"Balaam + Balak,” A Deadly Alliance

HISTORICAL BACKDROP (NUMBERS 22)

We are quite familiar with the story of how children of God disobeyed and wandered in the wilderness for forty long years. Well, finally they are about to enter the PROMISED LAND. At the FINAL CAMP in their long tiring wilderness journey, they are waiting in anticipation in the plains of Moab along the river Jordan. Little did they know about the deadly devise, getting cooked against them by the surrounding nations and their kings to destroy them at this FINAL CAMP of their journey.

What is this deadly trap God’s beloved children have to pass before they enter the PROMISED LAND? After everything God has done for them, do you think they will be faithful to God? Or will they fall in the dessert? Please keep reading.

JUST HISTORY vs. PROPHETIC HISTORY

The bible stories are far from being just recorded historical events or grand ma’s tales. In fact they are “PROPHETIC HISTORY,” a powerful tool God uses to warn and prepare His children to battle the upcoming deadly temptations. Reading and meditating on the story of our forefathers, reveal very important design patterns which are about to repeat in the END-TIMES. In short “HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF,” so let us be prepared when it happens and glorify our Father in Heaven.

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9

BALAK’S UNUSUAL BATTLE STRATEGY (NUMBERS 22:1-7)

Now Balak was the King of Moab at the time in the land, where people of God were encamped. Balak was terrified at the thought of fighting God’s people face to face as he knew how God has been fighting on His children’s behalf along the way, putting all the powerful armies into shame just like the Egyptian army. Balak knew how God has been protecting them day and night and providing for them in the dessert. Now Balak knew his gods couldn’t compete with the LORD OF HOSTS, God of Israel in any way. So Balak being a very cunning man, uses a different tactic, he sends out messengers to summon “Balaam” a well known prophet/sorcerer who knew the God of Israel to put a curse on God’s people. Balaam wants to fight fire with fire.

“Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed. The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination.” Numbers 22:6-7

It’s pretty strange right? A prophet who blesses and curses and also a sorcerer who accepts a fee for divination? Yeah you’re right! Balaam is a very complex character. We will be analyzing Balaam intensely in a while.

BALAAM ENTERS THE SCENE (NUMBERS 22:8-24:25)

We are quite familiar with the story of Balaam, at first he says no to Balak’s offer but Balak keeps sending more distinguished higher ranking officers with an irresistible offer, a blank cheque and finally Balaam agrees to come. We know how this little adventure with the donkey turns out on the way. Despite the warning of God, and knowing that God has already blessed God’s people Balaam opens his mouth four times to curse the people of God but he fails all the four times. Instead of cursing, blessings pour out of his mouth.

“Then Balaam got up and returned home, and Balak went his own way.“ Numbers 24:25

This is the part everyone says Halleluiah! No one can curse the people of God who are already blessed by the LORD ALMIGHTY, what a powerful and blessed group of people. Seems like a happy ending to me. But was it really? Buckle up and get ready for the scariest and not so popular part of the story.

DEADLY PLAGUE IN THE CAMP OF GOD’S PEOPLE (NUMBERS 25:9)

As soon as Balaam leaves the scene a deadly plague hit the camp of God’s people and 24000 people die from it. There’s chaos in the whole camp. “but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000.” Numbers 25: 9

But why & how? Everything was just going so well. The angel of the Lord encamps around his people, no plague or pestilence will reach their tent right? What happened to the protective hedge God put around His righteous people? What went wrong? Do you think Balaam had anything to do with it, do you? Read on.

BALAAM’S BACKDOOR APPROACH

Actually Balaam had everything to do with it. When the front door approach “CURSING” did not work out as the LORD was standing on the way protecting them, Balaam comes up with a vicious back door approach, to infiltrate the camp by making the people of GOD sin and disobey. The scripture confirms that it was Balaam’s doing.