The Prophesies of Balaam

Numbers 23:1-30; 24:1-25

LESSON ANALYSIS: 

These two chapters tell of three attempts by Balak, king of the Moabites (Num.22:4), to get Balaam to curse Israel and the four prophecies that Balaam gives as a result.  Each attempt begins with a sacrifice which is followed by God’s word to Balaam and closes with Balak’s reaction to the message.  The lesson can be charted as follows:

The four prophesies of Balaam in these two chapters are very important.  They are given by an Gentile soothsayer (Josh.13:22) whose knowledge of the true God is limited at the best.  However, God comes on him and Balaam gives wonderful truths which can still bless us today.  The four prophecies are interesting in their progression.  Perhaps this is best seen by the following chart.

Balaam grows in confidence that the Lord will speak to him.  We actually see him glorying in the experience.  Notice 24:3-4 – “…Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said  He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open.”

Israel is blessed in each of the prophecies but the focus of each one is different.  In the first prophecy, Balaam makes excuses for what he says, saying, “How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?” (23:8).  In the second prophecy, God is the focus.  “God is not a man, that he should lie” (23:19).  “He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob” (23:21).  “What hath God wrought!” (23:23).

The third prophecy especially focuses on Israel by directly addressing the nation.  “How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!” (24:5).  In this prophecy, we have a repetition of the Abrahamic blessing: “Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee” (24:9).

The fourth and final prophecy is given without sacrifice and without prompting by Balak.  Balaam is overflowing at this time and cannot cease to praise Israel and reveal his vision from God.  He looks ahead and sees the Messiah Himself: “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob” (24:17).  He speaks of God’s people “in the latter days” (24:14).

Balak’s reaction also gets more and more desparate until he threatens Balaam (24:11) and tells him to leave.  However, from other scriptures (25:1-3; 31:16) we know that Balaam stayed around and gave counsel on how to corrupt the Israelites and make God angry with them.  This will be covered in the next lesson.

I.          The First Attempt (23:1-13)

            A.            Sacrifice on the Altars (v.1-2)

            B.            Word of the Lord to Balaam (v.3-10)

v.9 “the people shall dwell alone” – Israel is a nation set apart from all other nations.  They are not like them and they are not to mingle with them. (Deut.4:6-8)

v.10 “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!” – There are many who, like Balaam, long for the death and last end of the righteous but who are not willing to live a righteous life.

            C.            Reaction of Balak (v.11-13)

II.          The Second Attempt (23:14-26)

            A.            Sacrifice on the Altars (v.14)

            B.            Word of the Lord to Balaam (v.15-24)

v.19 “God is not a man, that he should lie” – What an important truth!  God does not lie so why should anyone look for a second answer when He has spoken once?

v.21 “He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob” – Here we see a picture of imputed righteousness in the Old Testament.  Israel continually rebels against God in the book of Numbers (and elsewhere).  Yet, as a testimony before others, God declares that He sees no iniquity in her.

v.23 “What hath God wrought!” – Here is the key to the above truth.  When God does the work instead of man, He blesses in abundance.

            C.            Reaction of Balak (v.25-26)

III.         The Third Attempt (23:27-24:13)

            A.            Sacrifice on the Altars (23:27-30)

            B.            Word of the Lord to Balaam (24:1-9)

            C.            Reaction of Balak (24:10-13)

v.11 “the LORD hath kept thee back from honour” – This is how the world sees it.  You refuse a promotion because it will take you out of church, and the world pities you.  But do not worry.  Great will be your reward in heaven!

IV.        The Final Prophecy (24:14-25)

v.17 “there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel” – This can be none other that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Himself.  He is the Star (2Pet.1:19; Rev.22:16) and He is the Sceptre (Gen.49:10; Ps.45:6; Heb.1:8)

CONCLUSION:  Because of the incident with the ass in Numbers 23, Balaam knew better than to cross God and curse Israel in order to please Balak.  However, He is by no means an example of a godly prophet.  He was a Gentile soothsayer who made money from his sayings (compare Acts 16:16).  He was motivated by money to the end and his end was death by the sword (Num.31:8). 

We need to understand that God’s word will have the victory in the end.  We can oppose the Lord and hurt ourself and others or we can submit to Him and be a part of His plan and work.  Which are you going to do?

MEMORY VERSES:

Numbers 23:8 “How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?”

Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”

Numbers 24:17 “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.”

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