Numbers 23:13–26, May 16, 2025 (Friday)

"God is not a 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?" (Numbers 23:19)

Text Summary

King Balak of Moab does not give up on his plan to curse Israel. He takes Balaam to another location, hoping that perhaps from a different angle, God might allow a curse to be spoken. This time, he brings him to the top of the field of Peor, where they can view the people of Israel. Balaam again builds altars, offers sacrifices, and waits to receive the word of the Lord.

Yet again, God commands Balaam not to curse Israel but to bless them. Balaam, obeying God’s word, declares that no one can curse the people whom God Himself has blessed. In response, Balak becomes angry and rebukes Balaam, attempting to send him away. But Balaam emphasizes once more that the word of God cannot be changed by any circumstance, and he can only speak what he has heard from God.

Reflection

May is a month bustling with activity. There are numerous church events, children returning from afar, and the preparations for graduations and summer breaks. In the midst of it all, many things slip by unnoticed and unattended. Especially when it comes to our children—we try to care for them well and raise them without lack. But they too are busy, and it has become hard to sit down face-to-face for deep conversations. Not only have I failed to care for them well, but the realization of how many things I’ve missed leaves me overwhelmed with guilt. I often ask myself, “Is this really the right way to live?”

I imagine my own mother must have felt similarly. Just as I began to open my eyes to the world, I became absorbed in my own busyness—prioritizing plans with friends, juggling various concerns, and acting as if I carried the weight of the world alone. Back then, when my parents tried to care for me, I probably brushed them off with “I’m fine” or “I’m too busy,” leaving them feeling unappreciated.

As May passes, the seasons draw us into the heart of summer, offering a brief pause, a moment of leisure. Yet even as we live a seemingly repetitive life, the weight of it grows heavier. We’ll soon find ourselves surprised by how fast time has passed and begin preparing for another busy autumn.

King Balak is a man who desires to shape God’s will to suit his own. He wishes that God would hate what he himself hates, standing in opposition to Israel in the wilderness. Put another way, he wants the world to revolve around him, believing arrogantly that he can direct the forces of power however he pleases.

At some point, Balak should have realized he was headed in the wrong direction—but he doesn't change. This kind of attitude eventually leads to self-isolation, bitterness, and a life of blaming the world.

At first glance, today’s text might seem to simply teach that God’s will is different from human will. But it reveals something more profound: that many of us live just like Balak, and following God’s will is often far harder than we think.

Time passes. And when we finally come to realize these things, we may look back and say: “It was good when the children who had stirred my heart in May were still nearby. Even when I felt stifled by them, their awkwardness made me feel alive.” That is how summer comes, and only with that can we find a bit of calm before preparing for another busy fall.

Intercessory Prayer

1. Please pray for tomorrow’s Mission Walkathon. We hope many of you will join us!Come to Lake Chabot by 10:00 AM.(In case of rain, we’ll meet at our church.)

2. Also, we are departing for the Holy Land Pilgrimage this Sunday.Please pray that the trip will be safe and without any accidents.