He was called to condemn, but in the end, he could only bless! Yes, the prophet of God was called to curse the people of God, to put an end the threat they posed to their enemy, but the prophet of God could only pronounce a blessing. We read the familiar account in Numbers 22-24. The prophet is named Balaam and he is called by the king of the Moabites, Balak, to pronounce a curse on God’s people. They were seen as a threat to his people and wanted the threat to be removed. Even though Balak wanted Balaam to curse Israel, each of the three times he delivered an oracle from God, he blessed the Israelites. It is during the second discourse to Balak that Balaam utters these words considering the nature of God and these are offered for your consideration. Speaking of God, Balaam says, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor the son of a man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)
God is not man. In the first place, God is a spirit. John 4:24 records these words of Jesus, “God is spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” God is not made of flesh and bones like man is. Being spirit means that God is not bound with the limitations we have of the flesh. We must never view God as if He were limited as man is – God is not like you – Psalm 50:21.
God does not lie. What a thought is brought to light by the inspired Paul in Titus 1:2 – God CANNOT lie. Have you let that sink into your ears? Listen again to the words of Hebrews 6:18 – it is IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie. Our great God cannot tell anything that is not true! Jesus described Himself as the truth (John 14:6). This stands in direct opposition to the devil who is said to be a liar and the father of it (John 8:44-45). Therefore, whatever the Bible says concerning God’s will, concerning salvation, concerning the church, concerning the Day of Judgment and eternal destinations available for all men – we better take God at His word!
God does not do wrong and thus needs never to repent. God is not like a son of man that he should repent. Jesus came and perfectly declared God to the world (John 1:18). He lived a life of perfection in every way and has proven this characteristic in God’s nature. He did no violence or was any deceit in His mouth (Isaiah 53:9; 1 Peter 2:22). Jesus was never dishonest, never gossiped, never harmed anyone. This is the nature of God – how perfect He is in every way imaginable!
God always keeps His word. As stated previously, God cannot lie – but stated again, Balaam says that, “He has said, and will He not do?” Oh friend, how great it is to have a God who always keeps His word! The Bible can be trusted because of the multitude of times God spoke and it was done just as He said it would.
God always keeps His promises. God has spoken and will He not make it good? God will not lie, and He will always keep His word. Have you ever been stung by dishonesty? Someone made a claim and didn’t carry through? It seems all have been in that situation before, but never when it comes to God. All of His prophecies come true. God will keep His word to the righteous and to the unrighteous (Matthew 25:46). Jesus will always be present because He made that promise (Matthew 28:20). God will always provide a way of escape from temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). The crown of life will be received by those who are faithful until the point of death (Revelation 2:10).
Truly, the words of the Psalmist do sum up well what is being said concerning God’s nature. “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable,” (Psalm 145:3)
– Adam Orr
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