How does Balaam's action in Numbers 23:3 demonstrate seeking God's guidance first? The Immediate Setting Balak has prepared seven altars and offered sacrifices, hoping to buy a curse against Israel. Balaam, however, pauses before uttering any words. Balaam Withdraws to Hear the LORD “Then Balaam said to Balak, ‘Stay here beside your burnt offering while I am gone. Perhaps the LORD will meet with me. I will tell you whatever He reveals to me.’ So he went off to a barren height.” (Numbers 23:3) How Balaam’s Action Models Seeking God First • Separation for communion – Balaam physically steps away, illustrating that genuine guidance often requires deliberate space free from outside pressure. • Expectation of divine initiative – “Perhaps the LORD will meet with me” shows he will not speak until God speaks. • Submission of tongue – “I will tell you whatever He reveals to me” reflects a commitment to relay God’s word, not personal opinion. • Priority over human authority – Though standing before a king, Balaam honors God’s authority first, demonstrating Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man is a snare.” • Pattern of waiting – Like David who “inquired of the LORD” before battle (1 Chronicles 14:10), Balaam refuses to act hastily. Why This Matters for Us • Consultation before conversation – Decisions, counsel, or confrontation should follow time alone with God (James 1:5). • Silence precedes speech – We echo Balaam’s restraint when we refuse to offer advice, social-media posts, or major plans until Scripture and prayer have guided us. • Dependence, not presumption – Balaam’s “perhaps” guards against assuming God’s endorsement; it reminds us to test every impulse by the Word (1 John 4:1). • Witness to observers – Balak sees a servant who answers to Someone higher, reinforcing that our deference to God can evangelize without a sermon. Related Passages Reinforcing the Principle • Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight.” • Psalm 25:4-5 – “Show me Your ways, O LORD… for You are the God of my salvation.” • Isaiah 8:20 – “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light.” • Luke 6:12-13 – Jesus spends all night in prayer before choosing the twelve, the perfect fulfillment of seeking the Father first. Summing Up Balaam’s step onto the barren height underscores one timeless truth: before voices, choices, or actions carry weight, the believer must first hear from God. |
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