Numbers 22: Balaam, Balak, and the Blessing God Cannot Be Coerced To Curse
And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.
Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.
And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath–huzoth.
And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
Numbers 22 marks a pivotal point in the Israelites' journey toward the Promised Land. As they arrive near the Jordan River, across from Jericho (Numbers 22:1), anticipation builds. However, the narrative takes an unexpected turn, focusing not on the Israelites' immediate conquest but on the dealings of two men: Balak, the king of Moab, and Balaam, a prophet with a unique, and ultimately flawed, relationship with God. This chapter sets the stage for a dramatic encounter between divine sovereignty and human manipulation, highlighting God's unwavering commitment to bless His chosen people.
Fear and a Prophet-for-Hire
Balak, son of Zippor, was the king of Moab (Numbers 22:4). Having witnessed the defeat of the Amorites, he and his people were gripped by fear at the sight of the approaching Israelites (Numbers 22:2-3). In a desperate attempt to protect his kingdom, Balak devised a plan: he would hire Balaam, son of Beor, a man known for the power of his words, to curse the Israelites (Numbers 22:6).
Balaam seems to have had a reputation for achieving results through his pronouncements. Balak's messengers conveyed his urgent request: "Please come and put a curse on these people... for I know that those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed" (Numbers 22:5-6). This reveals a belief in the inherent power of words, a belief that Balak hoped to exploit. Balak was essentially seeking a spiritual weapon to overcome a military threat.
It's important to note that Balak's plan was fundamentally flawed from the start. God had already promised Abraham, generations earlier, that He would "make [him] into a great nation... [He would] bless those who bless [Abraham], and curse anyone who treats [Abraham] with contempt" (Genesis 12:2-3). This promise extended to Abraham's descendants, the Israelites. Therefore, any attempt to curse them would ultimately be futile against God's sovereign will. If God is determined to bless, no human utterance can override His divine decree.
A Divine Encounter and a Reluctant Prophet
Balak sent elders of Moab and Midian to Balaam, carrying with them the fees for divination (Numbers 22:7). Even though Balaam practiced forms of sorcery forbidden by God, he surprisingly refused to accompany the messengers without first seeking guidance from the LORD (Numbers 22:8). This suggests a complex and perhaps self-serving relationship with God. It appears Balaam intended to do whatever God told him to do, regardless of the financial incentive.
God, in His grace, condescended to appear to this sorcerer, who was not generally committed to living in a way pleasing to Him (see Revelation 2:14), and inquired about the men's presence (Numbers 22:9). After Balaam explained Balak's request, God explicitly warned him not to curse the people He had blessed (Numbers 22:10-12).
Despite this clear instruction, Balak refused to accept defeat. He sent a second delegation, comprised of more numerous and higher-ranking officials, promising even greater rewards if Balaam would curse Israel (Numbers 22:15-17). Tempted by the increased offer, Balaam consulted God again. God allowed him to go with the men, but with a strict condition: he was to speak only what God told him to say (Numbers 22:18-20).
The Donkey's Rebuke
While Balaam was on his way to meet Balak, the LORD's anger was kindled, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road as an adversary against him (Numbers 22:21-22). This seemingly contradictory action – God allowing Balaam to go yet opposing him on the journey – reveals the prophet's true motives. 2 Peter 2:15 sheds light on this, stating that Balaam "loved the wages of wickedness." Despite his outward compliance, Balaam's heart was driven by greed, and he was prepared to curse Israel for personal gain, defying God's instructions.
This inner duplicity led to the famous and somewhat humorous encounter between Balaam and his donkey. The donkey, seeing the angel of the LORD standing in the path with a drawn sword, veered off the road in fear. Balaam, eager to reach his destination and collect his reward, beat the donkey to force her back onto the path (Numbers 22:23). This scenario repeated itself twice more, until God miraculously opened the donkey's mouth, and she questioned Balaam's cruelty: "What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?" (Numbers 22:28).
The ensuing conversation between the faithful donkey and the unfaithful prophet (Numbers 22:29-30) highlights Balaam's spiritual blindness. The animal possessed a keener spiritual perception than the so-called prophet.
Finally, God opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD blocking his path (Numbers 22:31). Humbled and ashamed, Balaam prostrated himself in worship. The angel explained that the donkey's actions had saved Balaam's life (Numbers 22:31-33). Balaam, realizing his error, offered to return home (Numbers 22:34). However, God, determined to display His glory and bless His people, instructed Balaam to continue with the men, but to speak only the words God gave him (Numbers 22:35).
Confrontation and Divine Restraint
Balak, anxiously awaiting Balaam's arrival, was unnerved by the sight of the vast Israelite camp (Numbers 22:36-37). He was further agitated when Balaam reiterated that he could only speak what God put in his mouth (Numbers 22:38). Undeterred, Balak offered sacrifices to Baal and led Balaam to Bamoth-baal, "the High Places of Baal" (Numbers 22:40-41), hoping to enlist the aid of this false god in cursing Israel.
Numbers 22 sets the stage for the unfolding drama between Balak, Balaam, and the unwavering sovereignty of God. It reveals the futility of attempting to manipulate God's will and underscores His unwavering commitment to bless those He has chosen. It is a powerful reminder that true prophecy is not for sale and that God's purposes will ultimately prevail.
And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.
Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.
And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath–huzoth.
And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.
Numbers 22 marks a pivotal point in the Israelites' journey toward the Promised Land. As they arrive near the Jordan River, across from Jericho (Numbers 22:1), anticipation builds. However, the narrative takes an unexpected turn, focusing not on the Israelites' immediate conquest but on the dealings of two men: Balak, the king of Moab, and Balaam, a prophet with a unique, and ultimately flawed, relationship with God. This chapter sets the stage for a dramatic encounter between divine sovereignty and human manipulation, highlighting God's unwavering commitment to bless His chosen people.
Fear and a Prophet-for-Hire
Balak, son of Zippor, was the king of Moab (Numbers 22:4). Having witnessed the defeat of the Amorites, he and his people were gripped by fear at the sight of the approaching Israelites (Numbers 22:2-3). In a desperate attempt to protect his kingdom, Balak devised a plan: he would hire Balaam, son of Beor, a man known for the power of his words, to curse the Israelites (Numbers 22:6).
Balaam seems to have had a reputation for achieving results through his pronouncements. Balak's messengers conveyed his urgent request: "Please come and put a curse on these people... for I know that those you bless are blessed and those you curse are cursed" (Numbers 22:5-6). This reveals a belief in the inherent power of words, a belief that Balak hoped to exploit. Balak was essentially seeking a spiritual weapon to overcome a military threat.
It's important to note that Balak's plan was fundamentally flawed from the start. God had already promised Abraham, generations earlier, that He would "make [him] into a great nation... [He would] bless those who bless [Abraham], and curse anyone who treats [Abraham] with contempt" (Genesis 12:2-3). This promise extended to Abraham's descendants, the Israelites. Therefore, any attempt to curse them would ultimately be futile against God's sovereign will. If God is determined to bless, no human utterance can override His divine decree.
A Divine Encounter and a Reluctant Prophet
Balak sent elders of Moab and Midian to Balaam, carrying with them the fees for divination (Numbers 22:7). Even though Balaam practiced forms of sorcery forbidden by God, he surprisingly refused to accompany the messengers without first seeking guidance from the LORD (Numbers 22:8). This suggests a complex and perhaps self-serving relationship with God. It appears Balaam intended to do whatever God told him to do, regardless of the financial incentive.
God, in His grace, condescended to appear to this sorcerer, who was not generally committed to living in a way pleasing to Him (see Revelation 2:14), and inquired about the men's presence (Numbers 22:9). After Balaam explained Balak's request, God explicitly warned him not to curse the people He had blessed (Numbers 22:10-12).
Despite this clear instruction, Balak refused to accept defeat. He sent a second delegation, comprised of more numerous and higher-ranking officials, promising even greater rewards if Balaam would curse Israel (Numbers 22:15-17). Tempted by the increased offer, Balaam consulted God again. God allowed him to go with the men, but with a strict condition: he was to speak only what God told him to say (Numbers 22:18-20).
The Donkey's Rebuke
While Balaam was on his way to meet Balak, the LORD's anger was kindled, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road as an adversary against him (Numbers 22:21-22). This seemingly contradictory action – God allowing Balaam to go yet opposing him on the journey – reveals the prophet's true motives. 2 Peter 2:15 sheds light on this, stating that Balaam "loved the wages of wickedness." Despite his outward compliance, Balaam's heart was driven by greed, and he was prepared to curse Israel for personal gain, defying God's instructions.
This inner duplicity led to the famous and somewhat humorous encounter between Balaam and his donkey. The donkey, seeing the angel of the LORD standing in the path with a drawn sword, veered off the road in fear. Balaam, eager to reach his destination and collect his reward, beat the donkey to force her back onto the path (Numbers 22:23). This scenario repeated itself twice more, until God miraculously opened the donkey's mouth, and she questioned Balaam's cruelty: "What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?" (Numbers 22:28).
The ensuing conversation between the faithful donkey and the unfaithful prophet (Numbers 22:29-30) highlights Balaam's spiritual blindness. The animal possessed a keener spiritual perception than the so-called prophet.
Finally, God opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD blocking his path (Numbers 22:31). Humbled and ashamed, Balaam prostrated himself in worship. The angel explained that the donkey's actions had saved Balaam's life (Numbers 22:31-33). Balaam, realizing his error, offered to return home (Numbers 22:34). However, God, determined to display His glory and bless His people, instructed Balaam to continue with the men, but to speak only the words God gave him (Numbers 22:35).
Confrontation and Divine Restraint
Balak, anxiously awaiting Balaam's arrival, was unnerved by the sight of the vast Israelite camp (Numbers 22:36-37). He was further agitated when Balaam reiterated that he could only speak what God put in his mouth (Numbers 22:38). Undeterred, Balak offered sacrifices to Baal and led Balaam to Bamoth-baal, "the High Places of Baal" (Numbers 22:40-41), hoping to enlist the aid of this false god in cursing Israel.
Numbers 22 sets the stage for the unfolding drama between Balak, Balaam, and the unwavering sovereignty of God. It reveals the futility of attempting to manipulate God's will and underscores His unwavering commitment to bless those He has chosen. It is a powerful reminder that true prophecy is not for sale and that God's purposes will ultimately prevail.