Temper Tantrum King

Numbers 24:10-25

Verse 23b (NLT) “Alas, who can survive unless God has willed it?”

    We have been spending a few days with Balak, the king of Moab and Balaam, the false prophet from Pethor.  Things weren’t going as Balak had planned and Balaam was learning some lessons about the power of the God of the Israelites.  Yesterday Balaam gave Balak God’s third message for him.  Having learned the character of Balak, we can’t be surprised that he finally loses control of his temper.

    To say he lost his temper may be putting it nicely as the Scriptures say that he flew into a rage.  What was his rage about?  That he didn’t get his way.  Sounds childish doesn’t it?  But which of us hasn’t done the same.  Oh maybe we didn’t fly into a rage but we were upset.  We may have even taken our anger out on a person not responsible for us not getting our way.  But what about when God is the one that didn’t give us our way?  That was the root reason of Balak’s rage.  Yes, he flew off the handle at Balaam but the one that was really keeping him from what he wanted, was God.  It didn’t matter if Balaam lied about what God said, God would do what God was planning on doing.

    God wasn’t done showing how He was going to bless His people.  Through Balaam He laid out His plans for His enemies.  Both Balak and Balaam knew that God would do what He said.  And they part ways, each with their own futures to think about.  Whether Balak ever gave up his practices of witchcraft we don’t know, but we do know that he came to understand the power and supreme nature of the Creator of the Universe.  Even if it didn’t bring him to a place of true worship, it should drive us to our knees with a clear understanding that God is in control even when we don’t want Him to be.  He alone deserves our worship.  And our obedience.

Making It Personal

    Have you ever been upset because God didn’t give you what you wanted?  Did it cause your worship of Him to be interrupted?  What can you do to make sure it doesn’t happen again?

Making It Personal Kids

    What happens when your mom or dad tell you to do something you don’t want to do?  Is there ever a time when you know that God wants you to do something and you don’t want to?  Should you do things His way or your way?

Closing Prayer

    Father, thank You for telling us in Your Word what You want us to do.  Please help us obey even when it isn’t something we want to do.  Thank You. In Jesus’ name, amen.