I’m currently working on a new project for Cornerstone that covers Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness. The workbook, God in the Wilderness, will be released around the first of March. I have found it very rewarding to revisit this part of Israel’s history, and I am excited to teach it on Wednesday evenings this spring.
Today, we focus on Numbers 22, where a comforting truth is revealed. God often works on behalf of His people in unseen ways. Not every threat is visible, and not every danger gives warning.
Sometimes the biggest dangers come from far away while God’s people are completely unaware. And long before they even sense trouble, God is already working, already intervening, already protecting.
A Battle Israel Never Knew About
As Israel camped peacefully on the plains of Moab, life seemed calm. There was no reason to worry. But behind the scenes, a king was planning.
Balak, the king of Moab, was terrified of Israel’s presence. He didn’t see them as tired travelers but as a huge threat. Instead of facing them head-on, he chose spiritual warfare. He hired Balaam, a prophet, to curse God’s people.
Israel never knew. They didn’t even realize danger existed. Yet God was already at work.
God’s Purposes Are Not Fragile
What Balaam’s story clearly shows is this: God’s plans do not rely on human awareness, strength, or even faithfulness. Even when curses were meant to be spoken, blessings came instead. Although opposition was real, it was powerless.
Again and again, Balaam tried to fulfill Balak’s wishes. And repeatedly, God held him back. Even a prophet with compromised motives could not act outside of God’s authority. Israel’s fate did not depend on what they knew; it depended on what God had promised.
God Works Before We Ever Pray
One of the great comforts of the wilderness story is realizing how much God does for His people without their knowledge. While Israel rested, a spiritual battle took place. While they remained unaware, God dismantled plans meant to destroy them. This truth should reassure us.
God often works on our behalf long before we recognize a problem or know how to pray about it. Many dangers are avoided. Many conflicts are deflected. Many disasters are prevented without us ever knowing how close they came.
I am reminded of Paul’s confidence in Romans 8. God works all things according to His purpose, and nothing can separate His people from His care (Romans 8:28, 31). God’s protection is not reactive; it is constant and deliberate.
When You Feel Unaware or Unprepared
Even when God’s people are unaware, God remains fully aware. You might not see every danger or realize a battle is happening. You might not know what God has already protected you from. But He does, and that is reason enough for peace. God’s faithfulness does not rely on our vigilance; it depends entirely on Him.
And He is always at work.
Have a great weekend!
Really thoughtful reflection on the Balaam story. The idea that God works before we even know to pray is such a comfotring thought, esp in times when everything feels uncertain. We tend to fixate on visible threats but miss how much protection happens quietly behind the scences.