How can Jesus be God, if Numbers 23; 19, says God is not a Man?

This particular text of scripture is one of the favorite verse often used by skeptics to disprove the biblical doctrine of the deity of Christ. But the question is, does Numbers 23; 19 really mean that Jesus cannot be God? The secret to interpreting difficult passages like Numbers 23; 19 is to interpret it in the light of it's immediate context, and also to compare scripture with scripture, so you can comprehend the whole counsel of God concerning the subject matter at hand. 

What does Numbers 23; 19 mean?

Let us take a good look at the passage: "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23; 19).

Their reasoning is this, if God is not a Man, then Jesus being a Man cannot be God. A careful examination of this verse does not in anyway mean that God cannot become a Man. It does not negate the possibility of God taking on flesh. The text does not argue against the Christian doctrine of the incarnation of the Son of God. Jesus was God in human flesh, and the verse before us does not speak against it, though certain people interpret it to suit their creed. 

What Balaam was doing was comparing God's faithfulness and the immutability of his counsel with the fallible nature of man. He is saying that unlike man, God cannot lie, his promises are yea and amen, what he promises is exactly what he does. God unlike Man does not utter lies, but he is true to his word. This text and other texts like 1 Samuel 15; 29, does not teach against the fact that God can take on a human form. At the time this text was written, the incarnation has not yet taken place. God had not yet taken a human nature into union with himself. Therefore, it is safe to say, that God is not a Man, that he should lie, nor a Son of man that he should repent. But in the fullness of time, God literally took on the weakness of a human nature and dwelt among us (John 1; 14).

Jesus Christ is both God and Man 

In christian theology, the concept of the hypostatic union is a teaching that Jesus is both God and Man simultaneously. Jesus was fully human whiles still retaining his divine nature as God. At a point in human history, God descended from heaven to earth and took on the likeness of sinful flesh and tabernacled among us. A careful examination of Jesus words and actions proved beyond any reasonable doubt that he was truly God in human nature. He had the ability to pardon sin, a divine prerogative reserved only for God to exercise: And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts. "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2; 5-7).

He also made claim to be one with the father and the unbelieving accused him of blasphemy and wanted to stone him to death: I and the Father are one. "The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?" The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God" (John 10; 30-33).

I know it is not a truth to easily assimilate, for how can Jesus be both God and Man at the same time, with each nature retaining it's properties peculiar to it? But since it is a biblical doctrine, a doctrine clearly taught in God's word, we are to accept it as true. So, Numbers 23; 19, is actually a text that speaks of God's veracity to his promises, and does not lie like fallible men do. God bless you

A thought to ponder

God literally took on the weakness of a human nature and dwelt among us

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