You’re probably familiar with the story of Samson and Delilah. Samson was the man God blessed with supernatural strength that could only be taken away if his hair was cut. What strikes me about that story is how Delilah deceived him twice in an effort to find the secret to his strength, and yet the third time, for some reason, Samson thought things would be different. But, true to form, she deceived him yet again. This time, however, he revealed the secret and his hair was cut. As a result, his eyes were put out and he was thrown into prison. Why after two times of Delilah trying to trick him would he think that things would be different the third time is a mystery. A lesser known story brings these same questions to mind. In Numbers, the prophet Balaam was told by Balak to curse the Israelites. Three times Balaam told Balak that he could only do what the Lord tells him, and three times he ended up blessing the Israelites instead of cursing them. Why did it take three times? I don’t know. But if Balak were familiar with Numbers chapter 23 verses 19-20, he should’ve gotten a clue. In it, Balaam says:
“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.”
I like how he says, “Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” You see, God will not go back on his promises. Unlike man who may say one thing, even with good intentions, and not do it, God will keep his promises. So, if God promises something in his word to us, or if he has seeded a promise that he has revealed to us in our hearts, we should know that it will happen. We can bank on it. Our faith should not waver because as Balaam says, “Does God promise and not fulfill?” He is not like men, he does not lie. Remember that the next time you’re holding on to a promise that God has given you. It will happen, so take heart.
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“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” For some reason, Balak thought the third time would be a charm. Twice he told Balaam to curse the Israelites, and twice Balaam blessed them instead. Knowing that God is not a son of man that he should change his mind, would’ve let Balak know that the third time would turn out just like the first two. God is God, and he keeps his promises.