Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Num 22:11-22         12/8/2017

Israel had recently settled near Moab after defeating the Midianites. The King of Moab was concerned. He asked Balaam to curse the children of Israel. Balaam inquired of God. But God forbid Balaam to go to Moab or curse Israel. After an additional inquiry, God relented and allowed Balaam to visit King Balak at Moab.

When it comes to dealing with God, diligence and persistence have this essential difference: Care to ensure nothing necessary is left undone versus an unwillingness to put down my own agenda.

In life, they can sometimes look the same.

We all start off as infants and children living for ourselves; my desires, my sensitivities, my agenda. The infantile.

But no matter if your metaphor in the spiritual journey is a dark night or hind’s feet, the possibility of our lives is that we grow out of this selfish, moral solipsism.

With God’s voice, there is a contentedness in whatever may come. An apatheos. A lack of agenda which might lead me to believe that I am wholly available for God.

And Balaam seemed wholly available to God.

“You have the words of everlasting life”

And Peter seemed wholly available to Jesus.

And so, even between soul and spirit there is a parsing due.

Persistence won’t have it – the infant won’t have it. And that’s how, in God’s mercy, an infantile attitude of persistence is revealed.

“and take every thought captive in obedience to Christ” 2 Cor 10:5