Numbers 24:0 - The Unchangeable Faithfulness Of God

I. IT IS NATURAL TO MEN TO CHANGE THEIR MINI ) AND BREAK THEIR WORD .

1 . They repent, i.e; they change their mind, frequently, hastily, because of ignorance, or short-sightedness, or prejudice, or narrow-mindedness. Picture a man, fickle, irresolute, and therefore "unstable" ( James 1:8 ). When he does not repent it may be a sign of obstinacy rather than of laudable firmness ( Jeremiah 8:6 ).

2 . They lie. Children of Satan ( John 8:44 ), often trained from childhood in ways of falsehood ( Psalms 58:3 ), they help to undermine the foundations of society ( Isaiah 59:13-15 ), and to tempt truthful men to universal distrust ( Psalms 116:11 ). Such men are apt to think that God is like themselves, changeable and unfaithful. They project an image of themselves, like idolaters, and call it God ( Psalms 115:8 ). E.g; Balak ( Numbers 24:13 , 27), and Balaam himself at first ( Numbers 22:8 , Numbers 22:19 ).

II. IT IS " IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE ." Some of God's threats and promises are conditional, though in form they may seem absolute. E.g; Numbers 14:11 , Numbers 14:12 ; Ezekiel 33:12-20 . But others are fixed and absolute. We see this in—

1 . Threats. E.g; exclusion of Hebrews from Canaan (chapter 14:20-22); Saul's loss of the kingdom ( 1 Samuel 15:22-29 ); exclusion of the impure from heaven ( Hebrews 12:14 ; Revelation 21:27 ). Hence learn the folly of those who hope that God may change his mind, while theirs is unchanged; that God may repent instead of themselves. (Illustrate from Simon Magus, who desired to escape God's wrath while he gave no hint of abandoning his sins— Acts 8:24 .)

2 . Promises. E.g.,