Numbers 24:13 Even if
Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of
my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord…
This statement of determination strikes me as particularly
powerful and meaningful because it is the second time Balaam made almost the
same declaration to Balak’s representatives (see 22:18).
In the two times he covered the whole “gamut” of what he could decide to
do or not do: the first time he could
not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of God, and the second
time he could not do anything of his own accord, be it good or bad, to go
beyond that command. Big, little, good,
or bad, it all had to fall within what Balaam knew were his boundaries of
action. He knew that even all the riches
he could potentially gain were not worth disobedience to God. I hope I can learn to follow that clearly
defined path of obedience in my own life.
It is something I can see myself having been learning for many years
now, slowly, bit by bit. Total, committed, determined obedience is my only path to peace and a clear conscience in my life.
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