What practical steps can we take to trust God's word like Balaam did? Opening the Scene in Numbers 23:17 “He returned to him, and there was Balak standing beside his burnt offering with the princes of Moab. And Balak said to him, ‘What has the LORD spoken?’” Seeing Balaam’s Confidence • Balaam walks straight back to Balak, unchanged by royal pressure. • He assumes that whatever God spoke is final—no edits, no spin. • His stance: God’s word is the only word that matters (cf. Numbers 23:12). Practical Steps for Us Today • Put God’s voice first: begin each day in Scripture before news, social media, or opinions (Psalm 119:147–148). • Settle the authority issue: decide in advance that Scripture outranks culture, feelings, or traditions (2 Timothy 3:16). • Speak what God says: let biblical truth shape conversations, parenting, and decisions, even when unpopular (Ephesians 4:15). • Resist external pressure: Balaam faced a king; we face peers, trends, and fears—stand firm anyway (Galatians 1:10). • Practice immediate obedience: act on the verse you just read; trust grows when truth is applied (James 1:22). • Recall past faithfulness: keep a journal of answered prayer and fulfilled promises, just as Israel remembered the Exodus (Psalm 77:11). Anchoring Trust in God’s Unchanging Character • “God is not a man, that He should lie…” (Numbers 23:19). • “It is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18). • “In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Titus 1:2). If God cannot lie, His written word is as reliable as His spoken word to Balaam. Reinforcing Trust Through the Whole Counsel of Scripture • Psalm 119:105 – His word guides step by step. • Matthew 4:4 – Jesus Himself relies on written Scripture against temptation. • John 17:17 – “Your word is truth.” Link each passage you read back to these anchors; repetition cements confidence. Living Out This Trust Daily 1. Read: choose a steady plan; let context build clarity. 2. Memorize: carry key verses for on-the-spot temptations. 3. Meditate: turn a verse over in your mind during commutes or chores. 4. Obey: translate insight into action the same day. 5. Share: recount what God said—and how He proved faithful—to family and friends; testimony strengthens both speaker and listener (Revelation 12:11). Trusting God’s word like Balaam begins with exposure to Scripture, is anchored in God’s unchanging nature, and is proven through daily obedience—until, like Balaam, we can do nothing but repeat exactly what the Lord has spoken. |
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