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Numbers 22-25 – Praying through the Bible – A Prayer to Get What We Want
Prayer is about getting God to do what we want. Does that concept intrigue you? Self-interest comes naturally. How often are our prayers filled with personal wish lists? We righteously conclude, almost sighing, “Your will be done;” but we think, “I hope your will is my will!” It’s easier to desire God’s will to match ours. Admittedly, our prayers are not usually asking for what is sinful; although some I have heard of are. After praying, they became convinced God wants them to be happy, so they “heard” God say yes. But for us good Christians, the application would be neutral requests or even good ones, because, frustratingly, God says no to those too. So how do we get God to say yes?
Balaam is a good example on how to manipulate God (that’s the goal right?). This prophet (see, good guy!) wants God to allow him to go with the Moabites to curse Israel, for which he will be rewarded by King Balak. Everyone’s got to make a living, right? Considering how Israel has acted, they even deserve it. So winners all around! Balaam prays and asks God; God says no. He asks God again. This time God says yes to going, but no to cursing. Later Balaam repents, because God never wanted him to go (Nm 22.7-8, 12-13, 15-17, 18-19,20). Apparently God says yes even when He prefers to say no. But that’s not the point here. We want to learn how to get God to say yes.
How do we get God to do what we want? Simple. Don’t accept His answers. Keep asking until God gives in, or until you perceive you have His permission. Think of God as a weak parent. Sometimes parents “give in” wrongfully, just to get their children to be quiet. Sometimes a parent will “give in” so that their children will learn a lesson the hard way. Sometimes the hard way is the only way. But that’s another lesson. Just treat God like a bad parent. Balaam got what he wanted, because he prayed himself through.
In Numbers 25, we have what is called, “The Heresy of Peor.” From the rest of the Bible, we have to conclude Balaam found a way to curse Israel and get his money (Nm 31.16; Dt 23.5; 2 Pet 2.15; Jude 11; Rv 2.14). God would not curse Israel because He had blessed them. But when Israel turned from God due to the counsel of Balaam to Barak, God had no choice but to punish Israel. Balaam is a great illustrator of how to get what we want from God, and to get what we want despite God. We too can get what we want, with or without God. We too can convince ourselves, “Well, God wants me to be happy, doesn’t He?”
Prayer Challenge: Hopefully the sarcasm illustrated and didn’t detract. Hopefully we do not see ourselves in Balaam. There is a difference between persistence (Lk 11.5-12) and immaturity in prayers. Search and pray. Search to want our will to match God’s. And when God says no, pray that we won’t find a way around God.
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