Numbers 22

CHAPTER 22THEME: The way of BalaamChapters 22 to 25 comprise a section of Numbers which goes into the story of Balaam, the prophet. He comes across the page of Scripture as one of those strange individuals whom I wish I could interpret for you. I wish I knew more so that I could correctly evaluate him. There are literally thousands of people recorded in the Word of God. The Holy Spirit customarily gives us a cameo-sharp picture of them, a clear delineation of their character in just a few words. We’ve seen that. Then there are the exceptionsthese few walk in the shadows. Darkness hides their true natures. They are distorted, twisted individuals. I am not sure about Cain, or about Esau, Samson, or Saul, Absalom, or this man Balaam. I am not sure how to interpret them. Then in the New Testament we have questions about that rich, young ruler who came to Christ. Did he ever come back to Christ? Then there is Judas. Who can understand him? I’m sure that most of us feel that he was a lost individual, but he’s a strange person who followed our Lord for three years. No one detected that he was a phony except the Lord Jesus Himself. Then there is DemasDemas who seemed to be so faithful and yet who finally forsook the apostle Paul. And what about Ananias and Sapphira? Balaam is one of those enigmatic and mysterious characters. One writer says that he is the strangest of all characters in the Scripture. Some authors consider him a genuine prophet of God. Others say he was a religious racketeer. Is Balaam sincerely seeking to serve God, or is he a fake, a phony? Well, I’ll have to let you be the judge of that. We might say that we should dismiss him as unworthy of any consideration, but I must tell you that the Word of God attaches some importance to him. Micah writes, “Oh my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD” (Mic_6:5). Micah is telling Israel that they had better not forget him. So we had better not push this character aside. Did you know that there is more said in Scripture about Balaam than there is about Mary, the mother of Jesus? There is more said about Balaam than about any of the apostles. The New Testament mentions him three times, and each time it is in connection with apostasy. In 2 Peter we are told about the way of Balaam. In Revelation we are told about the doctrine of Balaam. This Balaam was a Midianite. He was a prophet with a wide reputation. He got results. Was he genuine? Let’s read his story before we evaluate him.

Numbers 22:1

THE WAY OF BALAAMYou see that Israel is ready to enter the land. Balak, king of the Moabites, had witnessed what had happened to the Amorites and to Og, the king of Bashan. He was wondering what he should do to get Israel out of the land. Should he attack them? Very candidly, he didn’t know what to do. So he decided to engage the services of this prophet.

Numbers 22:5

He sends for Balaam. Apparently this prophet was well known in that entire land. Balak wants to hire him to come and curse the children of Israel. These people had poured into the area there by the Jordan River and Balak wanted them out of that land.

Numbers 22:7

He sent messengers down to Balaam to make this overture to him. The man has quite a reputation, you see. The messengers bring their rewards, or the pay, for the diviner. Balaam is a fortune teller. Balak offers a very handsome price to this man through his messengers.

Numbers 22:8

Now he seems honestly to be trying to ascertain here the mind of God. He apparently is in touch with God. Now notice:

Numbers 22:9

It is a very interesting thing that God did communicate with him.

Numbers 22:12

Now that was a categorical, matter-of-fact answer. There was no way to be evasive about that. Now watch Balaam.

Numbers 22:13

Balaam seems to be a sincere and honest man of God. If this were the end of the story, then I would have to assume that about him, but Balak was a persistent fellow.

Numbers 22:15

Actually, you see, they are offering a better price.

Numbers 22:18

Well, they had upped the price but that does not seem to affect this man Balaam. He turns it down. He sounds very pious here. I feel like saying Amen. Then I have a second thought. He’s too good to be true. Just why did he speak of a house filled with silver and gold? He said it because that is what he is thinking about. He is covetous, and his mind is turned in that direction.

Numbers 22:19

Oh, oh, what is happening here, friends? Well, it’s quite obvious. He already has an answer from God. He has no need to wait another night for a further answer from God. God had already told him not to go, but you see, this man is hoping that the Lord will open a little crack in the door so he can put his foot into it; and if he can get his foot into it, then he is going to go. This is all very interesting. Do we sometimes do this same thing? We who are preachers make a great deal about a call from God. I heard the story of a preacher who came home and told his wife one day, “Honey, I just had a call to the church over in the next town. Now you know it’s a bigger town, richer town, bigger church, more members, and fine folk over there. I’ve been called to go over there as pastor and I’m going upstairs to pray about it and find out what the Lord’s will is for us.” She answered, “I’ll go upstairs to pray with you.” “Oh no,” he said, “you stay down here and pack!” He had made up his mind, as you can see. Old Balaam had made up his mind also. Now notice what happens. God does not do this for Balaam only; He does it for you and for me. It is not good, friends, but God permits us to do what we want to do.

Numbers 22:20

In other words, God is saying, “All right, you want to go and before it is through you will go, but if you go, you are to say what I want you to say. Be careful of that.” We have here what is known as the permissive will of God. He permits us many times to do something that we insist on doing when it is not in His direct will. You remember how we learned from the children of Israel that God granted their request but sent leanness to their souls. Sometimes He also grants our requests and sends leanness to our souls.

Numbers 22:21

He had God’s direct answer, but he didn’t like that. God permits him to go. Now God sends His angel, but this prophet doesn’t have the mind of God at all. We can see that he has no spiritual discernment, not even the discernment of this dumb animal.

Numbers 22:24

Balaam was determined to go, you see. He was a covetous man.

Numbers 22:27

This is a miracle, of course. God is using this method to get His message through. A wag once said that it was a miracle in Balaam’s day when an ass spoke, and it’s a miracle in our day when one keeps quiet! That’s probably true.

Numbers 22:29

The angel warned Balaam again that he was to speak only the word which the Lord would tell him. So Balaam went on to his meeting with the king, Balak.

Numbers 22:32

This is what Scripture calls the way of Balaam. Speaking of false prophets, Peter wrote, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet” (2Pe_2:15-16). The way of Balaam was covetousness. Unfortunately, this is the way that a great many Christians and Christian organizations are measured todayby the dollar sign. May God keep you and me from the sin of covetousness! Now notice the scene here. Balaam goes on his way and arrives at the location where Israel is encamped.

Numbers 22:36

Balak, the king of Moab, takes him to the top of a mountain where he can see the camp of Israel below.