Conviction and Corruption – kenbarnes.us

But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the Lord will say to me.” Numbers 22:12, 19 NASB

Conviction and corruption can coexist in the human heart.

Once, while working for a missionary organization, I was asked by personnel to do a job I did not want to do. Through some prior circumstances, I knew in my heart that I was to do it. Yet, I told them I would pray about it, thinking God might change his mind. Sometimes we try to substitute praying for obeying.

Balaam is a complex biblical character. On the surface, he appeared obedient, but God knew his heart. He does seem to say the right thing in Numbers 22:18 NASB, Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God. Yet in verse 19, he invites the visiting dignitaries to stay overnight to see if the Lord would say more. What you do is more important than what you say. He was substituting praying for obeying. Balaam wanted the financial blessing and honor that Balak offered without complete obedience to God. Incomplete obedience is always disobedience.

God finally relents and tells Balaam to go with the princes of Moab (Numbers 22:10-21, NASB). When God allows you to do something that was not his first choice, the narrative never goes well. As the story continues, he is resisted by an angel and outwitted by a donkey (vs 22-32). Disobedience always brings a form of deception into your life, where you neither hear nor see things clearly.

All human hearts can either follow their convictions or give way to their corruption. No matter how spiritual it may sound, praying can never substitute for obeying. As the songwriter John Sammis wrote, “For there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.”

The image is provided by Microsoft.

Ken Barnes, the author of “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places” YWAM Publishing and Broken Vessels through Kindle Direct Publishing.
Ken’s Website— https://kenbarnes.us/
Ken blogs at https://kenbarnes.us/blog/
Email- [email protected]

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