Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel What hath God wrought!Numbers 23:23 Explainer ## Introduction - In Plain Language: No curse or magic can win against Jacob (Israel); people will say about them now, “Look what God has done!” - Big idea: God’s power protects His people so that enemy curses and divination cannot undo His purposes. - Key points: - The verse declares divine protection: attempts to curse Israel fail. - It contrasts human sorcery with God’s sovereign action. - The line ends in praise — people will recognize and announce God’s mighty work. ## Context - Where this verse fits in: Numbers 23:23 is part of Balaam’s second (or fourth, depending on counting) poetic oracle. Balak, king of Moab, had hired Balaam to curse Israel, but Balaam, speaking what God gives him, blesses Israel instead. This verse is a clear refusal of the idea that magic can overcome God’s purposes for Israel. - Story timeline: Late Bronze/Early Iron Age setting as Israel moves toward the Promised Land (after the Exodus and wilderness wanderings). The immediate audience is Balak and Moabite onlookers, but the oracles are preserved for Israel’s instruction. Balaam is a non-Israelite prophet/diviner who ultimately speaks by Yahweh’s control. - Surrounding passage: - Immediately before (vv. 21–22): Balaam recounts how he tried to pronounce curses, but God prevented him, and Israel is a people set apart, like a lion and a rearing stallion — not easily bound. - Immediately after (vv. 24–24:9): Balaam continues to speak blessings, describing Israel’s destiny, strength, and God’s active role among them; the oracles grow into a litany of praise. ## Explanation - Quick take: This verse says that no form of magic, omen, or divination can stand against God’s plan for Israel — instead people will see Israel’s success as the result of God’s work and will marvel. - In Depth: - The first half rejects two related threats common in the ancient world: enchantment (magical spells) and divination (reading signs or omens to control fate). In effect Balaam says, “Your magic won’t work.” - The second half switches tone: it moves from denial of enemy power to affirmation of God’s visible action. “According to this time” (or “now/at this moment”) signals a turning point — from plot to public declaration. The rhetorical question “What hath God wrought!” is both wonder and a public verdict, inviting bystanders to acknowledge God’s handiwork. - This reflects a key biblical theme: the impotence of human magic where God’s sovereign will is at work, and the proper human response is recognition and praise. - Literary note: Balaam’s oracle uses strong poetic language and irony — the one hired to curse ends up testifying to God’s blessing, amplifying the message that God is in control, even over pagan prophets. ## Key Words - qesem (קֶסֶם) — “enchantment” or “sorcery”: techniques or spells intended to force outcomes or curse others. - kashaph / divination (חִשּׁוּבָה / or מְעוֹנֵן) — “divination” broadly: seeking hidden knowledge or control via omens or mediums. (Translations use “divination,” “sorcery,” or “evil omens.”) - mah asah (מַה־עָשָׂה) — literally “what has He done?” an exclamation of wonder about God’s action. - be-zman hazeh (בְּזְמַן הַזֶּה) — “at this time/now”: indicates immediacy — the blessing and recognition are current and public. ## Background - Culturally, the ancient Near East expected gods, spirits, and magic to be able to influence human fortune. Kings often sought oracles, omens, or sorcerers to gain advantage. Balak’s attempt to hire Balaam fits that pattern. - Balaam’s role is ambiguous: he is a diviner by trade but becomes an instrument of Yahweh’s message. The story shows Yahweh’s sovereignty even through a foreign prophet. - In Israel’s covenant worldview, God is the decisive actor; human attempts to manipulate destiny pale beside divine purpose. This verse is a theological statement against superstition and a political statement about national protection. ## Theology - God’s sovereignty: God’s purposes for His people cannot be overturned by human magic or enemy schemes. - Public recognition of God: God’s acts are meant to be seen and proclaimed — witness and testimony are part of divine blessing. - Divine protection is real but tied to God’s larger purposes and promises, not a generic “magic shield.” ## Application To Your Life - For workers: When colleagues or systems seem stacked against you, remember that God’s direction and purpose weigh more than office politics or manipulative tactics — work with integrity and trust God’s timing. - For parents: Teach kids that fear of “bad luck” or superstitions can be replaced by confidence in God’s care and by honest, faithful living. - For seekers/doubters: The verse invites attention to God’s visible actions in life — look for moments where things turn in ways that point beyond chance. - For believers facing attacks: This verse encourages bold testimony — don’t be surprised if obstacles come from crafty human plans, but remember God’s ability to overturn them. - Reflection question(s): Where have I relied on superstition or worried about “bad omens”? How can I shift my trust to God’s observable work in my life? Who needs to hear a testimony of what God has done for you? - Short prayer: Lord, help me recognize Your work in my life and to trust Your protection over the schemes that would harm me or those I love. Give me courage to speak of what You have done. ## Translation Comparison - KJV: “Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!” - ESV: “There is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What God has done!’” - NIV: “No divination against Jacob, no evil omens against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What God has accomplished!’” - NASB: “There is no sorcery against Jacob, And there is no divination against Israel; Now it will be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What God has done!’” - Why differences matter: The main variation is one of tone and word choice for the threats (“enchantment,” “sorcery,” “divination,” “evil omens”) and for the final exclamation (“What hath God wrought” vs. “What God has done/accomplished”). These choices affect how forceful or poetic the line feels: “sorcery” and “divination” highlight techniques; “evil omens” captures a worldview. “What hath God wrought” keeps the old poetic English, while modern translations emphasize God’s action in plainer terms. ## FAQs - Q: Does Numbers 23:23 mean Israel was immune to magic or harm? A: The verse declares that curses and divination will not defeat Israel as God’s covenant people. It’s not a naive promise that nothing bad will ever touch any individual; rather, it affirms that hostile attempts to overturn God’s plan for the nation fail. In the story, Balaam — a professional seer — cannot pronounce a curse because God restrains him. The passage teaches that God’s sovereign will is decisive. In application, believers should not treat this as a magic amulet guaranteeing trouble-free lives, but as assurance that God’s purposes stand despite enemies and manipulative schemes. - Q: Why does Balaam, a supposed diviner, speak for God here? A: Balaam is a complex figure: a non-Israelite prophet/diviner who is approached by Balak to curse Israel. God intervenes and directs Balaam’s words. The point of the narrative is ironic and theologically pointed: even a pagan oracle cannot override Yahweh. Balaam’s mouth becomes a vehicle for God’s revelation in order to show Israel’s protected status and to demonstrate Yahweh’s authority over all nations and their supernatural practices. The story highlights God’s right to use unexpected agents to accomplish His purposes and to expose the limits of human power. ## Cross References - Numbers 22–24 — The full Balaam episode (context and development of these oracles). - Isaiah 54:17 — “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper.” (Similar promise of protection from hostile attacks.) - Deuteronomy 32:39 — God’s unique power to give life and take it away; underlines divine sovereignty over fate. - Psalm 77:14 — “You are the God who works wonders” (echoes the wonder-language of “what God has done”). ## Deeper Study - Commentary synthesis (high-level): Most commentators read this verse as a strong declaration of Yahweh’s sovereignty over fate and foreign powers. Balaam’s oracles are poetic, ironic, and literarily crafted to show that Israel’s destiny is secured not by luck but by God. Some scholars highlight the polemical edge — a rebuke of Near Eastern magical practices — while others emphasize the public, testimonial function of the oracle (“it shall be said…”). The verse also plays into broader biblical motifs of God’s protective covenant and the futility of opposing Him with secret arts. - Group study bullets: - Read Numbers 22:1–24:25 aloud and notice how the oracles develop; discuss Balaam’s shifting posture. - Talk about contemporary “divinations” (superstitions, manipulative tactics, systems of power) — how do we see them today and how should we respond? - Reflect on testimony: who can you tell about “what God has done” in your life? Practice a short personal testimony in pairs. - Compare parallel texts (Isaiah 54:17, Psalm 77:14) to see the theme of divine protection across scripture. ## Related verses (to compare and contrast — and why) - Isaiah 54:17 — “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” Why: Echoes the theme of failed attacks and divine protection but in a later prophetic, comforting context. - Deuteronomy 32:39 — “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me…” Why: Emphasizes God’s sole sovereignty over life, death, and destiny — the theological basis for why enchantment cannot prevail. - Matthew 12:24–29 (Jesus on Beelzebul) — Jesus argues that his power over demons demonstrates God’s kingdom and that an enemy’s power cannot stand against God. Why: New Testament application of the same logic — divine authority over spiritual powers. ## Talk to the Bible Try the ‘Talk To The Bible’ feature to explore this verse further. Suggested prompts: - “Explain Balaam’s oracles in Numbers 22–24 and why this verse matters for understanding God’s sovereignty.” - “Compare Numbers 23:23 with Isaiah 54:17 and Matthew 12:24–29: what do these texts say about spiritual attacks and God’s protection?” - “Give three modern examples of how people might trust God rather than superstition, and suggest practical steps for living that trust.”
