How can we trust God's blessings in our lives, as seen in Numbers 23:20? Setting the Scene Numbers 23 drops us into the strange story of Balaam, a pagan diviner hired by Moab’s king to curse Israel. Instead of a curse, Balaam blurts out: “See, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot change it.” (Numbers 23:20) That single sentence is a window into the rock-solid nature of God’s blessings—and why we can lean on them today. The Core Truth in Numbers 23:20 • God, not Balaam, authored the blessing. • Once God speaks blessing, no one—prophet, king, enemy, or circumstance—can revoke it. • The verse is not mere poetry; it reports a historical event that proves the irreversibility of God’s spoken favor. Why God’s Blessings Are Trustworthy 1. God’s character is unchanging • “I, the LORD, do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) • Every “good and perfect gift” comes from Him, “with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” (James 1:17) 2. His word is final • “The counsel of the LORD stands forever.” (Psalm 33:11) • Balaam’s confession echoes Isaiah 14:27: “For the LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who will annul it?” 3. Blessing flows from covenant faithfulness • God had already promised Abraham, “I will bless you… and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3) • Numbers 23:20 shows God defending that covenant centuries later. 4. Grace, not human merit, secures it • Israel was far from perfect in the wilderness, yet God still blessed. • Today, believers stand in Christ’s perfection: “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.” (Ephesians 1:4) 5. The blessing culminates in Christ • “Christ redeemed us… so that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:13-14) • In Him, every promise is “Yes.” (2 Corinthians 1:20) Living in the Confidence of His Blessing • Receive, don’t resist – Stop measuring God’s favor by feelings or circumstances. – Let Scripture, not shifting emotions, define reality. • Speak what God has spoken – Balaam ended up declaring God’s words. – Align your own words with passages like Ephesians 1:3 and Romans 8:32. • Walk in obedience – Blessing is secure, but obedience positions us to enjoy it (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). – Trust becomes visible when we step out in faith-filled action. • Rest when opposed – Enemies may plot, but “no curse without cause will alight.” (Proverbs 26:2) – Remember Balaam: even the hired mouth of a foe couldn’t overturn God’s decree. • Look ahead with hope – God’s irreversible blessing includes our future: “His gifts and His call are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:29) – Every chapter of eternity has already been written in our favor through Christ. Key Takeaways • God’s blessings originate in His unchanging nature and sovereign will. • Once spoken, they stand; no human or spiritual power can revoke them. • Trust grows as we anchor ourselves in Scripture, agree with God’s declarations, obey His voice, and rest in Christ’s finished work. |
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