Contemplative Bible Reading

Numbers 23:18-19 (New Living Translation)

¹⁸ This was the message Balaam delivered:

“Rise up, Balak, and listen!
Hear me, son of Zippor.
¹⁹ God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

Balaam begins his message with a simple yet profound statement:

God is not a man

Perhaps all discussions of God and all discussions of man should begin with that statement. Without agreement on the statement, there is no use continuing. Once we agree on that statement, many other ideas become easier to understand and judge.

God does not act like man; man does not act like God. God:

• does not lie
• does not change His mind

Hmmm