Numbers 23:17-20 New American Standard Bible 1995
17 He came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the leaders of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, “What has the Lord spoken?” 18 Then he took up his [a]discourse and said,
“Arise, O Balak, and hear;
Give ear to me, O son of Zippor!
19 “God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent;
Has He said, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
20 “Behold, I have received a command to bless;
When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Today we’ll spend some quality time simply stirring up our affections for God.
God has designed us to see him, to know his character and to let the truth of his goodness lead us into deeper relationship with him.
Augustine wrote, “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”
In seeing God for who he is our hearts are naturally stirred to find rest in his goodness.
Today, may your heart be stirred at a revelation of God’s wonderful character.
Numbers 23:19 Amplified Bible
19
“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken and will He not make it good and fulfill it?
Numbers 23:19 describes a foundational aspect of God’s character, being his faithfulness.
Scripture says,
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”
As believers, we constantly, need a continuous revelation of God’s faithfulness.
Being able to fully trust God is the beginning of living an abundant life.
If you don’t fully believe that God is faithful to lead you into the best possible life you could live, then you surely won’t seek out his will, trust him with your possessions, or be able to fully enjoy his presence.
God’s word promises us in Numbers 23:19 that God is perfectly faithful, steadfast, and true.
Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:3-6 Amplified Bible
3 I thank my God in every remembrance of you, 4 always offering every prayer of mine with joy [and with specific requests] for all of you, 5 [thanking God] for your participation and partnership [both your comforting fellowship and gracious contributions] in [advancing] the good news [regarding salvation] from the first day [you heard it] until now. 6 I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].
Romans 8:28 promises, “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
God is wholly faithful to you.
No matter what you do, he will be there for you.
His faithfulness isn’t dependent upon your works.
All he requires is a willing heart to bring about the incredible fruit of the Spirit in your life.
You aren’t meant to live life apart from the knowledge of God’s faithfulness.
You aren’t meant to live with the weight of doing life on your own.
Man may fail you, but your God will not.
Family and friends may not be there when you need them, but your God will always be there for you.
Where do you feel on your own?
In what ways do you need a fresh revelation of God’s faithfulness?
God is unchangeable and unchanging.
Unlike men who can do an about-face, alter their opinions, break their promises, modify their plans, and speak lies with the twisted tongue of the serpent, the Lord our God is immutable.
God is perfect in all His thoughts and trustworthy in all His ways, unlike men who often distort the facts, twist the truth, and are easily tossed about like waves on the sea, God’s counsel is steadfast, His promises are sure, His Word is dependable, and His Truth lasts from one generation to another.
With God, there is no vacillation and no shadow of turning.
The book of Numbers clearly states the unalterable truth: “God is not a man. He does not lie, and does not change his mind.”
The passage then continues with a series of rhetorical questions which demand NO as an answer:
“Has He ever spoken and failed to act?” NO!
“Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” NO!
Malachi also addresses this issue by stating: “I am the Lord, and I change NOT.”
If God has said it, He will certainly do it.
God has set out His plan of the ages within the pages of Scripture, and God’s purposes for those that trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are steadfast and sure.
We have the assurance of God Himself, that His Word is to be trusted, for God has placed His Word above His holy Name.
The Lord of truth will never go back on His Word, for He is the God Who does not change and Whose Word is worthy of all acceptance.
There can be no shadow of change in His decrees, for God is merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness; and the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Praise God despite the instabilities and uncertainties of this world, and in spite of the faults and failings of men, the Word of the Lord is sure, His decrees are unalterable, all His promises are all ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ in Christ Jesus our Savior.
Heaven and earth may pass away, but the Word of the Lord stands fast forever, for God is not a man He should lie, nor is he the son of a man He should change His mind.
He is the Son of the unchangeable and unchanging God.
Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
He promises to be absolutely true to you.
He promises to absolutely see you through any situation you find yourself in.
Isaiah 54:10 says, “‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”
Faithfulness is foundational to the very character of God.
God’s steadfast love for you is more sure than the very ground you walk on.
So respond to God’s faithfulness today.
Let his promises steady the parts of your life that feel unsure.
As you step outside today, take time to look at the world around you.
Think about the things you’ve put your trust in.
And remember, God promises that his faithfulness will outlast anything your eyes can see.
May your affections for him be stirred today.
May you respond to his faithfulness with your own.
And may you experience the love and joy of a Father who loves you perfectly and completely.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Guided Prayer:
1. Meditate on God’s promise to be faithful to you.
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19
“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
2. Now reflect on your own life.
Where in your life do you feel unsure?
What situations seem to toss your emotions around like a boat in the middle of a storm?
Where do you need a firmer foundation today? Matthew 7:24-29
3. Ask the Spirit for a revelation of God’s faithfulness in those areas.
Ask God to help you trust in his promise of faithfulness.
Ask him how he plans on bringing peace to those areas that are disturbing you today.
Listen to him as he speaks.
Not only does God promise you his faithfulness, but he will actually reveal to you how he is working in your life.
You can ask him for his plans, and he will show you!
You can ask him how he feels about you and your life, and he will tell you!
Within his promise of faithfulness is the promise of his voice.
You will hear him speak today if you open your heart, listen to the Spirit and be alert for God to speak through whatever avenue he chooses.
Your heavenly Father loves you.
Spend your day establishing the foundation of his faithfulness in your own life.
And experience a life lived in the abundance of God’s assurance and peace.
I praise You, O Lord, for You are our trustworthy God and never-changing Savior. Thank You for the truth of Scripture and for the assurance that Your Word will stand fast for ever. Thank You that You will never let me down, despite my own faults and failings. In the name of Jesus, I pray that I may become more and more like Him, as I submit to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit in my life. Alleluia! AMEN.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 