Finding Strength in Our Defender

Published on Apr 20, 2023
Category: Behold! | Devotion

Read: Numbers 23-25

Numbers 23:18-20 – Then he spoke his message: 
“Arise, Balak, and listen;
    hear me, son of Zippor.
God is not human, that he should lie,
    not a human being, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
    Does he promise and not fulfill?
I have received a command to bless;
    he has blessed, and I cannot change it.

When the Lord fights for you, who can stand against you?

Balak was petrified, filled with terror, and in a sense, rightly so. The children of Israel were a large number with a fame of having been victorious over the neighbouring nations. And yet, if he had only known and believed God’s word, he would have known he had no reason to fear. God did not intend to give the land of the Moabites to Israel (Deuteronomy 2:9). Often, we lose our sleep and are overwhelmed by fears rather than know and rest in God’s word, don’t you think?

Balak overwhelmed by the physical size of Israel, calls Balaam, a pagan prophet, to cripple them spiritually. Balak seemed to know the strength of Israel was spiritually rooted, and they had to cut off from their source of power if they were to be conquered.

Balaam was known as a mighty man in spiritual things. As far as Balak was concerned, when Balaam cursed or blessed a man or a people, it came to pass. “Cursing was a very solemn business in the ancient world and often thought to be automatically effective: the words themselves contained the power to affect those who heard them and disregarded them (Deuteronomy 27:15, 1 Samuel 14:24).” (Wenham). But when the Lord is for us, who can be against us right?

A talking donkey, really? God uses a donkey to open Balaam’s eyes. Balaam, a non-Israelite appears in this account and the Bible does not give us any background information on him of how he came to know the Lord. But it is evident that he had some knowledge of the true God, the God of Israel, which went beyond vague spiritual connection (Numbers 22:8).

Though Balak brought Balaam to curse Israel, yet Balaam could not curse Israel. “Balaam would have reversed the blessing into a curse, had he been able…. Is not this also the despair of Satan? God hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, and he cannot reverse them.” (Meyer)

What is the source of your strength, are you spiritually rooted in the true God? Is your armor of God in place? For we know that our battles are not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers of this dark world? The Lord is our Way Maker, mighty in battle and fights for you and me, who trust in Him.

Ponder

  1. How often do I rely on my own strength rather than trusting in God’s strength when facing challenges in life?
  2. Are there areas in my life where I struggle to fully trust in God’s promises and faithfulness?
  3. In what ways can I put on the armor of God and prepare myself for the spiritual battles that I may face in life?

Scripture Writing: Isaiah 54:17

Song: Way Maker

Series: Spiritual Warfare

For more daily devotions like this – At the Potter’s Wheel (Kindle)

Author

Preethi Alice Jacob

Preethi Jacob is the author of the yearlong devotional At the Potter’s Wheel, Day by Day. Her journey includes teaching a Bible Study Fellowship class, teaching and leading the Sunday School ministry in her church, leading Bible studies, besides counselling young women. She serves on the Global Mission Team of the United Bible Societies and lives in Bangalore, India with her husband and two young adult children.

We’d love to hear your thoughts!

0 Comments

Leave a Reply

Continue Reading..