“He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.”

 –Numbers 23:21 KJV

Earlier chapters of Numbers describe how many of the Israelites lacked the faith needed to enter the promise land and were punished by God. They blamed Moses for their actions, rebelled against their leaders, and were defiantly disobedient to God. Balak, a Moabite enemy of the Israelites went to Balaam, a wicked prophet (but not a false prophet), to have him curse the Israelites in exchange for money. But, God still loved Israel. No matter how hard Balaam tried, God did not allow Balaam to curse Israel.

“The Lord met with Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Go back to Balak and give him this word.” So he went to him and found him standing beside his offering, with the Moabite officials. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?” Then he spoke his message: “Arise, Balak, and listen; hear me, son of Zippor. God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it.“No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed[a] in Israel. The Lord their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them.”

 -Numbers 23:16-21 NIV

In fact,“While God had control of Balaam’s wicked mouth, he made an unbelievable statement: God had not beheld iniquity in Jacob or seen perverseness in Israel… He imputes His righteousness to them. Because, God was in the midst of Israel, when He looked on them, He didn’t see their sin- He saw Himself.” ((Nortker, 3-Minute Devotionals For Women, p.96)” A beautiful picture is painted here: Israel is utterly perverse and wicked, but God sees righteousness, because He is in the midst of the city and He sees Himself. In the same way, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, if we have salvation (born of the Holy Spirit). In John 3:6, the Holy Spirit is described like the wind. “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d]” The Holy Spirit blows through us touching every part of us. When God looks at us, He doesn’t see our sins. Instead, He sees the Holy Spirit and we are righteous in His eyes. Amen.

Reference:

Brigitta Nortker, comp. 3-Minute Devotionals For Women. Uhrichsville: Barbour, Ohio. Print.