Numbers

Numbers 22: God rules over every word

Begin in prayer

Before meeting a king who tries to buy a curse, let us ask God for hearts that honour His Word above reward. Pray that He will expose our greed and show us the faithfulness of Jesus.

But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases.

Psalm 115:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Keep our hearts from greed, and show us Jesus, whose saving care cannot be bought or defeated. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Israel camps on the plains of Moab, and the frightened king Balak sends for Balaam to curse them. God forbids the curse because the people are blessed, so the first messengers return without him. More honoured princes come with promises of reward, and God permits the journey while restricting Balaam to His word. God’s anger burns as Balaam goes, and His angel blocks the road with a drawn sword. Balaam strikes the donkey that avoids the angel, until God opens its mouth and then opens Balaam’s eyes. The angel rebukes his perverse way and again commands him to speak only God’s word. Balaam meets Balak and warns that he has no power to say anything beyond what God puts in his mouth.

As you read Numbers 22, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God guards His blessed people and rules over those who would curse them.

Balak fears Israel’s numbers and victories, so he seeks a curse to do what his army cannot. His messengers carry payment for divination, an attempt to gain hidden knowledge or power through forbidden means. God forbids the curse because Israel is blessed. Balaam speaks of obeying God, yet keeps asking after God has made His will known. God later allows the journey under a strict command, while His anger and the angel show that Balaam’s way is wrong. The donkey sees the danger before the man does, and God opens its mouth to rebuke him. Balaam reaches Balak with no power to speak beyond what God gives him.

How does Numbers 22 show us that God guards His blessed people and rules over those who would curse them?

God’s blessing cannot be overruled by an enemy’s payment.

Balak offers honour and rewards because he wants Israel driven from the land. God says they must not be cursed, because they are blessed. The king’s fear and wealth cannot take control of God’s purpose.

God exposes the wrong hidden behind religious words.

Balaam says he cannot go beyond God’s word, yet asks again when richer promises arrive. Second Peter 2 verses 15 and 16 explains that he loved the wages of wrongdoing. God uses the donkey’s voice to rebuke the man who claims to speak for Him.

God controls what Balaam may do and say.

The donkey turns aside from the angel three times, saving Balaam’s life. God opens his eyes, and the angel calls his way perverse. Even after allowing him onward, the Lord restricts him to the words He gives.

Memorise

The word that God puts in my mouth, that shall I speak.

Numbers 22:38

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what reward do I want more than obeying Jesus?

God tells Balaam, “You shall not curse the people; for they are blessed.” The king’s rewards cannot overturn His word. Even the man hired to speak a curse must say what God gives him.

We have let greed and pride shape our words. Jesus willingly suffered for His people and carried their guilt to the cross. He died under the judgment their sin deserved, then rose to life. His saving task is complete, and His sacrifice supplies all they need for peace with God.

Turn from sin and trust Jesus. His mercy brings forgiveness to everyone who receives Him by faith. Please ask Him to loosen the hold that money or praise has on your heart. The Savior who guards His people teaches them to value His Word above every reward.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God knows what their hearts love, and Jesus saves sinners who turn from sin and trust Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for guarding His people and ruling over every enemy’s plan, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and Mammon.”

Luke 16:13

Lord God, thank You that no enemy can buy power over Your Word. Please expose the greed and pride in our hearts. Turn each of us from sin to trust Jesus. Teach us to love what You say more than money, praise or getting our own way this week. Amen.