Numbers 23-24 Balaam’s Oracles
Balak has sent for Balaam to have him curse Israel. Balaam’s oracles offered to the king do just the opposite. “I can only do what the Lord tells me”, says Balaam.
I had always been taught that Balaam told the people of Moab how to trap the people of Israel; to get them to worship Moab’s gods. I don’t see that here. I looked ahead and didn’t see it lather either. Moab did get Israel to join with their people in idol worship, but not at Balaam’s urging. I am VERY grateful to see this.
Let’s rejoin our story as Balak tries repeatedly to receive what HE wants from Balaam.
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Balaam stands beside Balak, looking out over the people. There are too many for him to number.
“These are the ones who are going to ruin our land” cries Balak. “Curse them so that they will fall by the wayside and not destroy us.”
From the first time Balaam brought this matter to the Lord, he has only received good things for Israel. When the Lord let him come on this journey and then nearly died in the process, he KNOWS better than to cross the Lord. But he will make the attempt to do as Balak asks.
“Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” (Numbers 23:1) Balam says as he points to where he wants the altars built.
Balaam watches as the princes of Moab build the altars and offer the sacrifices he has called for. Once the sacrifices are burning on the altars, Balaam turns back to Balak.
“Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” (Numbers 23:3)
Balaam is a little nervous as he walks away from Balak and the altars. He is pretty certain he knows what the Lord will have to say. Whatever it is though, Balaam will speak what he is given from the Lord. EXACTLY as it is given to him.
Balaam is out of the sight of the king when he prays to the Lord. “I have come on this journey as You have instructed me, Lord. ‘I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.’ (Numbers 23:4b)”
The Lord takes no time at all in answering Balaam. “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.” (Numbers 23:5b)
The Lord then puts the words Balaam is to say upon his heart. Balaam will not deviate one bit from what the Lord has given him.
Balak is excited when he sees Balaam returning to him. “Finally, this group is going to get what they deserve!”
Balaam looks at the men who had accompanied him when he was brought to Balak. They all wait expectantly beside the altars that are still burning. “They’re not going to like this” he thinks to himself.
Balak greets Balaam. “What did the Lord show you” he asks with great anticipation.
A hush falls over everything around him as Balaam begins to speak.
“From Aram Balak has brought me, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains:
‘Come, curse Jacob for me, and come, denounce Israel!’ How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? For from the top of the crags I see him, from the hills I behold him; behold, a people dwelling alone, and not counting itself among the nations! Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!” (Numbers 23:7b-10)
Balak’s mouth falls open as he listens to Balaam. “This isn’t a curse. It’s a blessing!” thinks Balak. He won’t stand for this! “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them.” (Numbers 23:11)
Balaam looks Balak straight in the eye when he gives his answer. “Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?” (Numbers 23:12) Balaam then shrugs his shoulder in the ‘what can I do’ attitude.
Balak isn’t giving up! He wants this people gone from his region. “Please come with me to another place, from which you may see them. You shall see only a fraction of them and shall not see them all. Then curse them for me from there.” (Numbers 23:13)
Balaam and all the princes of Moab follow Balak to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah. Balaam instructs them to build seven altars and offer the same sacrifices again. Once the sacrifices are burning again, Balaam is ready.
“Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord over there.” (Numbers 23:15)
Balaam doesn’t even have to call to the Lord this time. As soon as he is out of the sight of Balak and the princes, the Lord speaks to him.
“Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak.” (Numbers 23:16b)
The Lord plants the message in Balaam’s heart. Balaam then returns to the place where Balak is waiting beside the altar.
As soon as Balak sees Balaam returning, he has to ask. “What has the Lord spoken?” (Numbers 23:17b)
Balaam shares ONLY what the Lord has given him. “Rise, Balak, and hear; give ear to me, O son of Zippor: God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it. He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The Lord their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them. God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of the wild ox. For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘What has God wrought!’ Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up and as a lion it lifts itself; it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey and drunk the blood of the slain.” (Numbers 23:18-24)
Balak is both frustrated and heartsick. Twice now, he has asked Balaam to curse this people, and twice Balaam has blessed them. “Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all.” (Numbers 23:25)
Balaam fixes his eyes fully on the king and says; “Did I not tell you, ‘All that the Lord says, that I must do’?” (Numbers 23:26)
Balak scrubs at his face with both hands before speaking again. Balak is still desperate for relief. He will try one more time. “Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.” (Numbers 23:27)
Balak took them all to the top of Peor, which overlooks the desert. Balaam again told them to build seven altars and to sacrifice a bull and a ram on each. Once the fires were lit, Balaam does something that surprises them. Balaam stayed right where he was. He didn’t go off to ‘seek the Lord’, but looked out into the wilderness where the people were instead. He already knew what the Lord’s words would be. The Lord would bless Israel, no matter what Balak wanted. So, Balaam began to proclaim the Lord’s blessing over the people.
“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel! Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters. Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows. He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.” (Numbers 24:3-9)
Balak was furious! Three times he had asked Balaam to curse Israel. And three times Balaam had blessed them instead. Balak smacked his hands together in anger, then cried out against Balaam. “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the Lord has held you back from honor.” (Numbers 24:10-11)
Balaam looked at Balak with eyes that were barely slits because of his own anger. “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, ‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the Lord, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the Lord speaks, that will I speak’? And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.” (Numbers 24:12-14)
Balaam shook his head in disgust at Balak and then began prophesying of things to come in far off days. “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered: I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly. And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!” (Numbers 24:15-19)
Balak’s stands with his lips clamped shut. He knows that all things Balaam says come to pass. How is he supposed to deal with THIS?
Balaam is not finished though. He has words to say regarding all the nations he knew would also fall to Isael. When he pronounced each portion of their prophecy, he looked in the direction of their lands.
Balaam first addresses the kingdom of Amalek. “Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction.” (Numbers 24:20b) Then he turns his attention to the Kenite people. “Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock. Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive.” (Numbers 24:21-22) His last prophecy was for Kittim, Assher, and Eber. “Alas, who shall live when God does this? But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he too shall come to utter destruction.” (Numbers 24:23b-24)
When Balaam finished speaking, not a word was spoken. The king looked heartsick. All these nations would fall to Israel. EXACTLY what he was afraid of to begin with. Balaam had not calmed his fears but ratcheted them up 100 fold.
Balaam turned and walked away, leaving the king and all his princes beside the altars they had built. Balaam retrieved his donkey from the servant holding its reigns. The two of them made their way home in companionable silence. Balaam was GLAD his donkey was not speaking any longer. It was frightening enough the first time!
(to be continued)
Father God, thank You for bringing me into Your story again. This one that already had a lot of detail in it. Thank you for letting me add a little flavor to it. The next story is going to be difficult. But it is the beginning of the entry into the second generation.
I pray I’m as dedicated to stick with ONLY what the Lord says when push comes to shove. Give me strength Lord in those times.
