Life Principle 3
God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm. (Num 23:19)
God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm. (Num 23:19)
Life’s Questions
If you’ve made the decision to seek an intimate relationship with God and obey Him no matter what, you will undoubtedly experience seasons of difficulty and uncertainty. Your walk with God is a journey of faith, and there will be situations when your trust in Him will be tested. What will you cling to when a deluge of trouble rains on your life and everything you know to be true seems to be swept away by intense winds of adversity? What will you hold on to when the waves of doubt threaten to crash down on you? Life Principle 3 holds the answer for you: God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm.
What the Bible Says
Read Numbers 22:1–12. Why were King Balak and the Moabites afraid of the Israelites (Num 22:2–5)?
Who was Balaam and what did the Moabites want from him (Num 22:6-7)?
*** The Amorites were a great deal stronger than the Moabites; so when Israel took the Amorite cities so easily (see Num. 21:21-31), the people of Moab had a good reason to be afraid.
How did God respond to Balaam (Num 22:12)?
Read Numbers 22:22–35. When Balaam disobeyed God, how did God get his attention (Num 22:28-31)? Why do you think God used such surprising methods?
What was the Angel’s specific instruction to Balaam (Num 22:35)?
Read Numbers 23:16-23. Why do you think Balaam made the statement he did in Numbers 23:19?
*** When Balaam said that God doesn’t lie, it means that God will never fail, deceive, or disappoint you. When he says that God never has to repent, it’s because God never changes His mind about the promises that He’s made.
How did God fulfill His promise to protect the people of Israel from their enemies
(see Ex. 19:5; Num. 14:8–9; Josh. 24:9–10)?
What It Means
God shielded Israel from harm when the people didn’t even know that they needed protecting. He caused other nations to be afraid of them and even went to unusual lengths to keep Israel from being cursed. God was so powerful and convincing that even the pagan prophet Balaam had to say, “I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it” (Num. 23:20).
*** The name Balaam means not of the people. Isn’t it amazing that someone who had nothing to do with God’s people could still recognize the faithfulness and power of God?
God’s Word is absolutely true. You may not understand how God is going to bring about what He’s promised you, but He is keeping every promise that He has ever made. He will never deceive you or disappoint you, and He will never change His mind about what He’s told you.
Life Examples
Read Isaiah 55:10–11. How can this passage encourage you when your situation looks bleak?
Read Romans 15:4. What does this verse mean to you?
*** God’s promises are essential to your spiritual welfare.
What Scripture passages or Bible stories most encourage you? Why?
Living the Principle
Do you read and meditate on the Bible every day so that the Lord can bring His Word to your mind when you need a reminder of His love and comfort? What do you do when you’re experiencing a tempest of adversity and need a special message of hope from God to hold on to? When trouble strikes like a tidal wave, God’s Word can be an anchor of strength, guidance, and comfort to keep you steady.
What storm are you facing today? Are you disheartened by your situation? God will never fail you, and He’ll never change His mind about the promises that He’s made to you. Therefore, pray. Lay your heart out to God and ask for His love and comfort. Ask Him to show you His will and lead you to His message of encouragement. Then read His wonderful Word. A good place to find assurance is the book of Psalms; or, if you are a new believer, read the Gospel of John. Use tools such as the Life Principles Bible to find where in God’s Word to go for direction for your specific need. You can also ask godly friends what Scripture passages have been meaningful and inspiring to them.
How will you live out Life Principle 3 this week? Discuss other ways that you can keep God’s Word as your anchor during difficult times. Also, talk about ways the Bible has encouraged you and kept your focus on God in the past. Then spend time in prayer asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
If you’ve made the decision to seek an intimate relationship with God and obey Him no matter what, you will undoubtedly experience seasons of difficulty and uncertainty. Your walk with God is a journey of faith, and there will be situations when your trust in Him will be tested. What will you cling to when a deluge of trouble rains on your life and everything you know to be true seems to be swept away by intense winds of adversity? What will you hold on to when the waves of doubt threaten to crash down on you? Life Principle 3 holds the answer for you: God’s Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm.
What the Bible Says
Read Numbers 22:1–12. Why were King Balak and the Moabites afraid of the Israelites (Num 22:2–5)?
Who was Balaam and what did the Moabites want from him (Num 22:6-7)?
*** The Amorites were a great deal stronger than the Moabites; so when Israel took the Amorite cities so easily (see Num. 21:21-31), the people of Moab had a good reason to be afraid.
How did God respond to Balaam (Num 22:12)?
Read Numbers 22:22–35. When Balaam disobeyed God, how did God get his attention (Num 22:28-31)? Why do you think God used such surprising methods?
What was the Angel’s specific instruction to Balaam (Num 22:35)?
Read Numbers 23:16-23. Why do you think Balaam made the statement he did in Numbers 23:19?
*** When Balaam said that God doesn’t lie, it means that God will never fail, deceive, or disappoint you. When he says that God never has to repent, it’s because God never changes His mind about the promises that He’s made.
How did God fulfill His promise to protect the people of Israel from their enemies
(see Ex. 19:5; Num. 14:8–9; Josh. 24:9–10)?
What It Means
God shielded Israel from harm when the people didn’t even know that they needed protecting. He caused other nations to be afraid of them and even went to unusual lengths to keep Israel from being cursed. God was so powerful and convincing that even the pagan prophet Balaam had to say, “I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it” (Num. 23:20).
*** The name Balaam means not of the people. Isn’t it amazing that someone who had nothing to do with God’s people could still recognize the faithfulness and power of God?
God’s Word is absolutely true. You may not understand how God is going to bring about what He’s promised you, but He is keeping every promise that He has ever made. He will never deceive you or disappoint you, and He will never change His mind about what He’s told you.
Life Examples
Read Isaiah 55:10–11. How can this passage encourage you when your situation looks bleak?
Read Romans 15:4. What does this verse mean to you?
*** God’s promises are essential to your spiritual welfare.
What Scripture passages or Bible stories most encourage you? Why?
Living the Principle
Do you read and meditate on the Bible every day so that the Lord can bring His Word to your mind when you need a reminder of His love and comfort? What do you do when you’re experiencing a tempest of adversity and need a special message of hope from God to hold on to? When trouble strikes like a tidal wave, God’s Word can be an anchor of strength, guidance, and comfort to keep you steady.
What storm are you facing today? Are you disheartened by your situation? God will never fail you, and He’ll never change His mind about the promises that He’s made to you. Therefore, pray. Lay your heart out to God and ask for His love and comfort. Ask Him to show you His will and lead you to His message of encouragement. Then read His wonderful Word. A good place to find assurance is the book of Psalms; or, if you are a new believer, read the Gospel of John. Use tools such as the Life Principles Bible to find where in God’s Word to go for direction for your specific need. You can also ask godly friends what Scripture passages have been meaningful and inspiring to them.
How will you live out Life Principle 3 this week? Discuss other ways that you can keep God’s Word as your anchor during difficult times. Also, talk about ways the Bible has encouraged you and kept your focus on God in the past. Then spend time in prayer asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
- Consider God’s promises your spiritual anchors (see Heb. 6:18–20).
- God always keeps the promises that He makes (see Josh. 21:45).
- Be willing to patiently wait for God to fulfill His promises (see Hab. 2:2–3).