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While it is not His usual way, God once used a wicked man to deliver a righteous message. We find it in Numbers chapter 22. King Balek of Moab, thinking a curse would help him defeat the Israelites, hired Balaam, a sorcerer, to curse them. God warned Balaam not to accept the assignment, but the lure of money drove Balaam to go anyway. On the way there, God met him again, telling him that since he was going, he must say only what God told him to say. In Moab, Balaam offered sacrifices and waited to hear from God, apparently hoping it would be a message of doom. Instead, he received from God a message that blessed the people. Here is the message this sorcerer gave Balek: “Balak summoned me to come from Aram; the king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me! Come and announce Israel’s doom.’ But how can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I condemn those whom the LORD has not condemned?” God gave Balaam a message to bless Israel rather to curse his people. That is because God’s blessings were based on His ancient promise to Abraham. About him we read, “Abraham believed the LORD and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith.” All of us who like Abraham entrust our lives to God can count on His blessings to us. No power on earth can change God’s blessings into curses. That is because God’s Son backs up His promises. God’s Son Jesus paid the full price to give us favor with God.
