The Scripture states, ‘The Lord brings to nothing the plans of nations and frustrates the designs of peoples; but the plan of the Lord stands forever’ (Ps. 32:10-11). Balaam, having perceived God's care for the Israelites, sought to honor God with sacrifices, mistakenly thinking Him akin to the fickle deities worshiped by their priests. However, the directive to proceed correctly (Numbers 23:4) indicates his genuine desire to discover the proper course of action. Hence, lips that are unclean gained the power of the Holy Spirit and proclaimed words they would not typically voice, crying out, ‘How can I curse when the Lord has not cursed? Or how can I speak of evil that God will not condemn?’ (Num. 23:8) and also predicting, ‘Look, the people shall dwell apart, and they shall not be reckoned among the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob? Or number the fourth part of Israel?’ (Num. 23:9-10). Then Balaam expressed his wish to share in the fate of the Israelites: ‘Let my life end with the righteous, and let my descendants be as their descendants’ (Num. 23:10). However, as Balak became furious, believing that Balaam, witnessing the vast company of Hebrews, had blessed them, he took him to another location from which he could see only a portion of the people. There, the Holy Spirit again spoke through Balaam, saying, ‘God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?’ (Num. 23:19). The nature of God, Balak, is immutable and unwavering. The divine will does not fluctuate like that of humanity. ‘I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it’ (Num. 23:20).
THEOSIS