There is a man tucked into the book of Numbers named Balaam. He is told to curse Israel. He talks to God about it, and God tells him. “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people for they are blessed.” He tells the men, The lord has refused to let me go. Balak, the king trying to hire Balaam sends him this message a second time, “Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, I will do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come curse this people for me.” It his answer that I can’t get over.
“Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more.”
Less or more.
Not just less.
How often, God, do I want to do more than you have commanded me? How often do I want to do less? How rare that I tell people that I cannot go beyond the command of the Lord my God.
“Only do what I tell you.” You told Balaam.
Do you say the same to me lord? Can I even hear what you say to me? I’m not listening God. Please, God, you have to teach me how to listen to you. You met Balaam. And I trust that when I am willing and open you meet me as well. I trust that you have met with me and will continue to meet me.
And now the words of one much wiser than I:
Only he who lives by the forgiveness of his sin in Jesus Christ will rightly think little of himself. Because the Christian can no longer fancy that he is wise he will also have no high opinion of his own schemes and plans. He will know that it is good for his own will to be broken in the encounter with his neighbor. He will be ready to consider his neighbors will more important and urgent than his own.
-Life Together by Bonhoeffer
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