Numbers
chapter 23 and 24 together complete the prophesies of Balaam. Balak,
the evil king of Moab, brought this “rent-a-prophet” to curse the
nation of Israel, but God would not allow it. Like many of us, God
allowed Balaam to see himself in contrast to God’s perfection and
Balaam was changed. We tend to see ourselves as “good enough”
until we encounter the righteousness of God. Balaam’s experience
is much like ours. First he knew of God, and then he experienced
God’s grace through the faithfulness of a friend (the donkey). And
finally he hears the word of God and follows it with passion. This
now matured prophet is ready to fully follow God’s will. He tells
the king of Moab to “Build
seven altars and prepare seven bulls and rams… and the two of them
offered a bull and a ram on each“.
Balaam then “went
off to a barren height”
to meet with God but leaves with a promise, “Whatever
the Lord reveals to me, I will tell you“.
He is no longer interested in pleasing men, but now only honoring
God. God loves to work through those with open hearts.
Balaam
returns and to king Balak’s surprise, speaks a blessing on Israel,
“How
can I curse those whom God has not cursed“.
He explains, “I
must speak what the Lord has put in my mouth“.
Next they go to a second place and again build seven altars and
sacrifice seven bulls and rams. Balaam seeks God’s word and again
blesses Israel, “No
misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel…The Lord
their God is with them… they have the strength of a wild ox… like
a lion that does not rest until he devours his prey“.
Then they go to a third place and build altars and sacrifice and
again Balaam seeks God. “Like
valleys they spread out… they devour hostile nations and break
their bones in pieces… who dares to rouse them? May those who
bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed.”
“Then
Balak’s anger burned against Balaam… Leave at once and go home!”
But Balaam is not through prophesying, “A
star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He
will crush the foreheads of Moab… Edom will be destroyed… but
Israel will grow stronger“.
The chapter concludes, “Then
Balaam got up and returned home and Balak went on his way.”
The
evil king is wise enough to recognize that the fight against Israel
is a spiritual battle. He knows he cannot win with the sword, so he
must devise another plan, as we will see. Similarly, Satan knows he
cannot defeat God, nor God’s people with a direct assault.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, “Our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against… the spiritual
forces of wickedness“.
Wherever you are in your spiritual walk, I pray you would experience
the renewing power of God’s Word in a new way today. “He
who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the
day of Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 1:6) Amen!