Num 23:23 | KingComments | STEP | Balak would like to know what the LORD has said. That is why Balaam now addresses the word especially to him. It is a message from God and that is why Balaam calls on Balak, even though he is a king, to stand up out of respect for God and to hear (cf. ). He also calls on Balak to hear him, for he is the means through whom God will speak. The second discourse is not a revocation of the first. It is not a repetition either. It is a confirmation of the first and an extension of it. The first words of this second discourse justify God, Who cannot be compared with a man who is changeable and fickle. He does not break His word. He cannot be moved to other thoughts when it comes to His purpose to bless ( ; ). Balaam sees the people who live furthest from God. In those surroundings the fire of God’s judgment burned because of the complaints of the people ( ). When we think of the weakest believers, we see reasons to denounce them to God. The language of God from the mouth of Balaam is different. God has not observed misfortune in Jacob , that weak, failing believer ( ). Nor has He seen trouble in Israel , that has so often shown a way of doing things that is contrary to the name that speaks of their privileged place. In the book of Numbers there has been revealed so much misfortune and trouble with the people as a result of the sin, but here God ignores it. There is no question of sin or guilt in any prophecy of Balaam. How is that possible? God can do that because of the work the Lord Jesus accomplished. By that work everyone to whom that work is accounted has been declared righteous. What cannot exist before God has been removed by the work of Christ before God. What can only exist before God is the work of Christ. Whereby the guilt is proven, which is apparent from the necessity of the work of Christ, thereby the guilt is also removed. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” ( ). Justification goes beyond forgiveness. A righteous man is one of whom God declares that he has never sinned. That great is the value of the work of the Lord Jesus. The truth of being declared righteous is explained in detail in the letter to the Romans. That is why it is so important to study that letter over and over again. “The LORD his God” can be with this justified people. Without Him, this people have no possibility to exist. A zero is nothing, six zeros is nothing. But if you place a one at the head of six zeros, you suddenly have a million. So it is with the people of God. Without God there is no people, but with God there is a multitude of people. About that people the King according to God’s heart can reign under the jubilation of His people. This is also their shielding. God has guided His people by His power out of the bondage of Egypt ( ). This is where the beginning of righteousness lies. This justification resists any attack that may occur during the journey through the wilderness. Against Jacob and Israel there is no evil power capable of bringing in any accusation ( ). God has blessed His people. Who will be able to change that? We hear the language of the letter to the Romans: “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns?” ( ). Any attempt to separate God from those whom He has justified is futile. Nothing and no one is able to separate from God what is connected to Him through the work of Christ ( ). If we can say this, there is nothing of us involved therein. It is God’s work in His people about which can be spoken in “the proper time”, which is at the end of the wilderness journey ( ). Now we see what God has done, just as we are reminded of what God has done at the beginning of the journey: the redemption of His people out of Egypt. God has not only had thoughts of blessing about His people, He has also given that blessing to His people through the work of Christ. What God has committed Himself to, He also works out ( ). His work we now see in saving souls, forming His own in the image of His Son and helping them go through the world. Also in the realm of peace, the glorious results will be seen and He will be honored for what He has done ( ). At the beginning of eternity it will be possible to say of all that God has resolved to do: “It is done” ( ). The result of this remains forever: “I know that everything God does will remain forever” ( ). The people are not only a blessed people, but also a victorious people ( ). This people, justified by God, can go on in His power. The letter to the Romans not only indicates how someone can become a righteous person, but also how he can live as a righteous person. The righteous person cannot be overcome by any enemy. In Christ “we overwhelmingly conquer” ( ). This victorious life that becomes visible in the wilderness of this world will become fully visible when God has put all the enemies under the feet of the Lord Jesus ( ; ).

‏ Numbers 23:23

Second Discourse

Balak would like to know what the LORD has said. That is why Balaam now addresses the word especially to him. It is a message from God and that is why Balaam calls on Balak, even though he is a king, to stand up out of respect for God and to hear (cf. Jdg 3:20). He also calls on Balak to hear him, for he is the means through whom God will speak.

The second discourse is not a revocation of the first. It is not a repetition either. It is a confirmation of the first and an extension of it. The first words of this second discourse justify God, Who cannot be compared with a man who is changeable and fickle. He does not break His word. He cannot be moved to other thoughts when it comes to His purpose to bless (1Sam 15:29; Rom 11:29).

Balaam sees the people who live furthest from God. In those surroundings the fire of God’s judgment burned because of the complaints of the people (Num 11:1). When we think of the weakest believers, we see reasons to denounce them to God. The language of God from the mouth of Balaam is different. God has not observed misfortune in Jacob, that weak, failing believer (Num 23:21). Nor has He seen trouble in Israel, that has so often shown a way of doing things that is contrary to the name that speaks of their privileged place. In the book of Numbers there has been revealed so much misfortune and trouble with the people as a result of the sin, but here God ignores it.

There is no question of sin or guilt in any prophecy of Balaam. How is that possible? God can do that because of the work the Lord Jesus accomplished. By that work everyone to whom that work is accounted has been declared righteous. What cannot exist before God has been removed by the work of Christ before God. What can only exist before God is the work of Christ. Whereby the guilt is proven, which is apparent from the necessity of the work of Christ, thereby the guilt is also removed. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1).

Justification goes beyond forgiveness. A righteous man is one of whom God declares that he has never sinned. That great is the value of the work of the Lord Jesus. The truth of being declared righteous is explained in detail in the letter to the Romans. That is why it is so important to study that letter over and over again.

“The LORD his God” can be with this justified people. Without Him, this people have no possibility to exist. A zero is nothing, six zeros is nothing. But if you place a one at the head of six zeros, you suddenly have a million. So it is with the people of God. Without God there is no people, but with God there is a multitude of people. About that people the King according to God’s heart can reign under the jubilation of His people. This is also their shielding.

God has guided His people by His power out of the bondage of Egypt (Num 23:22). This is where the beginning of righteousness lies. This justification resists any attack that may occur during the journey through the wilderness.

Against Jacob and Israel there is no evil power capable of bringing in any accusation (Num 23:23a). God has blessed His people. Who will be able to change that? We hear the language of the letter to the Romans: “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns?” (Rom 8:33-34). Any attempt to separate God from those whom He has justified is futile. Nothing and no one is able to separate from God what is connected to Him through the work of Christ (Rom 8:38-39).

If we can say this, there is nothing of us involved therein. It is God’s work in His people about which can be spoken in “the proper time”, which is at the end of the wilderness journey (Num 23:23b). Now we see what God has done, just as we are reminded of what God has done at the beginning of the journey: the redemption of His people out of Egypt.

God has not only had thoughts of blessing about His people, He has also given that blessing to His people through the work of Christ. What God has committed Himself to, He also works out (Rom 8:29-30). His work we now see in saving souls, forming His own in the image of His Son and helping them go through the world. Also in the realm of peace, the glorious results will be seen and He will be honored for what He has done (Psa 22:30-31). At the beginning of eternity it will be possible to say of all that God has resolved to do: “It is done” (Rev 21:6a). The result of this remains forever: “I know that everything God does will remain forever” (Ecc 3:14).

The people are not only a blessed people, but also a victorious people (Num 23:24). This people, justified by God, can go on in His power. The letter to the Romans not only indicates how someone can become a righteous person, but also how he can live as a righteous person. The righteous person cannot be overcome by any enemy. In Christ “we overwhelmingly conquer” (Rom 8:37). This victorious life that becomes visible in the wilderness of this world will become fully visible when God has put all the enemies under the feet of the Lord Jesus (1Cor 15:25; Rom 16:20).