Speaking Only God’s Message

Speaking Only God’s Message

“But Balaam replied, ‘I will speak only the message that the Lord puts in my mouth.'” -Numbers 23:12

How many times are we faced with a decision to please the crowd, or to please God?

In these types of situations, it can be stressful. But God calls us as believers to speak his words and to do the right thing – even if it may result in negative consequences. When we make decisions based on principle versus logic or emotion, God will honor that decision in the long run.

In the Old Testament, there was a Moabite king who was terrified of the Israelites. His name was Balak son of Zippor. He was frightened because of what the Israelites had done to the Amorites, and because of how numerous they were. So, King Balak sent for Balaam to pay him to place a curse on the Israelites. However, Balaam was a person who would only “say what God told him to say.”

King Balak’s messengers visited Balaam and asked him to curse the people of Israel, at the king’s request. But Balaam told them to “stay overnight,” and in the morning he would tell them what God had told him to say. That night, God came to Balaam and asked him why the messengers had come to him, and he told them. “But God told Balaam, ‘Do not go with them. You are not to curse these people, for they have been blessed!'” (Numbers 22:12) So Balaam blessed them and told the king, “Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord my God.” (Numbers 22:18)

What a courageous example of speaking only God’s message! Are you able to speak only God’s message even when influential people or a group of people are looking for a different message? Pray that God would give you strength to stand up for what is right in your decisions.