You Have To Choose Who You Will Serve

Israel had passed on the outskirts of Moabite territory on their way north causing little disturbance, Even asking permission to cross the Amorite lands.  When they were attacked by the Amorites they had fought back, defeating them and seizing their land. When they were attacked by Og, King of Bashan, they defeated him and seized his lands as well. 

 

Years before the Amorites had taken the land from the Moabites, who had never been able to retake it.  When Israel defeated the Amorites, the Moabites became concerned that they might attack Moab next, as Numbers 22:1-4 tells us.  “And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.  And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.  And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.  And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.”

 

The Midianites occupied an area south and east of the Edomites and Moabites, including much of the desert and wilderness where Israel had spent the previous forty years.  During that time Israel had not seemed like much of a threat, but the defeat of the Amorites changed that.  Knowing how God had delivered them from Egypt, neither the Moabites nor the Midianites wanted to fight them, so they decided to enlist supernatural help.  They sent for a famous prophet living near ancient Babel, not far from where Abraham was born, akking him to come and curse the Israelites, in Numbers 22:5-7.  “He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.  And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.”

 

Balaam worshipped God, and realized his power came him. so he asked for god’s leadership, in Numbers 22:8-13.  “And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.

 

And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?

 

And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.

 

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.”  God had been very clear that israel was not to be cursed. 

 

Balak had sent the standard fee for a wizard or clairvoyant.  Balaam was widely known as having significant powers, and Balak assumed he commanded a much larger fee than less well known wizards.  He sent other envoys, and agreed to pay whatever fee Balaam might set if he would just come, in Numbers 22:14-17.  “And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.5 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.”

 

Balaam knew that God had said he was not to curse the Israelites, but Balak’s offer was very tempting so Balaam went back and asked God again, hoping he would change his 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.” 

 

Balaam was like teenager who s unwilling to accept his parents decision and seizing on any possible loophole for disobeying them, as Numbers 22:20-21 describes.  “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.  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.”  God had said he could go if they came and got him out of bed, and Balaam interpreted that as meaning God said it was okay.   He didn’t wait for them to get him up but rushed down to go with them. 

 

God was angry that Balaam disobeyed him, and sent his angel to stop him.  Three different times, Balaam’s donkey saved his life by holding back and each time he got angry at being thwarted, as Numbers 22:22-27 describes.  “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.”

 

Angry at being stopped three times, Balaam began to beat the donkey who had saved his life, and God enabled the donkey to talk to him 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.”

 

When people get angry, they stop thinking rationally.  Balaam never even thought about the fact that his donkey was talking to him, until God intervened and explained why the donkey was acting the way she did, 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.”

 

Because he wanted the rewards Balak had offered, Balaam distorted God’s words to justify what he wanted.  In Matthew 6:24, Jesus warned, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”  Balaam was trying to serve God and get rich and famous at the same time, and it led him to sin. 

 

When it was pointed out to him, Balaam acknowledged he was wrong, claiming ignorance, and offered to go back home, in Numbers 22:34.  “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.”  Having gone so far, going back would only create more problems, so the angel told him to go on, but not to say anything except what God told him to say, in Numbers 22:35.  “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.”