The next few chapters contain probably the next best-known event in the book \u2013 Balaam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First of all, we meet Balak the king of Moab (v1-4). He was afraid of the people of Israel because of what they had done to the Amorites. The phrase used is \u201c\u2026. sick with dread\u2026\u201d Israel was moving towards the Promised Land. Balak\u2019s fear was unfounded – I\u2019m not sure he knew this, but God had decreed (Deuteronomy 2:9) that Israel was not to harass the Moabites because He did not intend them to have their land. Whether the book of Deuteronomy had already been written then, I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Balak sent messengers to Balaam the son of Besor (later referred to as Beor) at Pethor (v5,6). They told him that a people had come from Egypt, they cover the face of the earth and are settling next to Moab. Sounds like a bit of an exaggeration that they cover the face of the earth, but maybe it seemed like that because, unknown to him, the Lord was fighting Israel\u2019s battle. This is the first we know about Balaam, but Balak must have heard of his reputation, so he called for him to put a curse on these people. He quite clearly had a reputation for being successful in blessing and cursing people and his reputation had spread far and wide. They had traveled quite a distance to meet him. Maybe the exaggeration would encourage Balaam to accept such a high call. Yes, they had come from Egypt, but they were not Egyptians, they were on their way to their own land, promised to them by the Lord. Balak considered that they were too strong for him, and he considered it urgent by asking him to come at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The elders of Moab and Midian went with the diviner\u2019s fee to Balaam (v7,8). Interesting that the must have been a fixed fee for this work. Balaam was obviously satisfied with it. Perhaps more interested in the fee than what he was asked to do! Balaam obviously had a knowledge of God, but he certainly wasn\u2019t a godly man. He was hypocritical in the way he spoke about the Lord and His will. If he had been thoroughly godly, he would have known what God\u2019s will was. He even offered them hospitality when he should have had nothing to do with them and their request and certainly not have accepted their money. He was trying to \u2018play\u2019 with God and His will, this was blatant sin. It was and is dangerous to play with the will of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The amazing thing is that God came and answered Balaam (v9-12). He asked, \u201cWho are these men with you<\/em>?\u201d Balaam told God what they had come for and God answered, \u201cYou shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.\u201d <\/em>God was being merciful to him, and He clearly told Balaam to have nothing to do with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Balaam told the men, (v13-15) \u201cGo back to your king for the Lord has refused to give me permission to go with you\u201d. One commentator suggests that his reply carried the sense that he wanted to go, but God wouldn\u2019t let him. They went to Balak and told him that Balaam refused to go, so he sent a bigger entourage and even more important men. We are not told whether they took another or even bigger fee this time, but it could have been and seems probable from the message Balak sent – \u201cAnd they came to Balaam and said to him, \u201cThus says Balak the son of Zippor: \u2018Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; for I will certainly honour you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore, please come, curse this people for me.\u2019\u201d <\/em>(v16,17)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Balaam is in a quandary just listen to his words (v18,19) \u2013 \u201cThen Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, \u201cThough Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.\u201d Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n No doubt the \u2018silver and gold\u2019 were attractive, but why did he have to go back to the Lord to see if there was a different message? God had already made it clear \u2013 \u201cYou shall not go ….\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Is this something we can be guilty of? Knowing full well what God\u2019s will is<\/a>, but to keep on asking in case He should change His mind. He should have sent them away without delay but again, he offers them hospitality so that he can ask God again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no question of God changing His mind (v20,21) but what comes next may cause some confusion- \u201cAnd God came to Balaam at night and said to him, \u201cIf the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you; that you shall do.\u201d So<\/a> Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n He tells Balaam to go but only to tell them what He says to him. So, he got up early and saddled his donkey and went with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, one could be excused for being confused at the following \u2013 (v22-27) \u201cThen God\u2019s anger was aroused because he went\u2026.<\/em>\u201d God had told him to go so why should He be angry?<\/p>\n\n\n\n God had said, \u201cIf the men come to call you\u2026. Go\u201d. <\/em>It seems that he went without their call after they had stayed overnight. He went early and didn\u2019t tell them what God had said, he just went. He didn\u2019t tell them that God told him not to curse Israel. Would they have taken him if they had known? God quite simply knew Balaam\u2019s heart and intention and that\u2019s why He was angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The angel of the Lord stood in his way as an adversary and the donkey saw the angel. Evidently Balaam didn\u2019t. The donkey saw the angel with drawn sword and turned aside into a field. Balaam struck the donkey. The angel moved into a narrow path with walls on each side and seeing the angel, the donkey pushed against the wall crushing Balaam\u2019s foot against the wall, so Balaam struck her again. The angel went further and stood in a narrow place with nowhere for the donkey to turn, so the donkey lay down. Balaam was so angry, and he struck the donkey again with his staff. Can you imagine the scene? It would be quite amusing if it wasn\u2019t so sad \u2013 a donkey with apparently more sense and perception than Balaam! There\u2019s no question of a donkey being spiritual, it was doing what came naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This amazing scene did not stop there \u2013 God performed a miracle – the donkey spoke (v28-30) and she said to Balaam, \u201cWhat have I done that you have struck me three times?\u201d Balaam answered the donkey, \u201cBecause you have abused me, I wish there was a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!\u201d So<\/a> the donkey said to Balaam, \u201cAm I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?\u201d And he said, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve often thought that years ago if you saw someone driving a car or even walking along speaking apparently to themselves, but they are actually on their mobile phone. Not knowing they were we would think there\u2019s something wrong. More so having a conversation with a donkey and the donkey speaking back! We would think they\u2019ve gone mental.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Balaam was doing wrong and didn\u2019t like to be told or stopped from what he was doing even to the point of speaking without hesitation to his donkey. He had to admit that the donkey was right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Lord opened Balaam\u2019s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord (v31-33) and bowed his head and fell flat on his face. Sword in hand was clear to Balaam that he should not go on but turn back and that he had disobeyed God. God used a remarkable way to show Balaam his error. We often say that we wish God would show us his will but very rarely, if ever, does the answer come like this. We pray for open and closed doors. This was quite clearly a closed one but sadly, Balaam didn\u2019t act upon it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Notice that the angel, who it is thought was a pre-incarnation appearance of Jesus, The Son of God, didn\u2019t first ask why he had come but why he had treated his donkey so badly when He had used the donkey to stop Balaam from doing the wrong thing. This was serious because Balaam was told that if the donkey had not turned aside, God would have killed him and let the donkey live. Strong words are used \u2013 \u2018your way is perverse before Me.\u2019 Balaam\u2019s actions in going to Balak and failing to recognise God\u2019s leading and stopping him was clearly a sin against God and worthy of death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Balaam appears to repent saying he didn\u2019t know that the Lord was standing in his way (v34,35). He says, \u201cIf it displeases you, I will turn back.\u201d Didn\u2019t he know? I suppose he could be excused for being confused, or could he? He was going for the wrong reason, and the Lord knew his motives, and he knew it. The angel told him to go but only speak the word the Lord spoke to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n