There was no reason for Balak to be afraid of the Israelites. God had told Moses
not to attack Moab because God had given Ar to Lot's descendants as a possession (Deuteronomy (5 Mos) 2:9). The Moabites came from one of Lot's daughters.
Lot was a nephew of Abraham, making the Moabites related to the Israelites.
not to attack Moab because God had given Ar to Lot's descendants as a possession (Deuteronomy (5 Mos) 2:9). The Moabites came from one of Lot's daughters.
Lot was a nephew of Abraham, making the Moabites related to the Israelites.
The Moabites had fallen away from the Lord at this time. Balak was nervous about nothing. God doesn't want us to fear people or things, but we should fear the Lord (Deu 10:12), see Fear of Man. It would have been better to send for Balaam to get a word from God what to do in this situation, and not to curse the Israelites.
The elders of Moab and the elders of Midian were now sent by Balak to Balaam with fees for divination, and they gave Balak's message to Balaam that he wanted him to curse the Israelites (Num 22:7). Balaam asked God what he should do. God told Balaam not to curse the people of Israel because they were blessed, and he wouldn't travel with them to Balak (Num 22:9–12). Balaam then told the men that he couldn't travel with them because God had refused him to do so
(Num 22:13–14).
(Num 22:13–14).
Balak then sent princes to Balaam, more numerous and more honorable than the first, promising him great honor if he cursed them (Num 22:15–17). Balaam now understood the following:
He also did it when he tried to kill David (1 Sam 19:23–24).
- Balak wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites in order to defeat them.
- God didn't want to curse the Israelites.
- God didn't want Balaam to travel to Balak.
- It was a long way to travel for Balaam, about 600 km to Balak.
- Balaam could receive a great reward if he did what Balak wanted him to do.
- He probably wouldn't get any reward if he just prophesied the word of God to Balak.
Balaam was very faithful to God in his prophecies (Num 22:18). But even though it was very clear what God wanted, he decided to ask God again what to do
(Num 22:19). The reason he didn't just send them away was because he had a serious weakness, and that was money (Mat 6:24). He was greedy (Jude 1:11). He loved the gain of wrongdoings (2 Pet 2:14–15). That can be devastating, especially if you are in a service for God. God now told Balaam to go with them, but only do what God told him to do (Num 22:20). It wasn't that God had changed his mind. Sometimes God brings his discipline upon a person by allowing him to walk the sinful path he desires to walk. God knew Balaam's weakness and warned him by saying so. Balaam then travelled with them against Balak (Num 22:21).
(Num 22:19). The reason he didn't just send them away was because he had a serious weakness, and that was money (Mat 6:24). He was greedy (Jude 1:11). He loved the gain of wrongdoings (2 Pet 2:14–15). That can be devastating, especially if you are in a service for God. God now told Balaam to go with them, but only do what God told him to do (Num 22:20). It wasn't that God had changed his mind. Sometimes God brings his discipline upon a person by allowing him to walk the sinful path he desires to walk. God knew Balaam's weakness and warned him by saying so. Balaam then travelled with them against Balak (Num 22:21).
But God’s anger was kindled because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary (Num 22:22). (Each time the angel of the Lord
is mentioned in the Old Testament, it's believed to be Jesus Christ.) Balaam's donkey could see the angel of the Lord and turned aside, but Balaam couldn't see him
(Num 22:23–27). This obstacle that Balaam was frustrated with was God's mercy. God warned Balaam to turn back. Sometimes an obstacle can be God's mercy upon us. The Lord even opened the donkey's mouth so the donkey could speak to Balaam (Num 22:28–30). The donkey had more spiritual insight than Balaam had.
The Lord opened Balaam's eyes so that he could also see the Lord, who said that he should have killed him unless the donkey had turned aside, because the Lord knew that Balaam's way was perverse before him (Num 22:31–33), see God is omniscient (all-knowing) in God's Attributes. It was madness (2 Pet 2:16).
God looks at our heart and our motives. God saw that Balaam wanted to find a way to get the rewards from Balak. Balaam then said to the Lord that if it didn't please him to go to Balak, he would turn back (Num 22:34). It was very obvious that it displeased the Lord, so he wouldn't have to ask. The Lord answered Balaam that he could go, but only the word that the Lord spoke to Balaam he would speak
(Num 22:35). But that would probably mean no reward for Balaam.
is mentioned in the Old Testament, it's believed to be Jesus Christ.) Balaam's donkey could see the angel of the Lord and turned aside, but Balaam couldn't see him
(Num 22:23–27). This obstacle that Balaam was frustrated with was God's mercy. God warned Balaam to turn back. Sometimes an obstacle can be God's mercy upon us. The Lord even opened the donkey's mouth so the donkey could speak to Balaam (Num 22:28–30). The donkey had more spiritual insight than Balaam had.
The Lord opened Balaam's eyes so that he could also see the Lord, who said that he should have killed him unless the donkey had turned aside, because the Lord knew that Balaam's way was perverse before him (Num 22:31–33), see God is omniscient (all-knowing) in God's Attributes. It was madness (2 Pet 2:16).
God looks at our heart and our motives. God saw that Balaam wanted to find a way to get the rewards from Balak. Balaam then said to the Lord that if it didn't please him to go to Balak, he would turn back (Num 22:34). It was very obvious that it displeased the Lord, so he wouldn't have to ask. The Lord answered Balaam that he could go, but only the word that the Lord spoke to Balaam he would speak
(Num 22:35). But that would probably mean no reward for Balaam.
When Balaam came to Balak, he gave four amazing prophesies from God:
- Num 23:6–12: Balaam said that he he couldn't curse whom God hadn't cursed, and he couldn't denounce whom the Lord hadn't denounced (Num 23:8).
Israel is called by God. - Num 23:17–26: Balaam said that there is no sorcery that will help against Jacob, nor any divination that will help against Israel (Num 23:23a).
Israel is accepted by God. - Num 24:1–13: Balaam said that blessed is he who blesses Israel, and cursed is he who curses Israel (Num 24:9b). This is a confirmation of the promise that God made to Abraham (Genesis (1 Mos) 12:3). It was to prophesy not only to Balak, but also to Balaam himself. Unfortunately, he didn't follow this rule. It still applies today to all people and nations, regardless of what they think of Israel. It's a matter of obedience to God.
- Num 24:14–25: Balaam even gave a Messianic prophesy: "A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel." (Num 24:17b).
See The Christmas Star.
He also did it when he tried to kill David (1 Sam 19:23–24).
Saul proved to be a very cruel and ungodly king.
God gives Spiritual Gifts of grace to be used, and not as a reward for long and faithful service. The person God uses doesn't have to be saved, godly, or righteous. God can use anyone. Ministering in spiritual gifts doesn't automatically provide a free ticket to Heaven after death (Mat 7:22–23). God is Love, Grace, Mercy, Forgiveness, but he is also Holy, see God is holy in God's Attributes. Therefore, it's important to fear God more than to fear people or things (Deu 10:12), see To Fear the Lord
in Fear of Man and Sanctification.
in Fear of Man and Sanctification.
False prophets are recognized by showing bad fruits in their lives (Mat 7:15–20),
see Beware of false prophets in The Sermon on the Mount. The prophesies that Balaam gave to Balak weren't what Balak wanted to hear, and therefore would bring no reward to Balaam (Num 24:11), see The Love of Money. Balaam therefore proposed an alternative to weaken the people of Israel, with the aim of turning God's wrath against the Israelites. This shows that Balaam could be a very ungodly person while giving amazing prophecies from God. This made him a false prophet even though his prophesies were accurate. He gave the following advice to Balak, who probably gave him the rewards he was promised.
see Beware of false prophets in The Sermon on the Mount. The prophesies that Balaam gave to Balak weren't what Balak wanted to hear, and therefore would bring no reward to Balaam (Num 24:11), see The Love of Money. Balaam therefore proposed an alternative to weaken the people of Israel, with the aim of turning God's wrath against the Israelites. This shows that Balaam could be a very ungodly person while giving amazing prophecies from God. This made him a false prophet even though his prophesies were accurate. He gave the following advice to Balak, who probably gave him the rewards he was promised.
- Because God is Holy, they should make their women date the Israelites,
in order to seduce them into sexual immorality connected to idolatry
(Baal worship involved perverted sexuality) (Num 31:14–18). - They should seduce them to eat meat sacrificed to idols and worship other gods, pagan deities, such as Baal who was a god of fertility (Rev 2:14). Pagan deities often involved sexual immorality.
This led the people of Israel to commit fornication with the women of Moab.
The people of Israel sacrificed to their gods, they ate and bowed down to them.
God's wrath fell upon the Israelites. 24,000 of the people of Israel died because of the plague that resulted. (Num 25:1–9, Psalm 106:28–31).
The people of Israel sacrificed to their gods, they ate and bowed down to them.
God's wrath fell upon the Israelites. 24,000 of the people of Israel died because of the plague that resulted. (Num 25:1–9, Psalm 106:28–31).
One result of this was that no Ammonite or Moabite would ever enter the assembly of God (Nehemiah 13:1–2, Deu 23:3–6, Joshua 24:9–10, Micah 6:5).
The Israelites took vengeance on the Midianites because of this
(Num 25:16–18, 31:1–2a). They killed all the male of the Midianites, and they also killed Balaam (Num 31:7–12, Joshua 13:22). This means that Balaam didn't get time to enjoy the rewards that he probably received from Balak because of his devastating proposal to Balak. Balaam disobeyed God's warnings to speak only
to Balak the words God gave him. We don't know if he was given time to repent before he was killed, or even if he understood that he was acting in disobedience.
We don't know if he went to Paradise or Hell when he died. This shows that
God can use a person and he still ends up in ruin. So it was for Balaam.
(Num 25:16–18, 31:1–2a). They killed all the male of the Midianites, and they also killed Balaam (Num 31:7–12, Joshua 13:22). This means that Balaam didn't get time to enjoy the rewards that he probably received from Balak because of his devastating proposal to Balak. Balaam disobeyed God's warnings to speak only
to Balak the words God gave him. We don't know if he was given time to repent before he was killed, or even if he understood that he was acting in disobedience.
We don't know if he went to Paradise or Hell when he died. This shows that
God can use a person and he still ends up in ruin. So it was for Balaam.
What we can take from this historical account is to learn from Balaam's disobedience; the sin that this led to by the people of Israel, and what this sin resulted in. There is always a danger for us as Christians to compromise who
we are in Christ, especially as we live in the world with many things thrown at us.
This entails the risk of compromising in disobedience, see Sanctification.
we are in Christ, especially as we live in the world with many things thrown at us.
This entails the risk of compromising in disobedience, see Sanctification.
See also The Old Testament of the Bible.
