The God You Can Trust

Series: A Confident Walk in Christ (6)

Numbers 23:19

New King James Version

God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

For Encouragement

The enemy doesn’t give up easily. Just because you resisted him once does not deter him (Luke 4:13). He is relentless. His purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10a). He employs a sneak attack when his deception has worked on his victim.

Balak had enticed Balaam to come to him. He had taken the corrupt prophet to the rocky peaks above the plains of Moab to survey the Israelites and curse them. However, Balaam blessed the Israelites instead of cursing them (Numbers 23:6-11). How could he curse a people blessed by Yahweh (8)? Balak continues to press on, undeterred. He took Balaam to a strategic location where Balaam could see the Israelites better, but God maintained control of his mouth (16).

Dear reader, it is essential not to overlook this point.

Remember that your enemy’s mouth is under divine control, and only what God allows gets spoken. Before you object, consider His will and purpose. Review the scriptures concerning His dealings with the faithful saints for divine insight. What you find should reassure you when under attack.

Unfortunately, people do not always say pleasant things, so we struggle to believe and question God’s faithfulness. These things make sense only when we recognize God’s sovereignty and glory, which ultimately work for our good (Romans 8:28).

So, Balaam opens his mouth concerning Israel in his second oracle (Numbers 23:18-24). You should take your time to meditate on this prophecy, thus attaining the Christian’s position and blessing through Jesus Christ. But for now, focus on verse nineteen.

God is not a man, that He should lie,

Nor a son of man, that He should repent.

Has He said, and will He not do?

Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Translated, “Balak, I told you from God that Israel is His beloved and redeemed people, blessed and set apart to Himself—a people no diviner can curse or denounce. They are a unique people, unlike any other nation in the world. Now, listen carefully, Balak. God is not like you to lie or walk back on His word. He is unchanging by nature. When He relates to His creation, God becomes faithful to the core. Yahweh does what He says and fulfills every promise and pronouncement He makes. If I were you, Balak, I would prostrate before Him and submit to His rule and join the ranks of His people.” This unchanging nature of God should bring you a sense of stability in your faith.

Isn’t that the message believers should praise God for and share with unbelievers?

The apostle Paul puts it this way:

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13).

His faithfulness is the bedrock of our faith, the reason we can leave everything — fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters—to follow Him (Matthew 10:37). It is the reason we can deny ourselves and take up our crosses to follow Him without reservation (16:24).

That is authentic Christianity. It drives out every fear, be it witches, ancestral curses or intended curses, demons, principalities, and powers, with all the authorities and wicked spirits in the heavenly realm. This type of Christianity allows for a confident walk with God in Christ. He who lives separated in holiness and trusts His sovereignty enjoys its fruits. Amen.