What can we learn about obedience from God's instruction to Balaam in Numbers 22:20? Setting the Scene Numbers 22:20: “That night God came to Balaam and said, ‘If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only do what I tell you.’” Balaam, a pagan diviner, had been summoned by Balak to curse Israel. Although Balaam initially refused, God’s conditional permission came after Balak’s persistent petitions. The verse captures the moment God clarifies Balaam’s path and sets strict boundaries. The Instruction Summarized • Permission: “Rise up and go with them.” • Limitation: “But only do what I tell you.” God’s directive was crystal-clear: Balaam could accompany Balak’s messengers, yet his words and actions must remain entirely within God’s command. Lessons on Obedience • God’s Word is Final – Even when circumstances change, God’s revealed word remains the decisive authority (Psalm 119:89). – Any obedience that compromises God’s explicit instruction ceases to be obedience at all. • Conditional Permission Requires Unconditional Submission – Balaam received freedom to travel but not freedom to speak independently. – True obedience accepts God-given limits without negotiation (1 Samuel 15:22). • Partial Compliance Is Disobedience – Later in the chapter, Balaam’s heart drifts toward self-interest, provoking the Angel of the LORD (Numbers 22:22-35). – God’s “but only” clause reminds us that 99 % obedience equals failure (James 2:10). • God Tests the Heart Through Obedience – The journey revealed Balaam’s inner motives; his donkey saw the angel before he did, exposing spiritual dullness (Hebrews 4:12). – Obedience is less about external performance and more about aligning the heart with God’s will (Proverbs 21:2). • Divine Authority Over Human Pressure – Balak hoped to manipulate Balaam with honor and reward (Numbers 22:17). – God’s authority supersedes political or social pressure (Acts 5:29). Practical Takeaways for Today • Guard the “Only” – Identify the non-negotiables God sets in His Word and refuse to compromise, even under intense pressure. • Check Motives Regularly – Like Balaam, we can technically obey while inwardly angling for personal gain. Invite God to search and refine the heart (Psalm 139:23-24). • Value Complete Obedience Over Convenient Options – When choices arise, ask, “Does this fully honor God’s instruction, or am I merely doing the minimum?” • Remember Love Fuels Obedience – “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15). Love makes obedience delight, not drudgery. • Stay Within God’s Boundaries – Freedom in Christ is not a license to self-direct but the power to walk exactly where God leads (Galatians 5:13-16). By embracing Balaam’s lesson, we learn that obedience means hearing every word God says—and doing exactly that, nothing less and nothing more. |
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