Feigning Obedience

Author: Joseph

Date: December 23, 2018

Balak, king of Moab, greatly feared the people of Israel for their success in conquering the land of the Amorites. God was granting them victory as they moved forward in their journey. The elders of Moab feared that they would be destroyed and begged Balak to save them. Balak sent messengers to consult Balaam, whom was known for his ability to curse and bless.

Balaam, the diviner, was visited by Balak’s messengers and had them wait overnight while he spoke with God. God revealed to Balaam that Israel was a blessed people and that he should not go with the messengers, so Balaam sent the messengers away.

Balak, displeased with Balaam’s response, sent another group of messengers, but of more distinguished men. These messengers sent word from Balak that he had promised to make Balaam rich if he would do this favor and curse Israel. This time, Balaam responded saying that he could do not thing contrary to the command of God.

When Balaam consulted God, he was told to go with the messengers when they departed back to their land, but also instructed that he was supposed to do nothing besides what God instructed Him to do. Evil desires filled Balaam’s heart as he was given permission to go with the messengers. At this moment, Balaam was seized with his greed, thinking of ways to please Balak and become wealthy while still obeying God. In his mind, this did not seem to be in opposition to God’s command. His desire would cause him to disobey God anyway.

Balaam arose the next morning, prepared to leave, but God was angry with him and the angel of the Lord stood in Balaam’s way as an adversary to him, with a sword unsheathed and ready to kill him. This angel, unseen to Balaam, was not placed in his path as a warning, but rather, was waiting to take Balaam’s life if he tried to pass him. Balaam’s journey forward meant his death because of his feigned obedience to God.

Balaam’s donkey could see the angel of the Lord in the path and turned away twice from the angel. The third time, the donkey simply laid down to stop Balaam from going further. Balaam angrily whipped the donkey, but God allowed the donkey to speak to him. The donkey defended its actions and then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam to see the angel that stood as an adversary against him.

The angel said to Balaam, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me” (Numbers 22:32). After the angel explained how close Balaam was to being killed, he commanded Balaam, “Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you” (Numbers 22:35). Balaam greatly feared for his life and went forward in the journey doing as the Lord commanded him.

Balaam blessed Israel in obedience to God, but before he left the king of Moab, he advised Balak to tempt Israel to sin and thereby bring a curse upon themselves. Balaam did not curse Israel himself, but got them to do it for him. This becomes known later as the “error of Balaam,” (Jude 1:11) who “loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Peter 2:15). Balaam walked away with great wealth after feigning obedience to God and bringing Israel to curse themselves by sinning.

But Balaam’s sin did not go unpunished. Later, as Moses and the Israelites fought against Midian, Balaam was slain by the sword.

Balaam was warned three times not to pursue his greedy desires and disobey God, and after doing what was right and blessing Israel as God commanded, Balaam still fell back into sin because of his desire for wealth. While his desire was fulfilled for a short time and his shrewd plan seemed to work, his sin eventually lead to his death.

Do you only obey God when the consequences are immediate and apparent? God expects us to obey Him with all our heart and mind. When we seek ways around what God has commanded us or seek to find a “technicality” that makes something sinful “okay,” we are revealing how disobedient we actually are, regardless of what we claim to do or be for God. When we live in disobedience, we live against God and He becomes an adversary to us.

Is your first desire to obey God or do you seek ways to still do what you want and make believe you are obeying God? Do not feign obedience, but truly seek to do what is right according to God.

Bible Passage: Numbers 22:1 – 25:3

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB). www.lockman.org