seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Numbers 22:1 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.
2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
4 The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.”
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6 Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
7 The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
8 “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.
9 God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11 ‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’”
12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”
13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
14 So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
4 The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.”
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6 Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
7 The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
8 “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.
9 God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11 ‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’”
12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”
13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
14 So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
Balaam is quite a character.
It was the easy English commentary that popped up with the best explanation this morning.
Chapters 22-24 record the story of Balaam and the prophecies he spoke about Israel. Balaam was not an Israelite. In fact, he was Israel’s enemy. But he was a genuine prophet of God.
However, Balaam loved money. His desire for money caused him to sin (Jude 11; 2 Peter 2:15). In the end, he became a wicked man who used magic (Joshua 13:22).
This story is very important. It describes events with lots of details. It emphasises that Balaam spoke God’s words only. By means of Balaam, God said that he had blessed Israel. This meant that God would continue to protect the Israelites. Also, God repeated the promises that he had made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). God had promised to give to Abraham his own land and many descendants. God promised that he would be with Abraham, too. The Israelites were Abraham’s descendants. So those promises were for their benefit.
Balak, the king of the country called Moab, was afraid of the Israelites. He knew that his army could not defeat them in a battle. So he spoke about this to the Midianites. The Midianites lived in tribes. They lived in the Sinai desert and in the deserts east of the Jordan river. The Moabites and the Midianites joined together to ask for help against the Israelites. They knew that they could not defeat the Israelites in a physical battle. So they decided that they would use evil spiritual powers to defeat the Israelites.
They sent officials to Balaam. Clearly, Balak believed that Balaam could curse people. The word curse in this part of the Bible means the same as a prophecy. But it is about bad things rather than good things. Balak did not realise that Balaam was a prophet of God. Balak thought that Balaam did magic. And he wanted a stronger magic than his own gods could provide.
The officials took money to pay Balaam. Also, they took a message from Balak. They gave it to Balaam. In the message, Balak referred to the Israelites as ‘a very large group of people’. And he mentioned that they had come out of the country called Egypt (verse 5). He did not mention that God had rescued them from the Egyptians. Perhaps he did not know this. But he knew that they were powerful. And he believed that he needed to use spiritual means against them, rather than physical means.
Balaam decided to ask the LORD what he should do. So he told the officials to wait until the next morning. He needed to pray so that he would know God’s answer. This shows that Balaam had the character of a genuine prophet.
During the night, God spoke to Balaam. God told Balaam that he should not go with the officials. God told Balaam that he should not curse the Israelites. God had *blessed the *Israelites. God would not allow Balaam to say anything that would hurt his people, the Israelites.
But Balaam did not tell Balak’s officials the whole truth about what God had said. He should have said that God was blessing the Israelites. Instead, he pretended that God had not allowed him to go with the officials. Probably, he thought he could persuade God to let him go later. Then still he could receive a payment. Already, he was showing his desire for money.
Also, Balaam knew that he could not curse the Israelites. He could not curse them because God was on their side.
So Balaam refused to do what Balak had asked. And he sent the officials back to Balak.
However, Balaam loved money. His desire for money caused him to sin (Jude 11; 2 Peter 2:15). In the end, he became a wicked man who used magic (Joshua 13:22).
This story is very important. It describes events with lots of details. It emphasises that Balaam spoke God’s words only. By means of Balaam, God said that he had blessed Israel. This meant that God would continue to protect the Israelites. Also, God repeated the promises that he had made to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). God had promised to give to Abraham his own land and many descendants. God promised that he would be with Abraham, too. The Israelites were Abraham’s descendants. So those promises were for their benefit.
Balak, the king of the country called Moab, was afraid of the Israelites. He knew that his army could not defeat them in a battle. So he spoke about this to the Midianites. The Midianites lived in tribes. They lived in the Sinai desert and in the deserts east of the Jordan river. The Moabites and the Midianites joined together to ask for help against the Israelites. They knew that they could not defeat the Israelites in a physical battle. So they decided that they would use evil spiritual powers to defeat the Israelites.
They sent officials to Balaam. Clearly, Balak believed that Balaam could curse people. The word curse in this part of the Bible means the same as a prophecy. But it is about bad things rather than good things. Balak did not realise that Balaam was a prophet of God. Balak thought that Balaam did magic. And he wanted a stronger magic than his own gods could provide.
The officials took money to pay Balaam. Also, they took a message from Balak. They gave it to Balaam. In the message, Balak referred to the Israelites as ‘a very large group of people’. And he mentioned that they had come out of the country called Egypt (verse 5). He did not mention that God had rescued them from the Egyptians. Perhaps he did not know this. But he knew that they were powerful. And he believed that he needed to use spiritual means against them, rather than physical means.
Balaam decided to ask the LORD what he should do. So he told the officials to wait until the next morning. He needed to pray so that he would know God’s answer. This shows that Balaam had the character of a genuine prophet.
During the night, God spoke to Balaam. God told Balaam that he should not go with the officials. God told Balaam that he should not curse the Israelites. God had *blessed the *Israelites. God would not allow Balaam to say anything that would hurt his people, the Israelites.
But Balaam did not tell Balak’s officials the whole truth about what God had said. He should have said that God was blessing the Israelites. Instead, he pretended that God had not allowed him to go with the officials. Probably, he thought he could persuade God to let him go later. Then still he could receive a payment. Already, he was showing his desire for money.
Also, Balaam knew that he could not curse the Israelites. He could not curse them because God was on their side.
So Balaam refused to do what Balak had asked. And he sent the officials back to Balak.
Now the blueletterbible.org site explains that Balak actually had nothing to fear from the Israelites.
In one sense, Balak's fear was completely logical. On the other hand, if he had only known and believed God's word, he would have had nothing to fear. God commanded Israel to not harass Moab, because He did not intend to give Israel the land of the Moabites (Deuteronomy 2:9).
God had no obligation to respond to an obviously self-seeking heart like Balaam's. But in mercy He did respond, warning Balaam to have nothing to do with these men.
This specific word from God to Balaam is crystal clear. He said, "Balaam, do not go, and do not curse."
This specific word from God to Balaam is crystal clear. He said, "Balaam, do not go, and do not curse."
A part of me understands both of these men. After all, Balak the king sees 2 million people, who had just taken out the Ammonites, heading toward his country. I'm sure he saw them as a threat. Balaam.... well, IMHO, I am surprised that he went to God but I can see he's greedy.
