Numbers 22:1-41


One of the hardest temptations that a servant of the Lord faces is that of money.  Balaam, at first sight, seems to fear the Lord and want to do what is right.  However, we see that the Lord was displeased with Balaam’s actions as well as his motives.  Peter tells us that Balaam was motivated by money to go with the commission that Balak had sent.  This desire for money was almost the cause of his demise and the Lord set out to kill him on the way.  We must always be careful not to allow the motive of money become and excuse or a temptation to sin.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD WAS ON MOAB: When Balak saw what God had done to the other armies, he became very afraid of what Israel would do to his people.  He realized that God was on their side and that he had no ability to overcome the God of Israel.  His only hope was to try to get God to curse the children of Israel and bless his people.  It is amazing to see that this pagan king recognized the work and power of God and knew that his very existence and the continuity of his nation was dependent upon the blessing and work of God.  Unfortunately, there are many believers who do not recognize this reality.

THE WILL OF THE LORD WAS REVEALED TO BALAAM: Balak sends money and representatives to Balaam in order to convince Balaam to pronounce a curse from God upon the people of Israel.  I believe that Balaam’s first response was the correct one.  He told the men to wait until he sought God’s will.  God told Balaam exactly what he needed to know in order to refuse to God and do as Balak had asked.  There was no ambiguity in God’s response and Balaam sent the leaders away with a clear refusal to go with them and curse Israel.  Balak does not take no for an answer and sends more important people and the promise of more money.  This is where Balaam makes his mistake.  His initial response of I will not do this “for all the tea in China” was the correct response and should have been his only response.  Instead he told them to stay and he went back to God to ask the same question.  This reveals that Balaam is flattered by the offer and insistence of the king and that Balaam is interested in going.  God allows it, but it is not what He wanted.  When we know what God wants us to do, there is really no point in seeking to know God’s will, this only reveals the desire for God to change His mind.

THE ANGER OF THE LORD WAS DETECTED BY THE DONKEY: On the way to Moab God sets out to kill Balaam for going with these men.  Balaam is angry with the donkey for being stubborn, but the reality is that the donkey was saving his life.  God is able to use whatever He wants to accomplish His will in our lives.  It must have been a strange sight to see Balaam and the donkey talking.  Balaam now knows that he has chosen a path that is displeasing to the Lord and offers to return, but God now tells him to continue on but to only say what God wants him to say.  We are not called to invent messages but to preach the message that God has given to us in His Word.  We should not become proud when God chooses to use us for He can use even a donkey to communicate His will if that were His choice.  God is gracious to use us at all.

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