A casual reading of the Bible proves that all humans are challenged with trusting God and the promises of his Word. The narrative of the wandering people of God in the wilderness recounted in the book of Numbers is Exhibit A for this tendency in the heart of man. I must admit that I too am at the front of that line.

This old prophecy of Balaam reminds us of the complete truthfulness of God. God does not lie, and he cannot lie. For this would be contrary to his character. This means that all of his promises to his people will come to pass.

Not only is God truthful, but he is also faithful and fulfills all of His promises to his people. Two of the fundamental promises of God to his people throughout the Scriptures are these: The Lord our God is with us. The Lord our God is for us. These two precious and comforting promises are found just a couple of verses later in Numbers 23. The prophecy continues: “the Lord their God is with them, and the shout of the king is among them. God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of a wild ox” (Numbers 23:21-22). This is a vivid word picture that demonstrates to us that our God is not against us, but for us.

Once on my granddaddy’s farm, I had a bull with horns charge at me. It was a most frightening experience. It caused me to run in terror and actually leap over an electric fence to safety. The phrase “God is for us like the horns of a wild ox” shows how much the Lord is for us and will defend us at all costs. This ought to give us great comfort. The next time you see a bull with horns let it remind you that God is for you “like the horns of a wild ox.”

The ultimate way that you know that God is for you is through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was not spared so that we might be spared. The Apostle Paul reminds us that “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31-32)

May this bring you great security and confidence today and give you a growing capacity to trust the Lord and His promises.