An Outline Of Balaam’s Messages To Balak Series

An Outline of Balaam’s Messages to Balak

(This outline was the basis for a message preached Sunday evening, March 9, 2025 at New Hope Baptist Church near Fulton, MO.)

Introduction: Balaam had arrived in Moab and had spoken with King Balak, Their first conversation seemed a bit testy, but Balaam eventually agreed to go along with the king and the king’s requests. Neither one of them, though, seemed to remember that God would have the final say in anything Balaam finally said!

The narrative practically tells itself, how Balaam requested altars and offerings and how Balak complied with these requests. Some of what Balaam said in these “parables” or messages could still be true, even today, but we do not know the mind of Balaam at this point. All we know for certain is that Balaam relayed God’s messages to a pagan king who wanted Israel cursed.

Background: Balaam meets Balak, king of Moab

Text: Numbers 22:36-41, KJV: 36 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. 37 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? 38 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. 39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth. 40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 41 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.

--Balaam had left his hometown, Pethor, at some time before. The journey may have taken days or even weeks before he reached the frontiers of Moab.

--The Arnon river was one of Moab’s borders. Starting from its source, the Arnon flows north until it reached Aroer and then flows west into the Jordan (https://bibleatlas.org/full/arnon.htm)

--Balak seemed upset that Balaam had taken so long to arrive. Balaam replied, “I’m here now, so what’s the problem?”

--The oxen and sheep which Balak offered were probably offered to Chemosh or one of the other “gods” of Moab. At any rate, Balaam had no business eating anything which had been sacrificed to an idol.

--Balak took Balaam to the “high places”. These, generally, were condemned in the Old Testament, especially for Israel, because, first, this is where many pagans built altars to the “god” they were worshiping. Second, there was a strong possibility that the women would try to seduce males, not necessarily their own husbands, into the “sex for worship” doctrine. See Numbers 25 for a graphic example of how that system cost the lives of 23,000 Hebrews.

2 Balaam’s first message

Text, Numbers 23:1-12, KJV: 1 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. 2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 3 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 sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place. 4 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. 5 And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.

6 And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. 7 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. 8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? 9 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. 10 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!

11And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. 12 And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?