Sometimes the truth is inconvenient. Sometimes the truth challenges us and makes us uncomfortable. We can resist what we recognize to be true, choosing not to accept it because of the challenges it can pose to us. One challenge that accepting the truth can pose to us is accepting that our opponent might be right about something. How often do we see a tendency to reject something true because someone we disagree with on many issues says it? We see this phenomenon in politics, social media, the workplace, etc. all the time. But when something is true, it doesn’t really matter who said it; the truth is true no matter what.
Balaam was a prophet who opposed the Israelites. Yet even Balaam could not prophesy a word against the God of Israel. Balaam’s prophecies about Israel proved true, to God’s great glory, even though they came from one of His enemies. Similarly, the chief priests and elders resisted what Jesus said because they thought Jesus had no authority to speak as he did. Yet Jesus spoke the truth.
Even in our lives, our enemies or people who annoy us may still say something true. May we have the love of truth in us, so that we may always recognize it when we hear it. May we also have the humility to accept that truth, regardless of who shares it with us.