
God-Breathed Living
Day 59: Balaam’s Blindness
Today’s Reading:
Numbers 23-24, Psalm 51, Proverbs 20
Today’s Scripture:
Numbers 23:19 (NLT):
“God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”
Devotional:
Sometimes, we can be so caught up in our own plans that we completely miss what God is trying to do. Balaam was a prophet for hire, a man who was more interested in profiting from his gift than in obeying the God who gave it to him. When Balak, king of Moab, saw Israel’s growing strength, he tried to use Balaam as a weapon—hoping he could curse God’s people and stop them in their tracks. But Balaam had a problem: he could only say what God allowed him to say.
What Balak didn’t understand is what Balaam himself failed to grasp at first—God had already blessed Israel, and no curse could change that. Even when Balaam tried to manipulate the situation, hoping for a payday from Balak, he could only prophesy what God put in his mouth. His greed blinded him to a fundamental truth: God does not change His mind, nor does He lie. What He has spoken, He will fulfill. That’s a promise we can hold on to.
Think about that for a moment—God’s Word is final. His blessing cannot be revoked, and His purpose cannot be stopped. That means no opposition, no enemy, and no circumstance can override what He has set in motion. If God has spoken a promise over your life, you don’t have to strive to make it happen—you just have to trust. Balaam had an opportunity to align with God’s will, but his love of money kept him from fully embracing what God was doing. Don’t let distractions or personal desires keep you from seeing what God is doing in your life. His Word never fails.
Reflection Questions:
1. Are there any promises from God that you’ve struggled to believe or trust in?
2. How can you shift your focus from striving to trusting in God’s unchanging Word?
Prayer:
Father, thank You that Your Word is unshakable and Your promises never fail. Help me to trust You completely, even when I don’t see how everything will come together. Open my eyes to any ways I might be resisting Your will, and give me the faith to walk in alignment with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Digging Deeper
Balaam’s story is a warning about divided loyalty. He knew who God was, but his heart was torn between obedience and personal gain. Later in Scripture, he is condemned for leading Israel into sin (Revelation 2:14), proving that his heart was never fully surrendered to God. Partial obedience is still disobedience.
Numbers 23:19 is a powerful declaration of God’s character. Unlike humans, He doesn’t lie, change His mind, or fail to act. His words hold eternal weight. Psalm 51 echoes this truth, as David repents, acknowledging that true obedience comes from a heart fully surrendered to God. Proverbs 20:7 reminds us that integrity before God is better than any earthly gain.
God’s Word never wavers, and His promises stand firm. The question is—will we align ourselves with them, or will we resist like Balaam?