Day 67, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Numbers 22–24
God Protects His Own
A mother and father protect their children. Employers show loyalty to their employees. The military has a code—no soldier left behind. Pastors speak well of their people and love them like family. In similar ways, God loves his people. In today’s Bible reading, God protects Israel from curses. How does God protect us?
After forty years of wilderness wanderings for their sin and rebellion, God is favorable to Israel once again and gives her military victories. She conquers the Amorites, King Og of Bashan, and his army. Balak, the Moabite king, is fearful that he might be next. A great horde of Israelites is right on his border, and he fears they are too large for his armies to defeat. What is he to do?
The threat
Balak knows of a man, Balaam, who has a reputation for divination—those whom Balaam curses are cursed, and those whom he blesses are blessed! King Balak sends princes to him with a divination fee to secure his services. He wants Baalam to curse the Israelites, so Balak can be rid of them or have some advantage.
God loves Israel, however, and she is under his protection. Balaam asks the LORD what he should do—should he go with them or not? God says no; Israel is blessed by him, the Sovereign LORD. The diviner sends the princes home.
Frustrated by Balaam’s refusal, the king sends him more distinguished royalty with promises of great riches. Balaam is tempted and wants to go with them. He asks the LORD once more, for he “loved the wages of wickedness” (2Peter 2:15, NIV). Seeing Balaam is determined, the LORD gives his consent, warning him to do only what he tells him. Yet, God is angry that he went. As a parent who has already said no to his child and is asked again, God gives reluctant permission but qualifies it.
Threat Interrupted
Balaam knows God does not really want him to go. When he leaves anyway, thinking he has technically received permission, he is frustrated by his transportation vehicle, his donkey. His donkey is acting strangely! Balaam can’t understand why the donkey suddenly lurches to one side, crushing his foot against a rock wall. Shortly after that, she abruptly stops and lays down. The donkey sees something Baalam doesn’t see—the Angel of the LORD has a drawn sword in his hand, and he blocks their path wherever they go.
Balaam is angry. He beats his animal three times. Then, miraculously, the donkey speaks to him, asking him why his master is abusing him. Then God opens Balaam’s eyes to see the scary scene—the Angel of the LORD is standing in their path! The donkey was just trying to protect his master. Balaam realizes his sin and offers to go back home. However, the Angel of the LORD lets him go on his way but reminds Balaam again that he can only speak what God wants him to say.
Do we do whatever the LORD says, or do we act according to our own desires and in a way that profits us? We need to please God with our actions and our words (James 3:2-10).God defends us
Does God defend us like Israel? The Apostle Paul later writes to Christians,
If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all— how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39, NIV)
Only calamities or other trouble that God allows can come upon us. He loves and defends us; we are his children if we have a personal relationship with him (more...).
The Angel of the LORD is probably a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ.
Discussion
How does God want us to obey? What does he not want us to do?
How did God protect Israel, and how might he protect us?
Focus Verse
Psalm 18:30 (NIV) “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
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Looking Ahead: God protects his own, but we must live responsible lives to keep his blessings. When we mess up, we must come to God for restoration. See what this means in our Next Lesson called Responsibility and Restoration.
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