Balaam sent for, to curse Israel. Now please come, curse these people for me, for they are too powerful for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know [your reputation] that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” Num 22:6
INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT13
The Experiences in the Wilderness
III. IN THE PLAINS OF MOAB, Numbers 22:2-36
1. Balak and Balaam, Numbers 22-24
32. To whom did the king of Moab resort and for what purpose?
BALAK SUMMONS BALAAM
The Israelites journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab, on the east side of the Jordan [River] across from Jericho.
And Balak [the king of Moab] the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
So Moab was terrified because of the people, for they were numerous. Moab was overcome with fear because of the sons of Israel.
Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, just as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was the king of Moab at that time.
So he sent messengers to Balaam [a famous prophet-diviner] the son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the [Euphrates] River, in the land of the descendants of his people, to call for him, saying, “There is a people who have come out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me.
Now please come, curse these people for me, for they are too powerful for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know [your reputation] that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
So the elders of Moab and of Midian departed with fees for divination (foretelling) in hand; and they came to Balaam and told him the words of Balak.
Balaam said to them, “Spend the night here and I will bring word back to you as the LORD may speak to me.” So the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam [that night].
God came to Balaam, and said, “Who are these men with you?”
Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me:
Hear this, the people who came out of Egypt cover the surface of the land; come now, curse them for me. Perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.'”
God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people [of Israel], for they are blessed.”
Balaam got up in the morning, and said to the leaders of Balak, “Go back to your own land [of Moab], for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”
The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and [men who were] more distinguished than the first ones.
They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘I beg you, let nothing hinder you from coming to me.
For I will give you a very great honor and I will do whatever you tell me; so please come, curse these people [of Israel] for me.'”
Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the LORD my God.
Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will say to me.”
God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, get up and go with them, but you shall still do only what I tell you.”
So Balaam got up in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab.
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
On
Numbers 21:1-21
BALAAM SENT FOR, TO CURSE ISRAEL
These chapters present a surprising contrast between the covetous prophet and his sublime prophecies. It is clearly possible to be the mouthpiece of truth and yet have neither part nor lot in it.
Balak, as had been predicted, was sore afraid. Compare Num_22:3 with Exo_15:15. The elders of Midian were his friends and allies. It was very important for them to stand together. The journey across the desert to Mesopotamia, where Balaam lived, was long and tedious, but he was a famous magician, who could marshal unseen forces into the battle by his incantations. He knew the only true God, but loved the wages of unrighteousness and erred for reward. See 2Pe_2:14-16; Jud_1:11.
He made up his mind to win Balak’s promised gifts, and sought to persuade God to become his accomplice, first, by letting him go, and, secondly, by letting him say what Balak wished said. But God demands our loyalty and unison with Him, and will not swerve from the path of truth and righteousness by a hair’s-breadth to help our desires and ambitions.
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