seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Numbers 23:27 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.” 28 And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland.
29 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 30 Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.
Numbers 24:1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not resort to divination as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness. 2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him 3 and he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
5 “How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
your dwelling places, Israel!
your dwelling places, Israel!
6 “Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their seed will have abundant water.
like gardens beside a river,
like aloes planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their seed will have abundant water.
“Their king will be greater than Agag;
their kingdom will be exalted.
their kingdom will be exalted.
8 “God brought them out of Egypt;
they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
and break their bones in pieces;
with their arrows they pierce them.
9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?
they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
and break their bones in pieces;
with their arrows they pierce them.
9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?
“May those who bless you be blessed
and those who curse you be cursed!”
and those who curse you be cursed!”
10 Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times. 11 Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”
12 Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, 13 ‘Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything of my own accord, good or bad, to go beyond the command of the Lord—and I must say only what the Lord says’? 14 Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in days to come.”
There are two links to the commentary this morning. There are verses from both Numbers 23 and Numbers 24.Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you: Each of the first three prophecies, it has gotten worse for Balak. In the first one, Balaam fails to curse Israel; in the second, he blesses Israel, and in the third, he curses Balak! How much worse can it get for the king of Moab?
I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the Lord has kept you back from honor: Balak said that he would not pay Balaam because Balaam would not curse Israel. This hit Balaam where it really hurt him.
OK then, now I'm reading about the "failure to provide a service" clause, apparently.King Balak hired the "prophet" Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites so King Balak's army could destroy the Israelites.
Balaam told King Balak in the beginning that Balaam could not curse them if God didn't want him to be cursing the Israelites.
King Balak, who definitely did not believe in the existence of such a God, thought it was about money... and he offered Balaam vast riches for the service of cursing the Israelites.
Even Balaam's donkey told Balaam not to go to Moab. But King Balak offered riches!
Balaam tried to curse the Israelites. He really wanted to be rich beyond his wildest dreams. One little curse... what would it hurt?
God would not allow Balaam to utter a curse against the Israelites. Period!
Now Balaam knows that God loves the Israelites. He's decided to just give up on cursing the Israelites for King Balak and riches. He's decided to Bless the Israelites. It makes God happy at least!
King Balak was furious. He brought Balaam here for a curse. Balaam has not delivered the promised curse.
King Balak told Balaam to pack his bags and go home. King Balak also informed Balaam there would be no payment for services because Balaam failed to deliver the curse requested.
The phrase "controlling the narrative" came to mind this morning. King Balak thought he was rich enough to "control the narrative". Balaam, even after being warned by a donkey, thought he could "control the narrative".
Neither of them really considered God's part in this story. Balaam could not curse God's people. He simply could not generate the words of a curse because God "controls the narrative". God made a donkey talk. God could definitely control what comes out of the mind and mouth of a mere human.
When is King Balak going to realize that God is in control? How many altars does he have to build? How many animals must be sacrificed? How many views of Moses and his refugees and the livestock will it take before King Balak, and Balaam, get the message.
Now King Balak heard the words in Verse 9 and he should get the message.
King Balak is cursed now!
There is no way the Moabites are going to win!
Only God "controls the narrative".
