When God Says No

"He said to them, 'Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as the Lord may speak to me.' And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam. Then God came to Balaam and said, 'Who are these men with you?' Balaam said to God, 'Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me, "Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out."' God said to Balaam, 'Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.' So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak’s leaders, 'Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.'" Numbers 22.8-13

The story of Balaam shows us the importances of doing what God says. Men come to Balaam from the king of Moab, asking Balaam to come and curse Israel so that they may be defeated in battle. Balaam tells them that he must see what God says, and in the morning he tells them that he can not come because God has refused him to go.

At this point Balaam is fine. God gave Him an answer and he stuck with it. He was offered riches and he turned it down to be obedient to God. God said not to go, so Balaam said no. If only the story ended here.

Men, when God says no what do you do? Do you accept it and move on? Or do you turn into a bratty five year old and begin to ask, plead, and beg for Him to change His mind and give you what you want? Do you submit to His wisdom and reasoning even though you may not understand it? Or do you maintain that you know best and try to change His mind? One way brings us his favor, and as we'll see, the other makes Him our adversary.

May we always accept God's answer to prayer, even when it isn't the answer we hope for. When God says no, let us drop it and move on.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor