Numbers 22:15
“Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former”.
Balak was a king who was threatened by Israel. He sent representatives to the prophet Balaam to inquire of him to curse the people. He prayed and God said, “No, they are blessed by me.” So that was the answer he gave to Balak. However, he didn’t like that answer. Thus is the context for today’s passage. Balak sent even more representatives to Balaam to pressure him to change his mind.
Public and peer pressure is difficult. We all want to be liked. We do all sorts of things to stay in the good graces of others. It becomes difficult when we are pressured to do something wrong. God already answered Balaam. To do otherwise would be wrong.
Balaak is increasing the pressure. He’s sending more people and they are more distinguished. They are more polished and respectable. It’s going to be much more difficult to tell them no. I can feel the difficulty. They are good at persuasion. They know how to twist people in knots. They know how to cozy up, then shift to anger or guilt. Balaam is in for a difficult time.
I write as one who has difficulty in this area. I was walking to a friend’s office yesterday and someone asked where I was going. I should have said, “bible study”. I didn’t and still feel guilty. I sense that to have answered that way would have been rejecting. That may be true. However, living at peace with disgruntled people is easier than living in guilt by being cowardly.
I don’t think I need to raise the pressure to that level. They probably wouldn’t have responded as strongly as I have feared. In fact, they may have been impressed. My worries seem to go straight to the worst option.
A pattern in our behavior is to make a mistake, then to go back and correct. Sometimes that’s too late, other situations can allow that. It’s nice to know this. We can have a re-do. It’s also nice to know that most wrestle with this.
I haven’t brought God into this. He understands and wants to help us. I mistakenly think that I was embarrassed that I can’t go to Him for help. That’s what shame does. It pressures us into hiding. This goes back to the Garden. When God approached Adam and Eve, they hid. Yet, The Lord came and covered their shame. Hiding and avoiding God and others is bad. We should be open to Him and others. Shame is decreased when we share it. He will help us.
Lord, help us to have the courage to do (and say) the right thing. Help us to share these with others and not hide.