Balaam’s Call to Curse Israel
Numbers 22:1-41
INTRODUCTION: Balaam is one of the strangest characters in the Bible. On one hand, he is deceitful, greedy, disobedient and works against God and His people Israel. Yet, on the other hand, God speaks through him as a true prophet and he gives some wonderful prophecies concerning the coming of Christ (see Num.24:17). In the end, he is killed after using Moabite women to seduce the Israelites (Num.31:16-17; Josh.13:22) and is mentioned only in evil terms in the New Testament (2Pet.2:15; Jude 11; Rev.2:14). In the final analysis, Balaam is a false prophet whom God chose to use for His glory. In this story, we are reminded again that God uses who He pleases to use.
I. BALAK FEARS THE COMING ISRAELITES (22:1-4)
A. The Israelites Pitch Their Tents (v.1)
1. In the plains of Moab – a wide plain directly north of the Dead Sea
2. On the eastern side of the Jordan River
3. The pitching of tents can refer to nothing more than the putting up of tents as a temporary dwelling place. But it can also indicate, as here, a military challenge (see Judg.6:33; 1Kgs.25:1). It says, We are here; what are you going to do about it?
B. The Moabites are Filled With Fear (v.2-4)
1. They take note what had happened to the Amorites (v.2; 21:21-35)
2. The Moabites react (v.3-4)
a. With fear (v.3a)
b. With distress (v.3b)
c. With defeatism (v.4)
II. BALAK CALLS BALAAM TO CURSE ISRAEL (22:5-7)
A. He Sends For Balaam (v.5)
B. He Flatters Balaam (v.6)
C. He Sends “Rewards of Divination” (v.7)
NOTE: “Rewards of divination” are gifts and money given to those who tell fortunes, bless, curse, etc. Throughout this story, Balaam is influenced by hope of financial reward. He “loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2Pet.2:15). God speaks much against those who are His ministers using their office for personal gain.
1. Shepherds who “all look to their own way, every one for his gain” (Isa.56:11)
2. Shepherds who “fed themselves, and fed not my flock” (Ezek.34:8)
3. A false shepherd who “is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not…and careth not for the sheep” (Jn.10:12-13)
4. Pastors who are “greedy of filthy lucre” (1Tim.3:3; also 1Pet.5:2)
III. BY GOD’S COMMAND BALAAM REFUSES (22:8-14)
A. Balaam Seeks God’s Permission (v.8-11)
1. Balaam holds the princes of Moab overnight (v.8)
2. Balaam tells God of their request (v.9-11)
B. God Refuses to Send Balaam (v.12-14)
1. He will not curse a blessed people (v.12)
2. Balaam refuses to go to Balak (v.13-14)
IV. BALAK CONVINCES BALAAM WITH A LARGER DELEGATION (22:15-21)
A. Balak Sends Another Delegation (v.15)
1. Larger in number (v.15)
2. Greater in prestige (v.15)
B. They Make Many Promises (v.16-17)
1. “Let nothing hinder” is their message (v.16)
2. They promise promotion to Balaam (v.17a)
3. They offer anything Balaam wants (v.17b)
C. God Again Refuses to Send Balaam (v.18-20)
1. Balaam says the right words (v.18)
2. Balaam tries to get God to change His mind (v.19)
3. God gives a stipulation: if they come to call (v.20)
D. Balaam Went Against God’s Will (v.21)
1. He rose up without being called
2. He saddled his ass
3. He went with them
V. GOD ALMOST KILLS BALAAM FOR HIS DISOBEDIENCE (22:22-30)
A. Balaam’s First Encounter with the Angel (v.22-23)
1. The donkey turned aside out of the way
2. Balaam’s own purpose war frustrated
B. Balaam’s Second Encounter with the Angel (v.24-25)
1. The donkey crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall
2. Balaam suffered for his own foolishness
C. Balaam’s Third Encounter with the Angel (v.26-27)
1. The donkey fell down under Balaam
2. Balaam experienced total failure
D. God Opened the Mouth of the Ass (v.28-30)
1. The donkey had better spiritual vision than Balaam
2. The donkey made better sense than Balaam (v.28-30)
3. Balaam talked like the donkey: He said, Nay (v.30)
VI. THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SPEAKS TO BALAAM (22:31-35)
A. The Angel is Revealed to Balaam (v.31)
B. The Angel Accuses Balaam (v.32-33)
1. “Thy way is perverse before me” (v.32)
2. The donkey saved Balaam’s life (v.33)
C. Balaam Responds to the Lord (v.34)
1. He confesses his sin; a confession later action would show to be false
2. He offers to return home
D. God Sends Him on to Balak (v.35)
VII. BALAAM COMES BEFORE BALAK (22:36-41)
A. Balak Scolds Balaam for Not Coming Sooner (v.36-37)
B. Balaam Declares God as the Source of His Words (v.38)
C. Balak Takes Balaam to the High Places of Baal (v.39-41)
CONCLUSION: The stage is now set for some of the greatest prophecy on the Old Testament from one of the greatest rascals. Balaam is a great puzzle. Yet God’s word is still true and God’s work still gets done. Balaam ends up dead and disgraced by the end of this story. How much better to live in complete obedience to God.
Copyright © 2002
Antioch Baptist Church Knoxville, Tennessee