Session 24

You can’t pay me enough

From Numbers: A 5-Week Devotional

Have you ever been asked to do something that didn’t feel right but the offer was so attractive it seemed wrong to say no? You may have tried to justify your actions by reasoning that it wasn’t your idea, you were just helping out a friend.​

King Balak offered Balaam the prophet a substantial reward in exchange for using his power to curse the tribes of Israel. Balaam struggled with whether to go or stay. Balak’s offer could prove to be lucrative, but it would mean saying what King Balak wanted to hear, regardless of whether it’s what God said.

Although Balaam decided to go, he warned King Balak’s messengers, “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—and I must say only what the Lord says”  (Numbers 24:13).

Following God’s instructions, Balaam showered blessings on the tribes of Israel. This infuriated King Balak since instead of cursing Israel as Balak had ordered, Balaam blessed Israel three times. Naturally, King Balak refused to pay Balaam.

At times, we will find ourselves in a dilemma like Balaam: Do I do what God has told me, or do I do what seems profitable right now? Do I stay true to the Bible or tell people what they want to hear? Staying true to God’s Word might cost us in the short run, but the eternal rewards are worth the risk.  

God, the creator and owner of everything on Earth, promises to meet all of our needs (Philippians 4:19). When we weigh man’s limited profit against God’s limitless provision, we’ll find it much easier to say, “You can’t pay me enough!”

Reflect:

• Have you ever knowingly gone against God’s Word? How did the consequences of that decision affect you physically, mentally, and spiritually?
• What’s one thing you sense God is calling you to do today? How would obeying God in that area of your life change your ability to trust Him?
• Feel like you haven’t heard from God in a while? Consider spending the next few minutes in silence as you ask God what your next step is in light of all that you read today.