God’s Fence

God directed Israel to build the Tabernacle in Exodus as a place of worship.  Many elements of the design portray or illustrate different aspects of serving God.  They were designed that way deliberately to help people more easily understand what God wants, using physical objects to illustrate spiritual truths. 

As one approached the Tabernacle, one of the first things they would notice was a seven and a half foot tall linen fence surrounding it, preventing people from coming in except through the gate on the eastern side.  Revelation 19:8 tells us, “… the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”  In Matthew 5:20, Jesus  said, “…except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  That fence of white linen represents the minimum standard of righteousness God has set for entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.  As we saw in the previous post, the Old Testament Law described that standard.    The white linen fence represents the Law,, shutting out and condemning anyone who does not meet that standard. 

On the eastern side of the area enclosed by the fence was a large gate representing Jesus Christ.  Even those who had met the specifications of the law had to go through that gate to get in.  Romans 3:20 Tells us the same is true today.  “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”   In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  While different religions say there are many ways to God, the scriptures tell us the only way is through Jesus Christ.  

 Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”  Salvation is a gift from God, and cannot be earned by our own efforts.  In fact, Isaiah 64:6 warns, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”  Even the best we can do is not suitable for God.  In fact, as Ephesians 2:10 tells us, our ability to do satisfactory work is the result of Christ saving us. 

Because Christ’s death frees us to be saved without keeping the law, many believe we can be saved without concern for God’s standards.  I Corinthians 6:9:10 tells us, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”  The Old Testament Law forbade these things. And Paul is quite specific that people who live these life styles will not be in the kingdom of God. 

People do not go to hell because they do these things, but they do them because they are not saved.    I Corinthians 6:11 continues, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”  While that may have been who we were in the past, we are no longer that person.  II Corinthians 5:17-18 explains, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”  The standard does not change, God changes the people.  If they are continuing to do these things, it implies Christ has not changed them and thus that they are not saved.   The primary reason I Corinthians 5 says we are to put such out of the church is in hopes of getting them to make sure of their salvation.     

Interestingly, the same fence that shuts others out keeps the ones who belong in, protecting them from danger.  The fence prevents them from going too far. 

The Christian and Biblical Law

One frequently misunderstood aspect for many Christians today is that of the Christian’s relationship to the Old Testament Law.  Some want to insist we have to follow the Old Testament Law exactly.  Like the Pharisees, they are concerned with keeping even the tiniest detail.  If they are correct, their concern is justified, according to Galatians 3:10.  “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”  Many people want to focus on some of the law while ignoring other parts.  James 2:10-11 makes it very clear that this is unacceptable.  “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.”

For sinful human beings, keeping the law completely becomes an unbearable burden.  Despite their best efforts, they constantly mess up.  Fortunately, as Christians, we no longer under that burden.  Romans 8:2 tells us, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”  When we receive Christ as savior, he places his spirit in us, and as Galatians 5:18 tells us, “But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” 

Knowing this, some have taken the position that the law is irrelevant in our day. In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” 

As long as this earth remains, the law will be in effect, and violations will be punished.  Only those who have been saved have been freed form punishment, and that only because as Romans 3:24-26 tells us, we are “… justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

Galatians 3:19-25 explains the Christian’s relationship to the Law.  “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.  Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

When one graduates from school, he is no longer under the authority of the teachers, but the things they have taught do not change because he graduated. Two plus two still equals four, whether you are in kindergarten, or have a doctorate.   The law taught what was right, and getting saved does not change the standard.  It provides a guideline for how we should live, even though we will not get an “F” if we make a mistake.        

The Value Of Human Life

God’s standard is so completely different than man’s.  In Genesis 9:5-6 we looked at his standard for murder, “And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.  Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”   As we saw, murder is an indirect attack on God since man was created in his image.  During the forty years in the wilderness, God repeatedly emphasized that murderers were to be executed.  God directed Moses to refresh the people’s memory as to how killing a person was to be dealt with, shortly before his death, in Numbers 35. 

It is relatively easy to kill a person, and can happen accidentally.  God made special provision for such cases, in Numbers 35:9-15.  “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan; Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.  And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.  And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.  Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.  These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.”

Israel had no police force.  If a person accidentally killed someone, there were six cities set aside, three on each side of Jordan, that a person could flee to for protection.  He would be tried and if it turned out he was innocent, he would be allowed to stay.  If found guilty, he was to be executed.  Numbers 35:16-21 gives the guidelines for determining if it was murder.  “And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.  And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.  Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.  The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.  But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die; Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.”

If a person used what would normally be considered a weapon, whether club, knife, spear, or some kind of projectile, it indicated he was willing to kill the person, and thus was to be considered murder.  Similarly, if there was a history of hatred between them or a deliberate effort to catch him by surprise.  The designated person was to execute him, whether he went to the city of refuge for trial or not. 

If, on the other hand, there is no history of them being enemies and no evidence of intent, then the people were to allow him to live safely in the city of refuge, according to Numbers 35:22-25.  “But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait, Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm: Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments: And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.”

Though it was accidental manslaughter, the sentence was essentially a life sentence, although it would end with the death of the high priest, it was up to the person to stay within the boundaries of the city of refuge if he wanted protection.  Numbers 35:26-29.  “But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.”  If he left the city of refuge, before the death of the high priest, he could be killed without reprisal. 

These were mandatory sentences, according to Numbers 35:29-33.  “So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.  Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.  Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.  And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.”  No plea deals were allowed when someone was killed.  There was no way of restoring the victim’s life and making things right for him.  What a difference from the case where a man who committed murder is suing to be released after six years on the grounds that it is cruel and unusual punishment since the victim is dead and cannot be hurt any more.   

In our world, human life in general is not held as particularly valuable.  Abortion, murder, euthanasia, political killings, and genocide are considered acceptable in different cases.  To God, human life is sacrosanct, and indiscriminate killing makes a land unfit for use, according to Numbers 35:33-34.  “So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.  Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.” 

God warned that allowing murder to go unpunished would bring God’s judgment on the people in  Deuteronomy 19:10-13.  “That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.  But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities: Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.  Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.”

Leviticus 18:24-25 warns of the consequences of ignoring murder and other sins.  “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:  And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.”  History is replete with stories of nations which have lost their land because they ignored God’s standards.  Throughout history, God has used a nation to destroy another nation that refused to follow his principles of right and wrong. 

Balaam’s Sin Results in Many Deaths.

Balak was determined to cause Israel to be cursed.  He got to thinking about what Balaam had said, in Numbers 23:21-23.  “He(God) hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.  God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.  Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!”

Over the years, the people who had deliberately disobeyed God had died in various plagues, and of old age.  Because there was no longer any deliberate sin(iniquity) among them, God was blessing them and no curses or magic spells would work against them.    If Balak could get them to sin, perhaps God would curse them.   In Revelation 2:14, Jesus said Balaam “…taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”  God had told Balaam not to go, but because as II Peter 2:15 says, he “…loved the wages of unrighteousness,” he went anyway, and made the prophecy in Numbers 23:18-23. 

Israel was camped in the plains of Moab, near Shittim.  Balak encouraged his people to get involved with  the Israelites.  Numbers 25:1-3 tells us. “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.  And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.”  Sexual immorality led to getting involved with the Moabite religion. And God was angered, because they had violated their agreement with him. 

God ordered that the leaders who had been involved be executed, and sent a plague that killed another twenty four thousand people, in numbers 24:4-9.  “And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.  And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.

And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.  And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.”

The woman Phineas killed was a Midianite princess.  Her death led to war with the Midianites in the area.  In Numbers 25:15-18 God commanded Israel to fight the Midianites because of their involvement in leading Israel into sin.  “And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Vex the Midianites, and smite them: For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.”

Moses sent twelve thousand men to destroy the Midianite communities that had been involved, in Numbers 31:1-8, because they had caused the deaths of twenty four thousand people.    “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.

And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.  Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.  So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.  And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.  And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.  And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.”

Balaam was killed right along with the Midianites.  Numbers 31:16 explains why.  “Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.”  Revelation 2:14-16 warns Christians that God will fight against those who, like Balaam, begin to teach people to do wrong to gain wealth and prestige.  “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.  Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”   As Matthew 6:24 Nd Luke 16:13 tell us, “…Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

One Last Attempt

Balak still thought Balaam could get God to do what he wanted, and he knew Balaam wanted the money and prestige, so he tried to get him to curse Israel one more time, in Numbers 23:27-30.  “And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.  And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.

And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.  And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.”

Balak did not understand what Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the LORD, I change not…”  After repeated efforts to get God to change his mind, Balaam was beginning to understand that God wasn’t going to.  This time he didn’t bother to try to convince God to curse Israel.  Instead, he just allowed the Spirit of God to speak through him.  Numbers 24:1-9 describes what he prophesied this time.  “And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.  And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.  And he took up his parable, and said, 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: How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!  As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.

He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.  God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.  He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.”

God’s message was the same as it had been before, and Balak was not pleased, according to Numbers  24:10-11.  “And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.  Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.”  He told Balaam he was wasting his time serving God, and it was keeping him from earning the wealth and prestige he could have had. 

Stung by what Balak said, Balaam initially took a defensive position, in Numbers 24:12-13.  “And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?”  Balak had spent a lot of resources on offerings and instead of cursing Israel, Balaam had blessed them.  Balaam was mad because he had not promised to curse them, but only to say what God had said. 

He didn’t like feeling defensive and got angry.  In his anger, he began to focus on himself rather than on God as we see in Numbers 24:14-24.  “And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.  And he took up his parable, and said, 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, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 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.  And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.  Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.

And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.  Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.  And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!  And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.”

Both Balak and Balaam went away upset.  Numbers 24:25 tells us “And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.”  Neither had gotten what they wanted.

Sending a Mixed Message

God had told Balaam he was not to go to Balak or curse Israel because God had blessed them.  If they forced him to go, he was not to say anything but what Got told him.  Balaam had gone anyway, and both the angel of the Lord and his donkey warned him that he was going against God.  When he arrived, Balak asked him why he had delayed.  After all he would have been willing to pay whatever he wanted, in Numbers 22:36-37.  “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?”

It would have been the perfect time to tell him, God said, “…thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.”  Instead, Balaam temporized, leading Balak, hoping God would change his mind so he could still get paid, in Numbers 22:38-23:4.  “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 Kirjathhuzoth.  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.  And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.  And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.  And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he showeth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.  And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.”

God did not change his mind ot please either Balaam or Balak, as numbers 23:5-10 shows us.  “And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.  And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.  How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?  For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.  Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!”

Balak felt that Balaam had just led him on and was angry that he hadn’t cursed them, in Numbers 23:11.  “And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.” 

Balaam explained he could only say what God commanded, in Numbers 23:12.  “And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?”

Balak still thought in terms of the prophet telling God what to do instead of God controlling the prophet.  It was obvious Balaam wanted the money  so he gave him another chance to earn it.   Numbers 23:18-24 describes the second prophecy.  “And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: 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?  Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.

He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.  God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.  Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!  Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.”

Balak was very angry at this point, telling him that if he couldn’t curse them, he shouldn’t bless them either.  Balaam repeated his statement about only doing what God said, in Numbers 23:25-26.  “And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.

But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?”

Balak still wasn’t convinced it was God’s command.  If he really believed God would not curse the people, why would he keep trying to curse them?   Though he insists God has the final say, by offering sacrifices for Balak, Balaam has left the impression that God’s commands can be changed.  As a result, Balak would try one more time.    Sadly, because Christians do not make it clear what God has said, many people today think God’s word is not final.

Focused On His Own Goals

Some people don’t believe in a god at all and see religion as just a way of manipulating people.  Others believe in gods, and see religion as a way of getting those gods to do what they want.  Priests, prophets, shamans and other religious practitioners are considered experts on manipulating those gods, and one pays for skills just as one would pay for any other specialist. 

This was the attitude Balak had.  He assumed Balaam just wanted more for his services.  Numbers 22:15-17 describes his second offer to Balaam.  “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.”  He literally offered to give him however much he wanted if he would curse the people. 

Though Balaam was a prophet of God, he was beginning to see his ministry as a way of attaining his goals.  God had specifically told him, “…Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed,”  the first time Balak asked him.   Balaam knew what God had said, but he still went back and prayed about it again, hoping he could change God’s mind, in Numbers 22:18-19.  “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.” He was like a teenager trying to convince his parents to allow him to do something they had told him he couldn’t do. 

Numbers 22:20 tells us, “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.”  If the men forced him to go, Balaam could go with them, but he was not to say anything except what God told him to say.   Balaam wanted the rewards, and took that as permission to go.  He didn’t wait for them to come after him.  Numbers 22:21 tells us, “And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. “

God was angered by Balaams deliberate distortion of what he had said and sent and angel to punish him, in Numbers 22:22-27.  “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.”

Though Balaam was a prophet of God, his donkey was more spiritually discerning than he was.  Three times she saw the danger he failed to see, and saved his life.  Each time he just got madder at her.  God miraculously enabled the donkey to talk and Balaam was so angry he didn’t even register the miracle, talking to donkey as if it were a person, in Numbers 22:28-30.  “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.”

Finally, God caused Balaam to see the angel the donkey had seen.  Balaam had just been so caught up in his own plans that he had ignored everything around him.  When he saw the angel, Balamm finally realized there was a problem, in Numbers 22:31-33.  “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.”

When Balaam finally understood what had been obvious to the donkey all along, he apologized and offered to go back, in Numbers 22:34-35.  “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.”

Balaam had given his word, to come, and to back out at this point would make him a liar.  God told him to go on, but to make sure he only said exactly what God told him to say. 

Unfortunately, many Christians are just like Balaam, so completely wrapped up in their own plans and goals, they distort God’s word and ignore obvious warnings, becoming very angry toward those who try to warn them.  Like Balaam, they may go so far there is no easy way out, even when they finally understand what they have done.