This verse confirms that God’s blessing is absolute and unchangeable.
In “Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it” (v.20) Balaam, who was called by Balak, the king of Moab, makes a profound statement about the irrevocable nature of the LORD’s blessing. This moment took place around 1406 BC, when the Israelites were encamped on the plains of Moab, just east of the Dead Sea, in preparation for entering Canaan. Although Balak desired Balaam to curse Israel, Balaam explains that God has given him the command to bless, and no human desire can overturn the Almighty’s decree. Much like the unchangeable character of God (James 1:17), this verse underscores the certainty of His intentions, regardless of earthly pressures or expectations.
“Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it” (v.20) also highlights the sovereignty of the LORD over all affairs. In the broader context of Numbers 23, the passage demonstrates that God’s protective and caring hand rests on His chosen people. While Balak was desperately seeking a curse, God’s favor proves more powerful than any human scheme. This principle finds a parallel in the New Testament, where believers learn that they are also blessed in Christ “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). Though Balaam had a well-known reputation for divination in the ancient Near East, he could not act contrary to divine will once the LORD’s blessing had been decreed.
The mention of Moab, located in the region east of the Dead Sea, traces its ancestry to Lot (Genesis 19:37), Abraham’s relative who lived around 2,000 BC. By Balaam’s time, the Moabites had become a formidable community near Israel’s path into the Promised Land. Balak (reigning about 1406 BC) summons Balaam hoping to manipulate spiritual forces, yet God’s spoken blessing over His people stands unassailable. For readers today, “When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it” (v.20) testifies that once God’s word of grace or promise has been issued, no earthly power can hinder it.
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Numbers 23:20 meaning
In “Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it” (v.20) Balaam, who was called by Balak, the king of Moab, makes a profound statement about the irrevocable nature of the LORD’s blessing. This moment took place around 1406 BC, when the Israelites were encamped on the plains of Moab, just east of the Dead Sea, in preparation for entering Canaan. Although Balak desired Balaam to curse Israel, Balaam explains that God has given him the command to bless, and no human desire can overturn the Almighty’s decree. Much like the unchangeable character of God (James 1:17), this verse underscores the certainty of His intentions, regardless of earthly pressures or expectations.
“Behold, I have received a command to bless; When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it” (v.20) also highlights the sovereignty of the LORD over all affairs. In the broader context of Numbers 23, the passage demonstrates that God’s protective and caring hand rests on His chosen people. While Balak was desperately seeking a curse, God’s favor proves more powerful than any human scheme. This principle finds a parallel in the New Testament, where believers learn that they are also blessed in Christ “with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). Though Balaam had a well-known reputation for divination in the ancient Near East, he could not act contrary to divine will once the LORD’s blessing had been decreed.
The mention of Moab, located in the region east of the Dead Sea, traces its ancestry to Lot (Genesis 19:37), Abraham’s relative who lived around 2,000 BC. By Balaam’s time, the Moabites had become a formidable community near Israel’s path into the Promised Land. Balak (reigning about 1406 BC) summons Balaam hoping to manipulate spiritual forces, yet God’s spoken blessing over His people stands unassailable. For readers today, “When He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it” (v.20) testifies that once God’s word of grace or promise has been issued, no earthly power can hinder it.