. Then again, Balak sent some more men,....." Numbers 22:14-15a
Balaam reaped what he sowed as the messengers do not fully relay all the conversation with him to Balak (Numbers 22:14-15). However it appears that they had said enough to let Balak know that he could try again. This he did as the Bible records that he sent more honourable men than the first group. It is the usual pattern of the enemy to use persistence in an attempt to break down our defences. (Joseph &Potiphar’s wife-Genesis 39:10; Samson &Delilah-Judges 16:16-17 )
" Balak tried again. This time he sent a larger number of
even more distinguished ambassadors than the former group"- Numbers 22:15 Today's
Living Bible TLB
"16 And they came to Balaam
and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Please let nothing hinder
you from coming to me; 17 for I will certainly
honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore please come,
curse this people for me.’”-Numbers 22:16-17 New
English Translation NET
It is easy to read the
story and think that this return visit occurred the next day but taking
into cognizance the distance between Moab and Pethor which was
about a thirty days journey, at least a minimum of sixty days would
have elapsed between the first and second visits .The dynamics of
life may have moved negatively for him in this period ; recession, stagnation
in ministry, unpaid utility bills and children’s school fees, threatening court
charges are only but a few possibilities. This would have made the offer which
the return of Balak’s emissaries brought worth considering again. Initially it
was just the fee of divination(Numbers 22:7),but now he was also given a
blank cheque (Numbers 22:16-17) .It
is not unusual for things to happen in our lives that that would tempt us to
begin to reconsider our Word based convictions.
19 Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.”
It is also
typical for the enemy to come knocking again but what was wrong was for Balaam
to start considering again what he had already been forbidden not to do. Balaam entertained Balak’s emissaries and promised to check again what
more the Lord would say but what exactly did he want to check? Approximately two
months ago, he had a definite word from God not to go .Did he think God is
fickle and was it possible for him to have a rethink,a second thought?
It is not that anything in particular is wrong with checking our instructions again but in this case, Balaam was doing a recheck because he did not want to obey the original command. Rather than adjusting his life to the definite word of God, he was looking for another word to suit his purpose. Sometimes we seek this other word by going to seek counselling elsewhere.This is a common error and one of the signs of the last days where we prefer to listen to teachers who would tell us what we want to hear and endorse our actions (2 Tim 4:3).
We are all tempted
differently and at different times. The enemy hardly gives up and may
sometimes leave us for a while (Luke 4:13),to try again. Sometimes like Balaam,
our search for a recheck or to listen to" what more "may be to
endorse what we really want to do, regardless of God’s word. But God’s
Word is our instruction manual for life (Psalms 109:105). As far as
the Word of God is concerned, it is meant to be obeyed, not reasoned ( Luke
11:28,John 14:15;15:14 ,1 John 2:4).We should submit our desires to the Word
and use it as a mirror to correct our actions(James 1:23-25, Psalms
119:9,11) rather than using it as a camera to take pictures of things as they
are, with no change intended. God’s word cannot and will not change
(Psalms 119:89) and as his children, we should see it as the final authority.
Yours in His Service,
Grace Tom-Lawyer
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