ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

"When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn't you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?" "Well, I have come to you now," Balaam replied. "But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth." Then Balaam went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth. Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep, and gave some to Balaam and the princes who were with him. The next morning Balak took Balaam up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he saw part of the people." Numbers 22:36-41

"Balaam said, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me." Balak did as Balaam said, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar. Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you." Then he went off to a barren height." Numbers 23:1-3

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In Chapter 22, we were introduced to a very nervous nation of Moab as Israel sat encamped outside their border. They were very much aware of the recent string of victories Israel had against their adversaries and Moab felt it was next…so much so that it’s king, Balak, summoned a renowned diviner named Balaam to place a curse on Israel. Balaam was thought to have special power over the gods and thus was entrusted to also manipulate the good of the Israelites. As we have seen, Balaam didn’t know he wasn’t dealing with just any god but the one and only God.
So Balak sends a group of Moabite messengers to Balaam with a command to come to see him for the purpose of placing a curse on Israel. We see where Balaam refuses to go because God tells him not to and Balaam listens.

But Balak would not take no for an answer. He sends a second group, this one more distinguished than the first, and promises Balaam riches if he would come and do as the king wishes. You’ll recall that Balaam refused once again to go, saying that he would not go beyond the command of God even if Balak gave him a palace filled with silver and gold. But God gave permission for Balaam to go with the men as long as he said what God told him to say so Balaam did go and begin to make his way to Balak.

As he sets out to meet Balak, Balaam angers God is confronted by a sword-wielding angel. We’re not told what angered God but Balaam’s later actions show that although he talked a good game about God, he didn’t understand that it takes more than words. It must also takes the right actions for as the saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words."

What Balaam’s actions say when he meets Balak is that he was still a believer in pagan ritual although he was carrying on conversations with and professing royalty to the God of Israel.
Balak chastises Balaam for not coming to him immediately and asks if Balaam does not understand that the king can richly reward him. Balaam responds by telling Balak, ""Well, I have come to you now…But can I say just anything? I must speak only what God puts in my mouth."
Balaam should have also understood that he must do what God wants him to do but he didn’t ask God about that.

We know this because God would have never authorized Balaam to participate in pagan sacrifices or build pagan altars for sacrificing. And yet, we read where Balaam "went with Balak to Kiriath Huzoth" where Balak "sacrificed cattle and sheep" giving "some to Balaam and the princes who were with him". Balaam then orders Balak to "Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me." And Balak did as Balaam said before the "two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar" while performing a pagan ritual. Once the sacrifices were completed, Balaam tells Balak, "Stay here beside your offering while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet with me. Whatever he reveals to me I will tell you." Then he went off to a barren height.

Balaam fails to see where he has done anything wrong in this passage. He fails to see that serving God is more than just communicating with Him while you still maintain your current lifestyle. No, serving God requires us to lay down our former life with its sinful habits and adopt a new life…fully centered and focused on God’s will for us. We seek Him for that will and learn to respond obediently though our actions. In other words, our actions should match God’s word so that when others see us, they catch a glimpse of the Father who created all of us in His own image. (Genesis 1:26) Our actions then speak just as loud as our words and definitely louder than our thoughts.
God is about to get Balaam’s attention and turn him from his sinful ways. He’s also about to use Balaam as an instrument of ministry to Balak and his people. We’ll see this as we further study from Chapter 23.

Question: How do you travel on your own Christian walk? Do you read and hear the words of God and yet act in another way? Are your actions matching God’s expectations for your life?

If you are like Balaam, the time to change your life is now. Just talking with God is just not enough. You need to serve Him in a way that is obedient to His will and word. Talk need not be cheap. It can be extremely valuable when it is coupled with the associated actions of holiness and righteousness that God desires. For it’s then and only then that your actions will truly speak louder than your words. Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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