January 26

God Routs Fear

For there is no spell against Jacob and no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What great things God has done!’ — Num 23:23 BSB

How this should completely uproot all silly, superstitious fears! Even if there were any truth in witchcraft and omens, they could not affect the people of the Lord. Those whom God blesses, no devil can curse.

Ungodly people, like Balaam, may cleverly plot to bring down the Lord’s people, but with all their secrecy and schemes, they are doomed to fail. Their gunpowder is damp; their sword’s edge is blunted. They may gather together, but since the Lord is not with them, their efforts are in vain. We can sit calmly and let them weave their nets because we won’t be caught in them. Even if they call on Beelzebub and use all his cunning, it will accomplish nothing: their spells won’t work, and their divination will deceive them. What a blessing this is! How it calms the heart! God’s people may wrestle with God, but no one can wrestle with them and prevail. God’s people will overcome all opposition. We need not fear the devil himself, nor any secret enemies whose words are deceitful and whose plans are deep and unfathomable. They cannot harm those who trust in the living God. We defy the devil and all his forces.