Balaam – The Prophet For Profit

EXPOSITORY ARTICLE | William Stewart | Odessa, Ontario

In Numbers 21, we follow the children of Israel as they make their approach towards the promised land. The writer gives a lengthy list of sites where they camped. Their journey was not without event. Passing through the Negev, they were attacked by the king of Arad (21:1). Coming to the territory of Sihon the Amorite, Israel asked permission to pass through on the King’s Highway. Not only did he refuse to allow passage, but he fought against them (21:21-23). And finally, coming to Bashan, they were attacked by Og and his forces (21:33). As troubling as all this could have been, the Lord gave His people victory over every enemy who rose against them (21:3, 24, 35). These events serve as the backdrop to the story of Balaam.

In Numbers 22, we are introduced to Balak, the king of Moab. Having seen neighbour after neighbour fall before the people of Israel, he was understandably afraid. He could prepare his troops for battle, but there was no reason to think he would fare any better on the battlefield than his contemporaries. It seems he understood there was a supernatural force behind the Jewish victories, so he pursued a supernatural course himself. Balak, along with the elders of Midian, sought to hire Balaam, the son of Beor to curse the people of Israel.

Many of the prophets, magicians, mediums and such among the pagan nations were nothing more than charlatans. The smoke and mirrors of the Egyptian magicians at the time of the Exodus soon failed to keep up with the power of God displayed by Moses. In Elijah’s day, no matter how much the prophets of Baal cried out or cut themselves, their idol would not answer. And the woman of En Dor who was enlisted by King Saul to contact the deceased Samuel reminds me of Whoopi Goldberg’s character in the movie “Ghost.” She was completely shocked and dismayed when a ghost actually appeared – that kind of thing had never happened to her before!

Balaam was different. He was authentic. He was a non-Israelite prophet or soothsayer (Joshua 13:22) who lived in Pethor of Mesopotamia (Deuteronomy 23:4). He had a reputation as a successful diviner. Balak testified concerning him, “…I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed” (Numbers 22:6). His reliability as a seer was so respected, Balak was willing to entrust the future of his kingdom to Balaam’s tongue.

Receiving the messengers from Balak, the prophet invited them to stay the night, saying, “…I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me” (Numbers 22:8). This was not some attempt to stall or delay things; he legitimately sought God’s instruction on what to do. The LORD spoke with Balaam that night, saying, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed” (Numbers 22:12). The next morning, he informed Balak’s messengers that he would not be going with them, for the LORD refused to permit him to do so.

There are some great lessons for us here.

1. Seek God’s will. Balaam didn’t immediately jump to an opportunity presented to him. He took time to see whether it was God’s will or not. Let us take time to consider the decisions we make. Is it in agreement with God’s will? What are the spiritual implications, if any, of this decision? Seek God’s will and then live accordingly.
2. Serving God must be more important than the pursuit of money. They brought a diviner’s fee for Balaam – he would be richly paid for his services, but he refused. May we not value the temporal above the eternal.

The king of Moab did not give up. In response to Balaam’s refusal to come, Balak sent messengers who were “more numerous and more honourable” (Numbers 22:15) with an offer of more money. In fact, Balak offered a blank check, “…I will do whatever you say to me” (Numbers 22:17). Balaam’s response is exceptional, at least the first half. He affirmed, “Though 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” (Numbers 22:18). What a great statement of faith! It mattered not how many honourable princes showed up at his door; he would do what God said. It didn’t matter how much money they offered, even if the king offered his palace and all his wealth, Balaam would not go beyond God’s word.

At this point, Balaam should have closed the door, sending the men back to Moab. Thanks, but no thanks; end of story. But notice verse 19, “Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.” He was tempted by the prestige and prosperity offered. God had already spoken on the topic, but what harm could there be in asking again?

There is no harm in studying a topic again to make sure what we believe is what God’s word says. However, that was not what Balaam did here. God was very clear, “You shall not go” (Numbers 22:12). But Balaam wanted to go. He didn’t seek an answer from God – he’d already received that. He sought a different answer from God.

If we come to God’s word with an agenda or bias, we will typically find exactly what we are looking for. It is not that God’s word changes with the ebb and flow of human desire; His word is firm and unchanging. Peter spoke of those who twist and turn the Scriptures to their destruction (2 Peter 3:16). Paul said those who do not love the truth would easily be deceived and deluded (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). With enough misapplication, misinterpretation, and ignorance, one can come to just about any desired conclusion on any given topic. The muddled religious world which surrounds us reveals this to be the case. And unfortunately, our brotherhood is not immune.

Let us go back to our text in Numbers 22. Balaam wanted a different answer from the LORD, and it would seem from verse 20 he got just what he wanted. The LORD said, “…rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you – that you shall do.” He must have been elated. His persistence had been rewarded, and now, he was headed to Moab and would be richly paid for his services there.

He saddled his donkey and set out with the princes of Moab. However, Numbers 22:22 states, “…God’s anger was aroused because he went…” What? Why? God said it was okay for him to go, didn’t He? No, God’s will hadn’t changed. He revealed His will the first time Balaam asked Him, and He plainly said, “No!” Balaam persisted, he nagged, he balked at God’s command, much like the teenager who defiantly tells his parents he’s going to the party whether they like it or not. The parents’ last words might be, “Go ahead, do what you’re going to do.” Have they given permission? Is it their will for him to go? No, it is an expression of their frustration. When God says, “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still…” (Revelation 22:11) He is neither commanding nor condoning the unjust and filthy; it is an acknowledgment they will do what they want despite God’s will (and be judged accordingly). Numbers 22:20 was not God saying, “Yes, I want you to go,” it was God saying to a rebellious Balaam, “Go ahead and do what you’re going to do.”

The events over the next 10 verses present a comical scene with a very serious message. Balaam’s donkey, typically a well-behaved animal, was acting strange that day. First, she turned aside from the road into a field. Then she squeezed against a wall, crushing Balaam’s foot. Finally, she just laid down under him and refused to continue. Each time, the prophet whipped the animal for her insolence. The donkey could see what the prophet could not – the Angel of the LORD was standing in the way with His sword drawn. After being struck the third time, the LORD opened the donkey’s mouth, and she spoke: “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” (22:28) Any onlookers (maybe the Moabite princes, v 21 & 35) must have thought the prophet had lost his marbles. There he was, stopped on the road, arguing with his donkey. The apostle Peter, commenting on the exchange says, “…he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet” (2 Peter 2:16).

After opening the donkey’s mouth, God opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD. He rebuked the prophet, “…your way is perverse before Me…” Then He commended the donkey, “…if she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live” (22:32-33). Notice the contrast between Balaam and his beast. She saw the LORD, but he was blinded by greed. She was faithful to her master, but his way was perverse and disobedient to his Master. This humbling scene resulted in Balaam confessing his disobedience to the LORD and offering to return to Pethor of Mesopotamia. The LORD permitted him to go on to Moab but warned him only to speak as he was instructed by God (22:35).

Upon arriving in Moab, Balaam spoke to Balak, “…have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak” (22:38). Balak had sent for him and was ready to pay whatever price necessary, but the prophet’s tongue is not for sale. His duty as a prophet was to speak what God said, not what Balak wanted to hear. This responsibility which Balaam acknowledged belongs to every child of God. We are commissioned to speak God’s word (1 Peter 4:11). Paul warned the Galatians “…if anyone preaches any other gospel … let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9). Some have tried to make Gods’ word more palatable to a sin-sick world. To do so would be akin to inviting people from a sinking ship to find safety in a hole-ridden lifeboat. All such efforts are futile and lead to death. We have no right to add to, take from, or change God’s word in any way.

Three times Balak took Balaam to high places from which he could see and pronounce curses on the people of Israel. At the first location, Balaam asked, “How shall I curse whom God has not cursed?” (23:8), and then he proceeded to pronounce a blessing upon the people. A bewildered Balak questioned his hired seer, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and look, you have blessed them bountifully!” (23:11) Balaam reminded the king of his duty to proclaim what God revealed (23:12). From the second location, Balaam spoke about the purity of Israel and indicated the nation “…shall not lie down until it devours the prey…” (23:24).

Again, Balak was beside himself. He pleaded for his hired prophet to stop talking – “Neither curse them at all, not bless them at all!” (23:25). He couldn’t do so; he was bound to speak what God gave him to say (23:26). On the third occasion, the inspired writer tells us “…when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery…” (24:1). What does that mean? Twice he had tried to curse Israel for his benefactor, but both times, the LORD directed his mouth. This time, he would set aside any attempt at sorcery. How did it work out? Numbers 24:2 says the Spirit of God came upon him, and in verses 3-9, he uttered blessings for the people of God, even citing the blessing bestowed to Abraham when he was called out from Ur of the Chaldees (Numbers 24:9; cf. Genesis 12:3). An enraged Balak suggested Balaam should flee – he had done the exact opposite of what he had been called to do. Balaam reminded the king what he had said all along – “What the LORD says, that I must speak” (24:13). Balaam gave a fourth prophecy, this one unsolicited (24:14-25). It was a curse, but not against Israel. He spoke against the nations (Moab, Edom, Amalek, the Kenites), for Israel would beat their brow, take possession of them, cause them to perish and carry them away.

This would be a great way for the story of Balaam to end. Though it started as a rocky road, he redeemed himself by speaking blessings upon God’s people and curses upon their enemies. Sadly, this is not how his story ends. Numbers 25 makes no mention of Balaam. We read about a plague among the Israelites because they had committed harlotry with the women of Moab. They also sacrificed to the Moabite gods. Why would they do such a thing? Where would such an idea come from? Numbers 31:16 states, “…these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor…” He was unable to earn his wages by cursing Israel, so he “…taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:14). He did not curse them but was able to bring a curse upon them by tempting them to disobey the commandments of God.

Balaam is a valuable warning for us today. Having a ready knowledge of God and His word is of no benefit if we are going to condone, encourage, and participate in sin. To speak one thing and practice another is hypocrisy. The New Testament writers identified Balaam as a false teacher who loved profit and unrighteousness more than God and His will. Balaam disqualified himself before the LORD. May we not follow his example (1 Corinthians 9:27; 2 Corinthians 13:5).

19.10.01 | GROW magazine