NUMBERS
Balak and Balaam
Numbers 22:2-3
July 12, 2025
Israel was now on the very boundary of the Promised Land. It was just across the river – they could see it from camp.
Recently Israel had had several military victories and now the people of Moab – including their king, Balak – were
terrified. Going to war with Israel was obviously a bad idea, but Balak was not prepared to raise the white flag, so he came up with a plan – instead of fighting Israel, curse them.
He sent messengers to Balaam, son of Beor, who lived in Pethor, not far from the Euphrates: "A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 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 country. For I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed."
A word about Balaam: Balaam is an enigma – we know virtually nothing about him. He had some sort of a
reputation – enough for king Balak to send all the way to the Euphrates for him, but what is not clear is if this was an isolated incident or a regular occurrence in the larger story of Balaam.
In this story, his connection with Yahweh is unusual to say the least. He indicated that Yahweh was his God and
Yahweh used him to bless Israel, but the story also reveals some pretty serious problems in Balaam’s relationship with God – serious enough to eventually lead to his apostasy.
Back to the story…….
Balaam invited the messengers to spend the night with the promise that he would enquire of Yahweh and report back to them in the morning.
Yahweh and Balaam had a conversation. Balaam was told that he was not to go with Balak’s men, “You will not
curse Israel because they are blessed.”
The next morning….
Balaam: Sorry fellas, Yahweh says no. You’ll have to return home without me.
Desperate now, Balak sent more money and a larger, more important group of Elders back to Balaam: Please come and put a curse on these people!
Balaam: Even if your king drained his bank account, I cannot do anything that goes beyond the command of
Yahweh, my God. However, stay here tonight and I’ll double check.
Balaam and Yahweh had another conversation:
Yahweh: If in the morning the men call you, you can go with them; but you will only speak the words I give you.
“IF” is the most important word in that sentence. Permission was conditional on the elders seeking Balaam out. But the men did not call on Balaam in the morning, they simply headed for home.
Divine permission had been denied, but Balaam – and 2 servants – set out after them anyway.
Now comes one of the great stories of the Bible (Numbers 22:22-35):
Yahweh was angry at Balaam’s disobedience, so an Angel was sent to oppose him. The donkey Balaam was riding saw the Angel standing in the middle of the road with his sword drawn, and turned left, off the road and into a field.
Balaam struck the donkey and turned her back to the road.
They came to a narrow path with walled vineyards on either side. The donkey saw the Angel blocking the path and pressed herself against the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot in the process. He struck her again.
The Angel went to the narrowest part of the path and stood – completely blocking the way. This time, when the
donkey saw the Angel, she just laid down, unceremoniously depositing Balaam on the ground. By this time, Balaam had had it and he began to beat the donkey……..
Yahweh opened the donkey’s mouth: “What did I do to you that you struck me these 3 times?”
Balaam: “Because you made a mockery of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now!”
The donkey: “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life? Am I in the habit of doing this to you?”
Balaam: “No.”
Balaam was angry, but more than that he was so singularly focused on catching up with Balak’s men, doing what
God had forbidden him to do, that he was oblivious to the fact that he was having a conversation with a donkey.
Yahweh opened his eyes and he saw the Angel standing in the road with his sword drawn. Balaam fell on his face
and worshiped the Angel to his face.
Who is this Angel?
Clue: He accepted Balaam’s worship….. Jesus.
The Angel: Why have you struck your donkey 3 times? I have come out as an adversary because your conduct is
perverse before me. The donkey saw me and turned aside. If she had not turned aside I would have killed you and kept her alive.
Balaam: I have sinned because I did not know that you were standing to meet me in the road. Now, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.
Notice that Balaam did not say he had sinned because he was ON the road instead of AT HOME where he should
have been. Only, “I have sinned because I didn’t see you standing there.”
The Angel: Go with the men but speak only the word that I will speak to you.
So, Balaam continued his journey….
Balak: It’s about time! What took you so long?
Balaam: I’m here now. Full disclosure, I can only say the words Yahweh puts in my mouth.
Stop 1 – Kiriath-huzoth
Balak took Balaam to the high places of Baal. From there they could see part of the camp of Israel.
Balaam: The king of Moab has asked me to curse and denounce Israel. How can I curse whom God has not cursed? From the hills I see him – A people dwelling alone. Who can count the dust of Jacob? Let me die the death of the righteous and let my end be like his!
Balak: Hold on! I wanted you to curse them, but you have blessed them instead!
Balaam: As I explained, I am ONLY allowed to speak the words Yahweh puts in my mouth.
Balak: Come with me and I’ll show you the extent of my problem.
Stop 2 – Pisgah
Balaam: Listen Balak.... God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. What he says, he will do. I have received a command to bless. He has blessed and I cannot reverse it… Look and see what God has done!' A people rise like a lioness and lifts itself up like a lion; It shall not lie down until it devours the prey and drinks the blood of the slain.
Balak: Just stop talking!
Balaam: I told you I can only speak the words Yahweh gives me.
Balak: Let’s go to another spot. Maybe God will let you curse them from THAT location.
Stop 3 – Peor
Balaam: How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Like valleys that stretch out, like gardens by the riverside, like aloes
planted by Yahweh, like cedars beside the waters… his kingdom shall be exalted. He has strength like a wild ox; He shall consume the nations, his enemies; He shall break their bones and pierce them with his arrows. He lies down as a lion; who shall rouse him? Blessed is he who blesses you and cursed is he who curses you.
Balak: I called you to curse my enemies, instead you have blessed them 3 times!
Balaam: What do you want from me? I am not able to go beyond the command of Yahweh…. what Yahweh
speaks, I will speak.
It was clear that Balaam was of no use to Balak, so he was fired. That, however, was not the end of the story.
Chapter 25 begins, “When Israel dwelled in Shittim, the people began to prostitute themselves with the daughters of Moab. And they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and worshiped their gods. So Israel was joined together to Baal Peor. And Yahweh’s anger burned against them.”
According to Number 31:16, it was Balaam who suggested this alternate plan. So long as Israel remained faithful, he knew there was nothing he could do. He also knew that if the Moabites could get Israel to engage in sexual and spiritual adultery they would bringing on themselves the curses Balak was so desperate for ---- mission accomplished.
Yahweh’s judgments were swift and when the dust cleared 24,000 Israelites were dead.
Israel went to war against Midian – who had also been instrumental in the apostasy. The 5 kings of Midian – Evi,
Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba – were killed. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword (31:8).
Until Next Time…………………
