Balak Summons Balaam
• Israel is camped in the plains of Moab near
Jericho.
• Moab was in “great dread” because of the
strength and numbers of Israel
• Balak, son of Zippor, the King of Moab
summoned Balaam, to bring a curse upon
Israel
• Balaam is a mysterious figure, maybe a priest
or prophet – his background is uncertain.
Balak Summons Balaam
• The elders of both Midian and Moab attempt
to hire Balaam (22:7)
• Balaam waits for a world from the LORD (22:8)
• Balaam and the LORD speak to one another
“Who are these men with?...You shall not go with
them. You shall not go with them. You shall not
curse the people, for they are blessed”…so
Balaam said to the elders, “Go to your own land,
for the Lord has refused to me go with you.”
Balak Summons Balaam
• Balak won’t take no for an answer
• He sends more honorable princes to persuade
Balaam – NOTE: About 350 mile journey.
• Their message to Balaam was this, “let nothing
hinder you from coming to me, for I will surely
do you great honor, and whatever you say to
me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.”
• Balaam’s response to this request is telling
about his conversation with YAHWEH…
Balak Summons Balaam
Though Balak were to give me his house full
of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the
command of the LORD my God to do less or
more.” And God came to Balaam at night and
said to him, “If the men have come to call
you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell
you.” So Balaam rose in the morning and
saddled his donkey and went with the
princess of Moab.
Balaam’s Greed
• Balaam tells the “princes” give me the night to
discern God’s will, but “why” he already had
clear instructions from God.
• The offer of a greater reward was a huge
temptation that led Balaam to experience a
little bit of God’s anger.
• God already told Balaam what to do, so God,
decides to TEST him and teach him a lesson.
Balaam’s Donkey and the Angel
Balaam’s Donkey and the Angel
• God’s anger was kindled against Balaam
because he went with the “princes”
• The Angel of the LORD appears before the
donkey with a “sword drawn in hand”
• 3x the angel appears and the donkey attempts
to turn back or go a different direction, but
Balaam won’t allow the donkey to.
• On the final appearance the donkey “laid
down in the path.”
Then the LORD
opened the eyes of
Balaam, and he saw
the angel of the LORD
standing in the way,
with his drawn sword
in hand. He bowed
down and fell on his
face…the donkey saw
me and turned aside
because I would have
killed you and let her
live.
Balaam’s Confession
I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood
in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil
in your sight, I will turn back.”
The angel of the LORD said to Balaam,
“Go with the men, but speak only the word I tell
you.”
Seven Altars Built by Balak
• Build for me here seven
altars, and prepare for me
here seven bulls and
seven rams
• Stand beside your offer
and whatever the LORD
shows me I will share with
you.
• And the LORD put a word
in Balaam’s mouth.
4 ORACLES FROM GOD
• An oracle is a prophetic word from God used
throughout the OT.
• Each oracle presents new evidence that God’s
favor rested upon ISRAEL
• Each oracle includes a blessing that builds with
a climax of thought as Balaam brings judgment
upon Balak.
• These blessing of Israel makes a mockery of
Balak’s sinister intentions.
Oracle #1 – (Numbers 23:7-10)
• Balak brought me here to curse Israel
• But how can I curse whom God has not
cursed?
• How can I denounce what God has not
• Israel is separate, unique, and mighty
• God has made the seed of Abraham into a
great multitude (Numbers 23:10)
• Balak’s response – what have you done to me.
You blessed my enemies instead of curse!
Oracle #2 – (Numbers 23:18-24)
• God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of
man, that he should change his mind.
• He has said, and will he not do it?
• Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
• God gave me a command to bless Israel and I
will do it.
• God is with Israel, he brought them out of
Egypt, no curse is against them.
• Balak – at least stop blessing them
When Balaam saw that
it pleased the LORD to
bless Israel, he did not
go with Balak, as at
other times, to look for
omens, but set his face
toward the wilderness,
And Balaam lifted up
his eyes and saw
Israel…and the Spirit of
God came upon him.
Oracle #3 – (Numbers 24:3 - 9)
•
•
•
•
God has opened Balaam’s eyes to all truth
Israel is blessed and lovely
They are mighty and strong before the LORD
God brought them out of Egypt and he will
give them victory over his adversaries and he
shall break their bones into pieces.
• Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed
are those who curse you.
• Balak – he is angry, he tells Balaam to go
home.
Oracle #4 – (Numbers 24:15 -24)
• God has opened Balaam’s eyes to all truth
• This oracle deals with future events in the
history of Israel
• Messianic prophesy taking place in 24:17
• Moab will be crushed
• Edom will be destroyed
• One from Jacob shall exercise dominion and
destroy the survivors of the cities!
• Balak – goes home empty handed.