The Prophecy of Balaam Pt1

He was late and the king was fuming.

Balaam had been summoned by King Balak of Moab. The matter was urgent. The children of Israel had camped in the plains of Moab and "Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread . . . " (Numbers 22:3)

The first of Balak's emissaries had returned to the king with a message, "Balaam refuses to come . . . " (Numbers 22:14)

Balak then sent a second delegation. They were more prestigious, more convincing than the first group. And this time they were more successful. Balaam decided he would go. Once on the road however, there were more delays. Balaam's donkey slowed down, turning off the path three times and eventually coming to a complete stop.

In the meantime, King Balak was seething. He could see the opportunity slipping away.

Then news arrived, Balaam was on his way. Immediately, Balak went to meet him. They met at the border of Moab.

Balak could not hide his frustration. "Then Balak said to Balaam, 'Did I not earnestly send to you, calling for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honour you?'"

Balaam wasn't having the best of days either. "And Balaam said to Balak, 'Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.'" (Numbers 22:37-38)

Not a good start for either Balaam or King Balak. And things weren't about to improve.

The crux of the problem – King Balak wanted to curse Israel. And this is more difficult than it may seem on the surface. Whilst a little unneighbourly, as long as the right tools are available one would think the matter of cursing is straight forward. Balak had the tools at his disposal – Balaam the prophet. But God had a different plan for Israel. Thus Balak, and his prophet of doom, were up against it from the start.

When Balak's first delegation had pleaded with Balaam to come, God warned Balaam, "You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." (Numbers 22:12).

Then, when the second of Balak's persuaders came somehow Balaam could not resist the offer.

Balaam even told King Balak to his face that he could only speak the words God put in his mouth, but even this did not stop the two of them.

Balak happily constructed the seven altars Balaam told him to build. Unwavering, Balak happily sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams on each anticipating that Balaam would announce a full and crippling curse upon Israel.

Then Balaam spoke this oracle.

"Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram, from the mountains of the east. 'Come, curse Jacob for me, and come denounce Israel!'

"How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?

"For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him; there! A people dwelling alone, not reckoning itself among the nations.

"Who can count the dust of Jacob, or number one-fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his!" (Numbers 23:7-10)

If Balak was angry before, then he was livid now. He turned to Balaam and said, "What have you done to me?" (Numbers 23:11)

Balaam's simple response was, "Don't blame me, I can only say what God puts in my mouth."

But let us consider the oracle.

"How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how shall I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?" Israel is a nation destined for blessing and to be a blessing. Therefore, to bless Israel is the right thing to do. Just as the glass slipper belonged to Cinderella, so too, blessing befits Israel. However, Balak wanted to force Israel to wear something more to his liking. But God would have none of it. Israel is destined for greatness – they are a people blessed to be a blessing. Subsequently, cursing is out.

God's plan is unmistakable. He wants to bless the nations. And Israel is the channel through whom that blessing flows. To curse Israel, therefore, is to place an obstacle in the channel thus restricting the full benefit of the blessing. Therefore, God can not allow any curse that would inhibit the blessing.

Neither can Israel be denounced, or be diminished from their position because to do so would also in turn diminish the flow of blessing to the nations. Israel must take its rightful place in order for the nations to experience the full benefit.

"For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him; there! A people dwelling alone, not reckoning itself among the nations."

Israel is a nation in pursuit of righteousness and holiness; qualities that only the Holy One possesses. The Creator, the King of the Universe has called Israel to seek after Him. Thus Israel dwells alone on the path destined for holiness.

Israel stood alone at Mt Sinai when God said, "Now, therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to me above all people, for all the earth is mine. And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:5-6)

And Israel stood alone when they responded with the words, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." (Exodus 19:8)

Consequently, Israel can not be like other nations. To behave like other nations will only be detrimental to the nations and Israel. The LORD has separated Israel for Himself and has given them His law and His commandments. Therefore, Israel can walk in His ways and pursue Him. Only then can the nations receive the full blessing and benefit of Israel being "a people dwelling alone, not reckoning itself among the nations." It is a quest from which Israel can not return, and it is a quest in which Israel will be changed.

"Who can count the dust of Jacob, or number one-fourth of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his!" This prophecy points to the survival of Israel despite being crushed under foot. "Who can count the dust of Jacob?" Israel will rise from the dust. Israel will survive despite the loss of life. "Or who can number one-fourth of Israel?" Israel's role in demonstrating to the nations God's ways and God's commandments is a high calling – it is a call to righteous living. "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his!" points to Israel's high calling to demonstrate God's law and His ways to the nations. Israel's destiny is to be a blessing to the nations, while pursuing and achieving righteousness. "Let my end be like his."

Balak was a devious, evil ruler. He was not interested in God's plan or His righteousness. Balak's ambition was to manipulate Israel for his own benefit and aggrandizement. He had seen how the children of Israel had eliminated his rivals King Sihon and King Og. He saw an opportunity to use their power and might to extend his kingdom. That was where Balaam came in. Balaam was famous. Whenever he spoke a curse or a blessing it came to pass. By placing Israel under a curse, Balak thought, they would be under his control for his own evil purposes.

This ancient incident sets the record straight – Israel can not be cursed. Balak was desperate to curse Israel. He employed the only man who could have performed it, but failed.

Furthermore, the incident also shows that Israel is destined for greatness. Not only was Israel not cursed, but they were mightily blessed. Israel's destiny was proclaimed from the mountaintop, from the mouth of a Gentile and in the hearing of their enemy. Come on, Israel, bless the LORD!

One may ask the question, are Balaam's prophecies regarding the people of Israel still relevant today?

Yes, they are.

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