The Lord's Will Will Be Done

Numbers 23:11-12 (ESV)
¹¹ And Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them.” ¹² And he answered and said, “Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”


The Moabites were scared. They had seen what the people of Israel had done to the Amorites.  Now they were camping in the plains of Moab.  So the king of Moab, Balak, sent to messenger to get Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam was a diviner whom it was believed to possess the ability to effectively curse with his words. Balak was hoping to negate the advantage the Israelites had because of the Lord's presence with them.

But Balaam could not do it. The Lord came to him and told him not to go with these messengers. Balak sent even more important messengers. God said he could go if they beckoned him again. Balaam rose on his own, saddled his donkey and set out to see Balak. God was angered because he went without the messengers, without being called by them again and evidently with a perverse heart. He will either be struck down or he will obey every word of the Lord. So, he goes to Balak, offers the appropriate sacrifice and hears from the Lord. He is told what he is to say.

Thus, he comes back to Balak and blesses the Israelites rather than cursing them. Balak, who does not understand that God is sovereign is understandably angered. Balak didn't care what God's will was. He wanted the Israelites cursed.

But it didn't matter. God's will was done anyway. He desired to bless His people. Again, the will of God is done even when men try to keep it from happening. Jonah thought that he could head to Tarshish and defy God's will. The Jews thought that killing Jesus would silence Him. Paul thought that killing the Christians would end what he considered to be a cult.

Not everything that happens in the world is God's will but His transcendent will is assured. I can't help but believe that those who seek to end all wars will bring on the final and greatest battle ever. I believe those who are trying their best to kill faith will usher in His presence. His will simply will be done.

Balaam would never have blessed God's people if Balak hadn't called on him to curse them.

Sometimes I read the news and think God has lost control. I couldn't be more wrong.