December 17, 2022
Passage Read: Numbers 20-23
Meditation Verses: 23:20-24
Thought
It is amazing to me that the Lord could be so frustrated by His people and yet say such things about them. He speaks to and through Balaam about His delight in and blessing on Israel, yet they have experienced misfortune...every time they sin against Him! They provoke Him to anger and He rebukes and punishes them, but then brags on them to others, or at least brags on His love for and goodness to them. He wants to bless them and do them good; He is taking them to the land He promised to them, to bless them and provide for them. But they keep throwing up roadblocks by their rebellion and lack of faith. Still, He is prevailing, though not without cost. The stubbornly faithless are being eliminated from among them. Yet, Balaam is about to figure out that the only way to weaken Israel is from within, by inciting them to provoke the Lord against themselves.
Application
To His own people, God seems angry and harsh. But to outsiders, God speaks of them in glowing terms. He loves Israel, but not because they are lovable and invite such love. He grows weary of them and destroys hundreds, even thousands each rebellion. But He remains committed to doing good to them and speaking good of them; really, He speaks of the good He intends to do for them. He seems two-faced, saying one thing but doing another. But the hard reality is that He does delight in them and delights in doing good to them, but He wants them to walk in ways that are good for them, but they don't get it. There is a disconnect between what God wants for them and their willingness to participate. So He works to shape them up internally while also publicly declaring His love for them. He is not actually inconsistent; they are the ones not getting it, not listening so as to enjoy the fullness of His favor. It's not unlike being a husband or father. To outsiders you talk of the plans you have to bless the family, but internally you're still trying to train them to walk in ways that allow you to pour out your love for them. Both come from the same spring of love.