Balaam receives conditional approval from the Lord but is warned to speak only what God commands.
In this passage, we read that “God came to Balaam at night and said to him, ‘If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do.’” (v.20) God’s approach to Balaam at night underscores His sovereign ability to communicate at any time, even when human intentions and plans might seem hidden by darkness. Here, the Lord grants Balaam permission to journey with the men who were summoning him, yet He carefully limits Balaam’s actions to only what He commands. This instruction reminds us that when we are permitted to proceed in a certain direction, we must remain attentive to God’s plan rather than pursue our own. Balaam, who lived around the 15th century BC during Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness, found himself tested by the wealth and promises offered by Balak, the king of Moab. Moab was located east of the Dead Sea, in a region composed of rugged terrain and valleys, and it was there that Balak desperately sought to curse the Israelites, fearing their growing might (Numbers 22:2-6).
When the text says, “If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them” (v.20), it indicates that God, in His omniscience, sees Balaam’s heart and motives. Though Balaam was known as a soothsayer in that region, the Lord spoke directly to him to emphasize that no curse could prosper against His covenant people without His approval. Other Scriptures echo this theme, especially when Jesus reminds believers to seek the will of the Father above all else (John 6:38). Balaam’s story later becomes a dire example of how tempting wealth and prestige can conflict with obedience to God (2 Peter 2:15). Even so, in this moment, God mercifully allows Balaam to go but restricts him strictly to divine commands.
The final admonition, “but only the word which I speak to you shall you do” (v.20), reveals the high standard God holds for those who speak on His behalf. In the broader biblical narrative, those whom the Lord calls to represent Him often bear tremendous responsibility (James 3:1). Balaam, despite not being an Israelite, stands as an instrument through which God chooses to emphasize His authority over all nations and the futility of opposing His purposes. As believers reflect on this verse, it points them to submit their words, plans, and desires to the Lord’s directing voice, mirroring the perfect obedience displayed by Jesus in the New Testament (Philippians 2:8).
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Numbers 22:20 meaning
In this passage, we read that “God came to Balaam at night and said to him, ‘If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do.’” (v.20) God’s approach to Balaam at night underscores His sovereign ability to communicate at any time, even when human intentions and plans might seem hidden by darkness. Here, the Lord grants Balaam permission to journey with the men who were summoning him, yet He carefully limits Balaam’s actions to only what He commands. This instruction reminds us that when we are permitted to proceed in a certain direction, we must remain attentive to God’s plan rather than pursue our own. Balaam, who lived around the 15th century BC during Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness, found himself tested by the wealth and promises offered by Balak, the king of Moab. Moab was located east of the Dead Sea, in a region composed of rugged terrain and valleys, and it was there that Balak desperately sought to curse the Israelites, fearing their growing might (Numbers 22:2-6).
When the text says, “If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them” (v.20), it indicates that God, in His omniscience, sees Balaam’s heart and motives. Though Balaam was known as a soothsayer in that region, the Lord spoke directly to him to emphasize that no curse could prosper against His covenant people without His approval. Other Scriptures echo this theme, especially when Jesus reminds believers to seek the will of the Father above all else (John 6:38). Balaam’s story later becomes a dire example of how tempting wealth and prestige can conflict with obedience to God (2 Peter 2:15). Even so, in this moment, God mercifully allows Balaam to go but restricts him strictly to divine commands.
The final admonition, “but only the word which I speak to you shall you do” (v.20), reveals the high standard God holds for those who speak on His behalf. In the broader biblical narrative, those whom the Lord calls to represent Him often bear tremendous responsibility (James 3:1). Balaam, despite not being an Israelite, stands as an instrument through which God chooses to emphasize His authority over all nations and the futility of opposing His purposes. As believers reflect on this verse, it points them to submit their words, plans, and desires to the Lord’s directing voice, mirroring the perfect obedience displayed by Jesus in the New Testament (Philippians 2:8).