Parashat Balak 2022: What's Your Price

Numbers 22:2-25:9

Pursuing God's will is always a struggle. We have the enemy to contend with, our own weaknesses, adverse situations, and constant setbacks. The walk of faith can indeed be an uphill climb that is difficult and sometimes treacherous. Balak, King of Moab, was afraid of Israel. He saw what they had done to the Amorites and knew he could not directly contend with such a large adversary. So Balak sent the elders of Moab and Midian to Balaam with a payment, asking that he curse Israel. When Balaam refused, princes were sent promising promotion and great honor. This is where Balaam began to compromise and his weaknesses began to violate the word of God. It was at this second appeal with promotion and honor that Balaam began to behave less like someone who was trying to do God's will and more like an accomplice to the enemy.

Is there a place where you compromise the will of God? Perhaps it does not look as grand as Balaam's situation, but ask yourself, do you have a price? We compromise in a lot of large and small places in our lives and some can be quite comical. God calls us to fast, then suddenly people begin to parade pastries and free food around us. If we are not focused, we can violate our sacred time with God over a simple temptation (like a fresh, hot, chocolate-covered donut. I wrote a poem once about this exact situation due to an unnamed personal failure). Sometimes it is a new job offer that takes us away from where God called us to be. Other times the economy that the enemy uses to appeal to us is more emotional. This type of compromise comes when we are frustrated, depressed, dealing with setbacks, or just worn out from the constant struggles and fighting.

The spirit of compromise will always place limits on how far our sanctification and devotion can go. Instead of our consecration driving our faith, the spirit of compromise always dictates that place where we begin to appease or satisfy our carnal nature instead of pursuing God. Remember, the walk of faith takes a toll and we have to be prepared to pay the price and go the distance if we are to see the work of God done.

It is the nature of compromise to attempt to serve two masters. Balaam sought and took counsel from God and also looked to appease King Balak to get a reward. We can also compromise our values in the name of tolerance, social acceptance, or under the guise of being modernized. We cannot serve God while trying to appease another. When compromise creeps in, like leaven, it will ultimately contaminate many things we hold as sacred.

What is your price? Is your treasure in heaven? Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Yeshua).” Paul gives us the keys to ensure we don't sell out to the wrong things and uses the words forget (or selectively remember), reach, and press. In other words, stop focusing on the wrong things, stay focused on where you are putting your efforts, and remember why you are doing it. Lastly, put godly energy and forethought into your actions. This involves praise, prayer, and perseverance. It is easier to not compromise when we have a purpose we press towards. Our purpose needs to be prayed over, worshiped over, interceded over, and pursued every day. God is looking for a few folks that won't quit, have a no-compromise conviction and are willing to labor another day. The coming of Yeshua, the Messiah is not far away. The night is far spent and the voice of the bridegroom is about to be heard. Day by day, we will commit uncompromisingly to walk out our faith until the shofar sounds.

Rav Calev Apostolic Messianic International-Gulf Coast