Nothing can hinder God’s plan for those who trust Him.
When the prophet Balaam, who lived around the mid-15th century BC during Israel’s wilderness wanderings, prophesies over the Israelites, he declares the unstoppable will and sovereignty of God. He proclaims, “Then he took up his discourse and said, ‘Alas, who can live unless God has ordained it?’” (v.23). Balaam’s revelation stands as a reminder that human life and history are firmly in God’s hands. Balaam was summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites, but instead, God used him to pronounce blessings and future visions that revealed His ultimate control of all events taking place at that time.
In describing “who can live unless God has ordained it?” (v.23), Balaam emphasizes that no power or authority—even a king like Balak—can oppose God’s purposes. The verse underscores that every breath and every circumstance unfolds only through the permission of the Almighty. This concept resonates in other parts of Scripture, where God’s sovereignty is connected to His goodness and redemptive plan (Romans 8:28). The land of Moab, located east of the Dead Sea in present-day Jordan, was constantly wary of Israel’s progress, yet this prophecy shows that divine direction cannot be thwarted, even in the face of social or geographical opposition.
The foreshadowing in “Alas, who can live unless God has ordained it?” (v.23) points forward to the complete authority Jesus claimed in the New Testament when He displayed power over sickness, nature, and even death (Mark 4:39). Balaam’s words call believers to trust in the God who rules over life’s details, spinning every thread of history according to His righteous design. God’s unassailable control demonstrated in Balaam’s oracle assures His people that, just as He guided Israel to the Promised Land, He continues to guide His church into the fulfillment of His greater kingdom purposes.
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Numbers 24:23 meaning
When the prophet Balaam, who lived around the mid-15th century BC during Israel’s wilderness wanderings, prophesies over the Israelites, he declares the unstoppable will and sovereignty of God. He proclaims, “Then he took up his discourse and said, ‘Alas, who can live unless God has ordained it?’” (v.23). Balaam’s revelation stands as a reminder that human life and history are firmly in God’s hands. Balaam was summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites, but instead, God used him to pronounce blessings and future visions that revealed His ultimate control of all events taking place at that time.
In describing “who can live unless God has ordained it?” (v.23), Balaam emphasizes that no power or authority—even a king like Balak—can oppose God’s purposes. The verse underscores that every breath and every circumstance unfolds only through the permission of the Almighty. This concept resonates in other parts of Scripture, where God’s sovereignty is connected to His goodness and redemptive plan (Romans 8:28). The land of Moab, located east of the Dead Sea in present-day Jordan, was constantly wary of Israel’s progress, yet this prophecy shows that divine direction cannot be thwarted, even in the face of social or geographical opposition.
The foreshadowing in “Alas, who can live unless God has ordained it?” (v.23) points forward to the complete authority Jesus claimed in the New Testament when He displayed power over sickness, nature, and even death (Mark 4:39). Balaam’s words call believers to trust in the God who rules over life’s details, spinning every thread of history according to His righteous design. God’s unassailable control demonstrated in Balaam’s oracle assures His people that, just as He guided Israel to the Promised Land, He continues to guide His church into the fulfillment of His greater kingdom purposes.