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Refreshment in Refuge

    by Gina Burgess

Sliding into Satan's arms
Date Posted: July 16, 2023

Both Balaam and Balak sought to bribe God with sacrifices, little understanding that God knows the heart of each person. In Numbers 23 we see the saddest effort to coerce God into rejecting His Chosen People and to go back on His every word. How idiotic that sounds, yet how often we do the same thing when we bend His principles, or when we try to justify our actions reasoning it is for the “greater” good that we did not specifically and immediately obey His will. We bargain with Him when trials overtake us saying, “God if You’ll just ___________, I will _________!”

Offering the sacrifices, is all the more abhorrent because they are not offered on consecrated altars, nor are they done in the manner God prescribed by those only He had sanctified to the purpose. Notice the seven altars, the seven bulls, and seven rams. Multiplying altars literally means multiple idols (Hosea 8:11). It is one reason why altars in the high places are such an abomination because they are to foreign gods.

Balaam says “build me” and “prepare me” ordering a king around like he would a child. His arrogance is basically magnified by his stupidity to think God would accept the offerings. He did get one thing right in that he goes off privately. However, he says to Balak, “perhaps He will speak to me.” Those who seek God will find Him is a mighty promise we can count on found in many places in God’s word. Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. This, then, begs the question: Why did Balak seek out the God of Israel to curse His own people? We shall soon see he wasn't truly seeking the one true God. Balaam was using sorcery and enchantments to call out God to speak for Balak.

Any scholar will tell you your argument is only as good as your references’ credibility. Balaam was doing this for profit, and Balak’s motive was fear. These demons of greed and fear had already possessed the main characters. Rarely will someone listen to a teacher or mentor unless the teacher has greater knowledge and the mentor has experienced the things faced by the student. Reasonably, Balak sought to turn Israel’s God against them thinking sorcery and magic being bent to man’s will was all the LORD’s mettle. Little did he know.

Yet, though the offering is profane, and the symbols of multiple gods is profane, God did not fry them to crispy critters as He did the sons of Aaron for offering profane fire to the LORD. God had a message for Balak and all of Moab; and He used the mouth of the person who had their complete attention. A blessing poured forth over Israel. Balak thought the multitude was what made Balaam fear to curse so he brought him around the mountain so he would see so many of them. Balak thought again to build seven altars and offer seven bullocks and seven rams one each on each altar, but another blessing poured forth. For the second time, God said He wasn’t a man that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent.

How often does God have to repeat Himself to us so that we hear what He is saying and so that we do what He is bidding?

Balaam says the LORD’s word: "For there is no sorcery against Jacob, Nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob And of Israel, 'Oh, what God has done!'

Balak says: “Well then, don’t curse them at all, and don’t bless them either!” Each time the blessing comes; it is greater and gives more power to Israel.

So what should we take away from this? Don’t mess with God’s kids! Every time the wicked desire to curse that which God has blessed, the blessing becomes greater and more powerful. Any time God’s work is being done, Satan seeks to destroy it and curse it; but God, in His omnipotence decrees a blessing greater than the curse. No matter how the wicked try to placate God in Heaven, they will be vanquished. We Christians may not see that annihilation with our own eyes, and we may not even hear of it; but it will happen nonetheless.

Fear not, for I am with You. I have not sent a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control.

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

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Biography Information:

Gina Burgess has taught Sunday School and Discipleship Training for almost three decades. (Don't tell her that makes her old.) She earned her Master's in Communication in 2013.

She is the author of several books including: When Christians Hurt Christians, The Crowns of the Believers and others available in online bookstores. She authors several columns, using her God-given talent to shine a light in a dark world. You can browse her blog at Refreshment In Refuge.

If you'd like to take a look at some Christian fiction and Christian non-fiction book reviews check out Gina's book reviews at Upon

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