Balaam's Folly: Navigating Obedience

Daily Reflection: Numbers 22:20 — 1/30/2024

That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.” — Numbers 22:20 

There was once an aged lady whose lifelong driver suddenly passed away, and she was in need of a new one whose skill and hospitality matched the old. She lived in a hilly area, with many dangerous and windy roads, so it was of the utmost importance that the driver could maneuver well.

The test for the final 2 drivers was to see how well they could control the car going up the most dangerous hill in the area. The first driver, out of an abundance of caution, took his time and kept the car as far away from the edge as possible. He made it up in 3 minutes.

The second man, a former race car driver, saw how long it took the first driver and decided to demonstrate his mastery over the machine and the road. He not only made it up the hill in 45 seconds but did so while keeping the car right on the edge of the cliff.

All the servants watching were frightened but amazed at the second driver's skill, for though the car looked like it would go over the edge several times, it was clear that he was in total control the entire time.

When the lady walked up to the first driver, handed him her car keys and offered him the position, both he and the other driver, along with all the hired servants, were astounded.

The second driver said, “Clearly I am the better driver than he; why did I not get the position?”

The lady responded, “I don’t want a driver that likes to get close to the edge; I want a driver that likes to get me where I need to be.”

In Numbers 22, we are introduced to a diviner named Balaam; he liked to get close to the edge. He was approached by representatives from Moab and given an offer to curse Israel. Balaam initially inquired of God, and God said, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed” (Numbers 22:12).

There is no lack of clarity in God’s commandment there. Three unambiguous statements.

• You shall not go with them.

• You shall not curse the people.

• They are blessed.

Balaam’s path was clear; his dealings with the Moabites should have been complete; he knew the Lord’s thoughts concerning the matter, all that was left was to obey them. But when more representatives showed up and sweetened the deal, after making what seems like a thin statement of loyalty to God — “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more” — Balaam added, “Please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me” (Numbers 22:18-20).

That night the Lord, perhaps sensing the true desires of Balaam’s heart, said to him, “‘If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.’ So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab” (Numbers 22:20-21).

Why did God have to add, “but only do what I tell you”? I believe because he saw in Balaam’s heart a desire to do more, to find wiggle room, to drive too close to the edge.

As the story goes, Balaam hung around people that wanted him to go against the commandment of God, and he found a way to do so. It led to the downfall of many.

We do not prioritize faithful obedience merely because it is safe; for often times sticking with the commands of God feels like the most dangerous thing one could do. We prioritize faithful obedience because it keeps us on the path that God — who is our ultimate safety and goodness — is traveling. We know that this path leads to the place God wants us to be, rather than plunging us and/or others into destruction.

Almighty God, you have given us your Word, which the psalmist described as “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Grant that we, who face so many temptations to stray from the path by walking dangerously close to the edges of obedience, would discover the blessed joys of sticking close to you through the obedience of faith. And may the name of Jesus be praised as people see the fruits of obedience made manifest in our lives and the lives of others. In his name, we ask this. Amen.

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