Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the LORD has kept you from being rewarded.” – Numbers 24:11

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 10, 2018): Numbers 24

Thomas Jefferson said “Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.” We are what we are willing to do, not what we might want to say. Character is revealed through our actions, especially during times of high stress. At least, usually this is true.

But, sometimes, there exists an alternate reality. There is no doubt that Balak the king and Balaam the Prophet were at least superficially united in purpose. Balak saw Israel much like the United States views a caravan of migrant people fleeing the violence and poverty of Central America, making their way through Mexico toward the southern border of North America’s most powerful nation. They were a threat to national security. And Balak was willing to do anything to stop the caravan from having a negative impact on their nation. And so, Balak hired a prophet named Balaam as a weapon that could be used against Israel. Balak wanted national security, and Balaam wanted the paycheck. Together, the hope and the purpose was that they could destroy the Israelite caravan and save the nation.

Admittedly, Balaam is a little more reticent about the plan's chances of success. After all, the words spoken between Balaam and Balak in private would never measure up to the actions that God would decide to take, either on behalf of Balak, the king or in support of the Israelite caravan. But Balaam was willing to at least try to do whatever he could to get the payday that Balak had promised. Balaam’s actions would place him directly in the path of the Israelite caravan. But Balaam was unable to fulfill his purpose. While he was hired to curse Israel, what came out of his mouth were blessings. God was telegraphing his actions in the situation. He would take the side of the migrant caravan.

It is sometimes hard to decipher tone in a written story. So much meaning is carried through the tone of our voices rather than the actual words that we speak. But I have a suspicion that Balak’s words here are dripping with sarcasm. Just like the words that Balaam used to bless Israel mirrored the truth of God, a truth that Balaam did not want to speak, so too the words of Balak mirror a truth that Balak does not want to speak. Balak places the blame for the situation firmly on the shoulders of the Balaam. If Balaam had just followed through on the commitment that he had made in the privacy of his meeting with the king, then the Israelite caravan would have been cursed. Balak believes that Balaam’s excuse about the Lord not allowing him to curse the caravan is just that, an excuse. Balaam had chosen to bless instead of curse.

Of course, the reader of the story understands a different reality. Balak’s words are truer than the king wants to admit. It is the action of God that has stepped into the situation and prevented Balaam from getting his payday. And the action of God was something that Balaam was unable to stop, no matter what the price might be that he was promised for his efforts.   

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Numbers 25