Transcendence 3

Eight: Balaam's Prophecy

Balak the king was upset that Balaam had not cursed the Israelites, yet he hadn't given up. He took Balaam to the field of Zophim on the top of Pisgah, where they could oversee more of the Israelites. The visual was supposed to prove to Balaam the urgency of why the curse was necessary. There he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Balaam told Balak to wait there at the offering while he talked with God. For the second time God met with Balaam and put a message in his mouth for him to go back and tell Balak.

When he returned to King Balak and the princes, he uttered the second oracle. "Arise, Balak, and listen, God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless, he has blessed, and I can not change it. No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The Lord their God is with them, the shout of the King is among them. God brought them out of Egypt, they have the strength of a wild ox. There is not sorcery against Jacob. It will now be said of Israel, "See what God has done!" The People rise like a lioness, they rouse themselves like a lion that does not rest till he devours his prey and drinks the blood of his victims."

Balak was furious at the words of the second oracle. When he responded he tried to remain calm when he requested that if he wasn't going to curse them, then at least don't bless them either. But Balaam said, "Did I not tell you I must do whatever the Lord says?"

Balak was distraught, but still not ready to give up. His need for control and his desire to always get what he wants pushed him to try again for the third time to persuade Balaam to curse them. He took him to another place so that perhaps God will be pleased with them and allow him to curse the Israelites from there. So they went to the top of Peor, overlooking the wasteland. For the third time they built seven altars and prepared seven bulls and seven rams on each just as Balaam asked them to do. This time though, Balaam did not resort to sorcery, which was his customary way of dealing with things. 

When they reached the top of the mountain they turned toward the desert and looked out and saw the massive yet organized group of Israelites encamped down below, tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God came upon Balaam and he uttered a third oracle, "The oracle of one whose eye sees clearly, the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened: How beautiful are your tents O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel! Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters. Water will flow from their buckets, their seed will have abundant water. Their king will be greater than Agag, their kingdom will be exalted. God brought them out of Egypt, they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces. 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!"

Balak's anger burned against Balaam, "I have summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times! Now leave at once and go home! I said I would reward you handsomely, but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded."

Balaam answered, "Did I not tell the messengers you sent me, even if you gave your palace and all the silver and gold I still 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? Now I am going back to my people but let me warn you of what this people will do to your people in the days to come."

Then Balaam uttered a forth oracle, "The oracle of one whose eyes see clearly, one who hears the word of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate and whose eyes are opened: A star will come out of Jacob, a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab , Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong. A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city" (This prediction delivered by Balaam comes true during King David's reign - 2 Samuel 8 : 2, 14)

Balaam uttered a final oracle, "Amalek was first among the nations but he will come to ruin at last. You Kenites will be destroyed when Asshur takes you captive. Ah, who can live when God does this? Ships will come from the shores of Kittim, they will subdue Asshur and Eber, but they too will come to ruin." After this final prophecy Balaam returned home and Balak went his own way.

(God's protective hand on His chosen people was obvious to everyone around. Israel's military was doing well, their enemies were terrified, and the man summoned to put a curse on them had instead spoken God's blessing. They were settling new territory, winning battles, and living with less worry and more hope. God had led them to victory over the nations. Things were definitely looking up. Something else was happening too though. They were surrounded by new and exciting things, living next to a nation with an appealing culture that intrigued them. Sometimes all good things can lead to trouble. Naturally they were curious about Moabites way of life - the food, festivities, and even their religion. Would their dependence on God and their obedience to Him last or would the Israelites be vulnerable to new temptations in the neighboring city of Moab? )

(Life Question: When everything in your life is going good do you find yourself leaning more on God or is it easier to be tempted? Sometimes it's easy to fall into a mindset that something little won't hurt, and maybe it won't right away but God sees all and knows all. He knew when the Israelites were good that temptation was right around the corner and he hoped all he had done for them would keep them from falling for it. Are you careful in the choices you make daily so that all your choices Glorify God? )