How does Numbers 23:5 connect with God's unchanging nature in Malachi 3:6? Setting the scene in Numbers 22–24 • Israel is encamped on the plains of Moab. • Balak, king of Moab, hires Balaam to curse Israel. • Three separate times Balaam seeks a curse, but God overrides his plans with blessing (Numbers 23–24). God speaks through Balaam — Numbers 23:5 “Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth and said, ‘Return to Balak and speak what I tell you.’” Key observations: • God initiates the message; Balaam is only a mouthpiece. • The wording shows divine control—Balaam cannot alter or dilute what God says (cf. Numbers 22:38; 23:12). • The words God places are words of irrevocable blessing on His covenant people (Numbers 23:8, 20). Malachi’s reminder of God’s constancy — Malachi 3:6 “Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.” Key observations: • God’s changeless nature (immutability) protects Israel from annihilation despite their failings. • The covenant name “LORD” (YHWH) ties the statement directly to the promises first given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Threads that tie the two texts together 1. Same covenant God – In Numbers 23:5 God defends His people through blessing; in Malachi 3:6 He still preserves them centuries later. 2. Unalterable word – Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind.” – Malachi 3:6 echoes this truth: God’s nature (and therefore His word) does not shift. 3. Protection of Israel – Balaam’s oracles declare, “No misfortune is seen in Jacob” (Numbers 23:21). – Malachi tells the returned exiles, “You…have not been destroyed” (Malachi 3:6). 4. Blessing over curse – Balaam confesses he cannot curse whom God has blessed (Numbers 23:8). – Malachi reassures Israel that God’s steadfast nature preserves that blessing. Supporting Scriptures • Isaiah 40:8 — “The word of our God stands forever.” • Psalm 102:27 — “You are the same, and Your years will never end.” • James 1:17 — God has “no variation or shifting shadow.” • Hebrews 13:8 — “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” • Romans 11:29 — “God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” Practical takeaways for today • God’s promises remain solid even when circumstances shift. • Our security rests not in our performance but in God’s unchanging character. • What God has spoken over His people—protection, provision, salvation—cannot be overturned by human schemes. • Confidence in prayer and obedience grows when we remember we serve the same unwavering God who blessed Israel through Balaam and preserved them in Malachi’s day. |
    |