Numbers 23: God Steadfastness and Covenant Loyalty

Numbers 23: God Steadfastness and Covenant Loyalty

Collin Leong. April 11, 2026

(v1-30) Balaam's First Oracle

(v1-4) And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams." Balak did as Balaam has said. Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram. And Balaam said to Balak, "Stand beside your burnt offering, an I will go. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you." And he went to a bare height, and God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, "I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram."

Exp: The passage above says "God met Balaam." However, we know from Exodus 33:29 and John 1:18, that no one can see God's face directly and live. The text doesn't say Balaam saw God's face. Most commentators says God appeared as a voice, prophetic inspiration or maybe as pre-incarnate Christ, perhaps in the form of an angel. 

(v5-10) And the LORD put a word in Ballam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak." And he returned to him and the princes of Moab standing by the burnt offering. And Balaam took up his discourse and said a poem that means: "Balak, the king of Moab, told me to curse Israel. But how can I curse whom God has not cursed? From the top of the crags I see a people dwelling alone and not counting themselves as a nation. The number of Israel is like dust and even a fourth of them cannot be counted. Let me die the death of upright and let my end be like his." [Simplified by me]

Exp: Though Balaam said that the population of this nation-less Israelites were like "dust", there are only 2-3 million of them at that time, roughly the same number that came out of Egypt. (Compare the census in Numbers 1 and Numbers 26). It is not their numbers that made them strong, but the protection of God that makes them invulnerable. Balaam said that he rather live and die with Israel, rather than to curse them. Ironically, Balaam’s later choices (Numbers 31:8, Revelation 2:14) show he did not remain aligned with God, so his wish contrasts with his actual fate. It highlights the security of God’s people: their destiny is blessed, their numbers is sustained, and their covenant unbreakable.

(v11-12) Balak said to Balaam. "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and you have done nothing but to bless them." And Balaam said: "Must I not take care to speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?"

Exp:  Balaam insists he cannot speak independently; he must deliver only what God commands. Even though Balaam’s heart is not fully aligned with God, his mouth is bound by God’s sovereignty. Balak represents human ambition and hostility toward God’s people. Balaam, though flawed, becomes an instrument of God’s blessing. The passage demonstrates that God’s word overrides human schemes—blessing cannot be turned into curse.

(v13-30) Balaam's Second Oracle

(v13-15) And Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place, from which you may see them. You shall see only a fraction of them and shall not see them at all. Then curse them for me over there." And he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. Ballam said to Balak, "Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the LORD over there."

(v16-17) And the LORD met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said. "Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak." And he came to Balak, and the princes of Moab with him. Balak asked him what the LORD had said.

(v18-24) Balaam said a poet that means: "Give ear to me, Balak. God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change His mind. Has he said he will not do it? Or has he spoken that he will not fulfill it? I received a command to bless: he has blessed and I cannot revoke it. He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The LORD their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them. God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of the wild ox. For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, "What has God wrought!" Behold, a people! As lioness it rises up and as a lion it lifts itself; it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey and drunk the blood of the slain." [Simplified by me]

Exp: In v19, Balaam said that God is not a man, that He could lie or change his mind. In Malachi 3:6, it says: "For the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." God's immutability is the basis for Israel's preservation. (See 1 Sam 15:29)

In v21, God has not observed iniquity in Jacob or misfortune in Israel. This doesn’t mean Israel is sinless, but that God sees them through covenant favor. God’s presence and kingship define their identity.

The phrase “What has God wrought!” (v23b) is a declaration of awe. It points to the visible evidence of God’s power in delivering Israel from Egypt and establishing them as a distinct people. No enchantment or divination can prevail against Israel: Israel’s destiny is not determined by human magic or manipulation, but by God’s sovereign will. 

The exclamation “What has God wrought!” later became famous in English history as the first telegraph message sent by Samuel Morse in 1844. Its resonance lies in the sense of astonishment at divine accomplishment—something beyond human engineering or control.

(v25-30) Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all." But Balaam answered, "Did I not tell you, 'All that the LORD says, I must do'?" And Balak replied, "Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there." So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the dessert. And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams." And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram of each altar.

Exp: After hearing Balaam bless Israel again, Balak is exasperated. His reasoning: if Balaam cannot curse Israel, then at least he should remain silent—no blessing either. He thinks maybe a change of location (Mount Peor) will alter the outcome. In ancient Near Eastern thought, different sacred sites or vantage points could influence spiritual power. This shows Balak’s misunderstanding: he treats God like a local deity who might be swayed by geography or ritual, rather than the sovereign Lord who cannot be manipulated.

Key Messages

Numbers 23 records Balaam’s first two prophetic oracles, showing that God’s blessing on Israel cannot be overturned by human manipulation. Despite Balak’s repeated attempts to secure a curse, Balaam is compelled to speak only what God puts in his mouth. Themes include God’s unchanging covenant faithfulness, the futility of opposing His will, and the contrast between human fear and divine sovereignty.

1. Balaam’s First Oracle (vv. 1–12)

Balaam builds altars and offers sacrifices, but God overrides the ritual, placing His word in Balaam’s mouth. Instead of cursing, Balaam blesses Israel, affirming their distinct identity and God’s protection.

Application: Human rituals and manipulations cannot bend God’s will. Believers are reminded that God’s blessing is secure, and attempts to undermine His people will fail. Trust rests not in human effort but in God’s sovereign word.

2. Balak’s Persistence and Balaam’s Second Oracle (vv. 13–26)

Balak tries again from a different vantage point, hoping a change of perspective will yield a curse. Yet Balaam declares that God is not like man—He does not lie or change His mind. Israel’s blessing is irrevocable, and their strength comes from God’s presence.

Application: Opposition often persists, but God’s promises remain unshaken. Believers can rest in God’s unchanging character, knowing His word is reliable. When facing repeated pressure or hostility, faith is anchored in God’s constancy, not shifting circumstances.

3. The Contrast Between Balak’s Fear and God’s Assurance

Balak embodies fear, insecurity, and desperation, while God demonstrates steadfastness and covenant loyalty. Balaam, though flawed, becomes an instrument to declare God’s truth.

Application: Fear-driven opposition cannot overturn divine assurance. Believers are called to resist compromise and cling to God’s promises, even when pressured by external forces. God’s word brings stability in the face of human anxiety.

Appendix

1. How Did Moses Write the Account of Balak and Balaam when he was not involved with them? Possible sources of Moses' knowledge:

• Divine Revelation: The most traditional explanation is that God Himself revealed the details to Moses. Since Balaam’s oracles are presented as God’s word, it makes sense that the conversations were disclosed by divine inspiration.
• Prophetic Transmission: Balaam’s speeches were public pronouncements, not whispered secrets. It’s possible that parts of his oracles were known among the nations and later incorporated into Israel’s record, with God guiding Moses to present them faithfully.
• Narrative Convention: Ancient historiography often presents speeches and dialogues in detail to convey theological meaning, not necessarily as verbatim transcripts. The Spirit-inspired author shaped the account to highlight God’s sovereignty and Balaam’s inability to curse Israel.
• Eyewitness or Report: Balaam himself, or others present, may have relayed the events. Balaam’s reputation as a diviner was widespread, and his unusual blessing of Israel could have been remembered and retold.