Numbers 23:18-23

Then he uttered his oracle: “Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor. God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it. “No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them. God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. There is no sorcery against Jacob, no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!'”

The distinct answers which God gave to Balaam are surely deserving of distinct consideration. The general scope of them indeed is the same; namely, that Israel should be blessed; but the terms in which that declaration was made, are diversified, and contain in them a great variety of important matter.

We are astonished indeed that God would condescend to notice Balaam a second time, more especially as he had the impiety to approach him with divinations and enchantments, Numbers 24:1. But, for the sake of his Church and people, the Lord himself met Balaam again, and constrained him, in his reply to Balak, to declare,

I. The immutability of God.

Balaam had endeavored to turn God from his purpose; and perhaps, from having, as he conceived, prevailed upon him to reverse his word before, he hoped to succeed in like manner again. But he was compelled to confess to Balak the inefficacy of his attempts to change the mind of God.

Balak had supposed Balaam to be capable of effecting great things; and had imputed his former answer to a lack of inclination, rather than of power, to comply with his wishes. But Balaam here distinctly confesses, that it was not in his power to “reverse,” or alter, what God had spoken; and that, consequently, it was in vain to make any renewed attempts.

Man, from a variety of causes, might be led to change his mind; he might gain a further insight into a matter than he had possessed before; or he might be biased by some intervening interests; or he might find himself incapable of executing his projects for lack of power.

But no such occasions of change can exist in God, for “He is not a man that he should lie;” there is in him “no variableness, neither shadow of turning;” “He cannot lie;” “it is impossible that he lie, Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18.” He is as unchangeable in his purposes, as he is in his perfections, “He is of one mind; and who can turn him?” So self-evident was this truth, that Balaam appealed even to the conscience of Balak himself respecting it, “Has he said—and shall he not do it?”

This view of the Deity was a sufficient answer to Balak; it was a pledge to him, that the promises originally made to Abraham would be fulfilled to his descendants. And it is an answer too to all the unbelieving fears which occasionally arise in our minds. “God’s gifts and callings are without repentance, Romans 11:29.” “He will not forsake his people, because it has pleased him to make them his people, 1 Samuel 12:22;” and it is owing solely to the unchangeableness of his mercies, that anyone of his people escapes destruction, “He changes not; and therefore the sons of Jacob are not consumed! Malachi 3:6.”

The immutability of God being established, Balaam proceeded to recite,

II. The kindness which God had already shown to his people.

This was such as gave Balak but little hope of ever succeeding against them.

God had forgiven their sins, so that nothing which they had done amiss should ever provoke him to destroy them. Doubtless there was in them much “iniquity,” and much “perverseness;” but they had not renounced their allegiance to him or their affiance in him; and therefore he would not give them up to their enemies. He had “cast all their sins behind his back into the depths of the sea,” and he viewed them only with an eye of love and mercy. He considered them still as his peculiar people; and he dwelt in the midst of them as their God. Moreover, such manifestations did he afford them of his love and favor, that they could not but rejoice in their security, and triumph in him, with shouts and acclamations, as their Almighty Protector.

It shows us also what God does for his redeemed people at this time.

The best of God’s people are but imperfect creatures, “in many things we all sin.” But, if we are truly his, “he does not behold iniquity or wickedness in us.” We are not by this to understand, that sin, if committed by the Lord’s people, is not sinful; or that it is not most hateful in his eyes; but we are to understand that he is “not extreme to mark what we do amiss;” that, on the contrary, he views us as “perfect in Christ Jesus,” by whom we are “presented faultless before him,” and through whose blood and righteousness we are made “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, yes holy, and without blemish! Ephesians 5:27; Jude verse 24.”

Regarding us thus as objects of his favor, he delights to dwell among us, to abide with us, to manifest himself to us, and to “fill us with joy and peace in believing;” so that he enables us to say with the Apostle, “Thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus!” Truly, “the children of Zion are made joyful in their King,” yes, they “ever shout for joy, because he defends them;” “they sing unto him for the excellent things which he has done; they cry out and shout, because great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of them! Psalm 126:1-2 and Isaiah 12:5-6.”

From the mention of what God has done for his people, Balaam went on to declare,

III. The kindness which God has yet in reserve for his people.

The time was soon to come when all the surrounding nations would be astonished at it.

God had already “brought them out of Egypt, and given them, as it were, the strength of an ox.” He had suffered no machinations of men or devils to prevail against them. He had fulfilled all his promises to them hitherto; and the time was now nearly arrived, when he would accomplish them in their full extent. However formidable the opposition to them might be, “His people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest until he devours his prey and drinks the blood of his victims.” In a word, such should be his marvelous interpositions in their favor, that all who beheld them would exclaim, “See what God has done!”

All of this was but a mere shadow of the kindness God has laid up for us, his redeemed people.

It is not from an Egyptian tyrant that we are delivered, but from sin and Satan, death and Hell! Nor are we endued with strength against an earthly enemy, but against all the powers of darkness; insomuch that “Satan himself shall shortly be bruised under our feet.” Not only shall “the gates of Hell never prevail against his Church” at large, but not against even the weakest of his people; both Christ and his Father are pledged, that “however weak the believer may be, none shall ever be able to pluck him out of their hands! John 10:28-29.” The least of the flock have no more cause to fear than the greatest; for “it is the Father’s good pleasure to give the possession of his kingdom to the one as well as to the other, Luke 12:32.” The weakest shall be “strong in the Lord,” yes, strong as a lion; he shall be “able to do all things” that are conducive to his welfare; and shall be “more than conqueror through Him who loved him.”

O what “a wonder is he unto many,” even at this time! and what a wonder will he be, both to himself and others, in the eternal world! When the whole Israel of God shall be in possession of the heavenly land, how will each say, on a review of his own mercies in particular, as well as those given to the whole collective body, “See what God has done!” Truly, they will all be lost in wonder, love, and praise!

Let none dismiss this subject from their minds without reflecting,

1. How great our obligations to God are!

Here, as in a looking-glass, we may see them very distinctly; and we read this history to little purpose, if we see not in it transactions of the present day. To recapitulate the mercies of God towards us, or to point out their correspondence with those that were given to Israel, is needless. The slight mention we have already made of them is sufficient. But it is of importance to ask, What effect have they produced upon our minds? Have we not again and again been constrained to say, “See what God has done!” “What manner of love is this with which the Father has loved us!” Be assured, that the man who is not frequently (I might almost say, habitually,) impressed with this thought, knows nothing of God, nor has he any part or lot in the gospel salvation.

2. How strenuous should be our exertions to walk worthy of the mercies of God towards us!

It is thought by some, that views of God’s sovereign grace and unchanging love will lead men to carelessness and presumption. It behooves us all to show, that there is no foundation for this calumny; and that the stupendous love of Christ will rather constrain us to obedience. Let us remember, that, if the promises of God are sure, so also are the threatenings; and that we can no more reverse these, than Satan can reverse the others, if we are found in a state against which God has threatened his displeasure.

How painful is the thought, that, notwithstanding all the warnings which God has given them, most will yet perish in their sins! Methinks, if God’s mercy will excite wonder among those who are saved, so will sin excite wonder among those who perish. With what force will that reflection strike us in the day of judgment, “What has SIN wrought!” O think upon it now; and let us not only flee from it, but endeavor so to “walk, that God in all things may be glorified through Christ Jesus!”

Charles Simeon (1759-1836)