How can we trust God's promises in light of Numbers 23:8? Setting the Scene: Balaam's Unintended Sermon • Numbers 23 details the pagan seer Balaam hired to curse Israel. • When Balaam opens his mouth, however, he proclaims, “How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?” (Numbers 23:8). • Even an opponent cannot override the divine will. If God says blessing, blessing stands. That simple reality forms the bedrock for trusting every promise He makes. God’s Character Guarantees His Promises • Truthful and incapable of falsehood: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should change His mind” (Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:18). • Sovereign: No circumstance or human scheme can thwart Him (Job 42:2; Isaiah 46:9-10). • Faithful to covenant love: He binds Himself by oath, as with Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3; 15:17-18). Promises Rooted in Blessing, Not Curse • Balaam’s oracle echoes Genesis 12:3—those whom God blesses remain blessed. • In Christ, the curse of sin is broken (Galatians 3:13-14). Every promise now flows through that blessing to all who trust Him (2 Corinthians 1:20). • When facing doubt, remember: if God would not even allow a paid prophet to curse Israel, He certainly will not abandon those redeemed by the blood of His Son (Romans 8:32). Proof in Scripture’s Track Record • Deliverance from Egypt fulfilled centuries-old words to Abraham (Genesis 15:13-14; Exodus 12:41). • Exile and restoration fulfilled prophetic warnings and promises (Jeremiah 25:11-12; Ezra 1:1-3). • Messiah’s birth, death, and resurrection came exactly as foretold (Micah 5:2; Isaiah 53; Psalm 16:10). • Because every promise kept builds a chain of credibility, present-day believers stand in a long line of proven faithfulness. Practical Ways to Anchor Your Trust • Rehearse God’s past faithfulness—keep a journal of answered prayers and fulfilled Scripture. • Memorize key promise passages (Isaiah 41:10; Romans 8:28) and speak them aloud when fears arise. • Surround yourself with believers who testify to God’s reliability (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Act on what He says; obedience brings experiential confirmation that His word stands (James 1:22-25). • Fix your hope on His unchanging nature, not shifting circumstances: “For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6). Conclusion: Confidence That Cannot Be Cursed Numbers 23:8 shows that once God speaks blessing, no opposing voice can reverse it. His truthfulness, sovereignty, and covenant faithfulness secure every promise He has made to His people. Stand on that unshakeable foundation today and tomorrow, certain that the God who would not let Balaam utter a single curse will never let His word to you fail. |
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