The Devotional Journey: Bible Reading 81
Yahweh delivers prophecies through Balaam
Read Numbers 22:41–24:25.
Continuing from Reading 80, Balaam instructed King Balak of Moab to offer sacrifices to Yahweh (instead of his usual false gods). Balaam was hoping to appease Yahweh and be allowed to curse Israel. But God cannot be bribed. Instead, Yahweh spoke through the evil prophet to deliver four prophecies or oracles.
First prophecy (Numbers 23:7–10)
This one summarised the events leading up to the present moment. Balaam echoed the blessings Yahweh had given Abraham about having descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth (Genesis 13:16, 22:17, 28:14).
Second prophecy (Numbers 23:18–24)
Yahweh gave Balaam truth about Himself.
Yahweh is not like man. He doesn’t lie.
Yahweh doesn’t change His mind.
His character is unchanging (immutable) so His words can be trusted.
Once He makes a promise or decides on a course of action, He won’t go back on His word.
Yahweh’s unchanging character is important for us to appreciate. His promises and prophecies will be completely and precisely fulfilled. We can stake our lives on His word.
Third prophecy (Numbers 24:2–9)
The Holy Spirit directed Balaam to describe Israel’s land (which God gave them) to be like the garden the Eden. He also mentioned “Agag”, most likely the title of a king, like how “Pharaoh” is the title of Egypt’s king. Later, Israel’s first king, Saul, would defeat a king named “Agag” (1 Samuel 15:7–9, 32–33).
Significantly, Balaam uttered one key promise of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:3).
Numbers 24:9a
Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel,
and cursed is everyone who curses you.”
God was affirming He would continue to protect Israel and bless or curse others depending on how they treated Israel. In the same way, we can be reassured God will never break His promises to us—like eternal life with Him, the Holy Spirit’s presence with us and more.
Fourth Prophecy (Numbers 24:15–24)
This final one includes four smaller oracles directed at Moab and other enemy nations. King Balak, who sought to curse Israel, would be cursed instead, along with his nation.
Balaam also said:
Numbers 24:17a
I see him, but not here and now.
I perceive him, but far in the distant future.
A star will rise from Jacob;
a scepter will emerge from Israel.
Balaam saw an individual who would come from Israel in the distant future. He would be a ruler (a star) holding a sceptre (the symbol of a king’s power and authority.) Balaam was seeing the future Messiah, that is, Jesus.
These details were also what Jacob had said when he spoke prophetically over his twelve sons at the end of his life.
Genesis 49:10
The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants,
until the coming of the one to whom it belongs,
the one whom all nations will honor.
Yahweh was affirming His plan to send a Messiah who would be the ultimate ruler, not just of Israel, but the world. And the Messiah would fulfil the promise of Genesis 3:15 of destroying Satan.
After this, Balaam left. Since he hadn’t done what Balak wanted, the king didn’t pay him.
But Balaam’s account didn’t end there.
He left the king of Moab with some evil advice: “You can’t defeat Israel, but you can seduce them.”
Yahweh had warned Israel not to mingle with the pagan nations but Israel disobeyed. While Balaam couldn’t curse Israel, his evil advice succeeded. When invited, some of the Israelites joined the Moabites in worshipping false gods and participating in cult prostitution (the practice of engaging in sexual relations to encourage the idols to bless the land with fertility).
Here’s what happened in the next chapter.
Numbers 25:1–3
[1] While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women. [2] These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab. [3] In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the LORD’s anger to blaze against his people.
Jesus speaks about this incident in Revelation, the last book:
Revelation 2:14
“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.
And Moses also said this to Israel’s military commanders after they had battled Midian (an ally of Moab):
Numbers 31:15–16
[15] “Why have you let all the women live?” he demanded. [16] “These are the very ones who followed Balaam’s advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the LORD at Mount Peor. They are the ones who caused the plague to strike the LORD’s people.
Eventually, Balaam was killed by Israel’s forces.
Joshua 13:22
The Israelites had also killed Balaam son of Beor, who used magic to tell the future.
Questions for reflection
Do we do something similar to Balaam with his many sacrifices when we attempt to give something to God (an extra offering, volunteering for a church project, or more time in devotions) in hopes that He’ll give us what we want? God cannot be manipulated. He’s our Father and we can go to Him with what’s on our mind. But we need to be humble and recognise that He knows what’s best for us. It’s good for us to know His will for our lives and then to pray for His help that His will be done. And how can we know His will for us? Much of it is already in His Word. What Jesus taught His disciples to do is also meant for us. We can start there.
Balak brought Balaam to different locations, hoping the change of scene would help. Like many pagans of that time, Balak thought that gods only had certain areas of influence. Perhaps he was trying to move out of Yahweh’s area of power. What about us? When we face life challenges, do we try to escape by having a change of scene? Do we change jobs, move home or even move cities? If the problem is rooted in us or in our wrong understanding about God, a change of location isn’t going to solve the problem. Instead, be humble, and ask God to deal with our inner motives. Then ask for the Holy Spirit to reorient our motives and attitudes, and ask for strength to move forward in obedience.
Though God warned Balaam against cursing Israel, he kept trying because of his desire for money. (Read 2 Peter 2:14–16 and Jude 1:11 where the Bible compares people who are greedy with Balaam.) What about us? Is gaining wealth a priority? God knows we need financial resources, but is that all we are focused on, to the point where we spend most of our time and energy on gaining more? Do we push back on what God wants us to do because we tell ourselves we first need to be financially secure? If money matters are distracting you, have a conversation with God about them.
God interacted with Balaam but he continued to follow his evil desires. What about us? God has certainly interacted with each of us through His Word, His Holy Spirit and through His providential actions in our lives. Have we yielded our hearts to Him? Or are we still motivated by our own desires? Balaam was eventually killed by the Israelites. It would be grievous for us if God had to discipline us because we refuse to listen.