|
|
Balak Summons Balaam
22 Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message. And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.” So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’” But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more. So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.” And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.” So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
Balaam’s Donkey and the Angel
But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again. Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”
Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.” And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.
When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the border formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the border. And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?” Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak.” Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him.
And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw a fraction of the people.
(ESV)
Numbers 22 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
In 1967, archeaologists uncovered an inscription dating back to the eighth-century B.C. in the city of Jordan (modern-day Moab). The inscription was a story which revealed visions of seer who channeled information from dead animals, nature, and dreams. This pagan prophet practiced magic and divination and it was believed that he could communicate with the “gods” of many nations. The insciption was from none other than Balaam, the same man we read about in Numbers 22.
It’s interesting to note that although he was revered in the ancient world as a man who could communicate in the spiritual realm (this is why Balak immediately contacted him), he is continually referenced in Scritpure as a paradigm of evil. (Num 31:8, Num 31:16; Deu 23:4-5; Jos 13:22; Jos 24:9-10; Neh 13:2; Mic 6:5; 2Pe 2:15; Jud 1:11; Rev 2:14). Balaam was known as a baru prophet and he specialized in reading signs through animals. Some scholars believe he would inspect the organs of a ritually slain animal to gain details about the will of god(s). He then would seek to change their will by various mystical rituals.
So, assuming he was a man who did his research, he knew about the God of Israel who had delivered them time and time again. I’m sure that he arrogantly believed that Israel’s God would bend to his ritualistic practices. In fact, he tells Balak that he will speak with the Lord. A great takeway here is that just because someone acknowledges God and speaks as if they know Him, it doesn’t mean they actually do. We will find this out by the fruit of Balaam’s actions.
It is somewhat confusing as God first tells Balaam not to go and then later gives him permission. The bottom line is that God knew his heart. He was manipulative and crafty. So, just as God always does, he will use the situation to bring glory to Himself. The irony is that Balaam was an “animal god” but it was the donkey who would recognize the One True God and react accordingly. It’s likely that the reason Balaam engaged in conversation without acting surprised was because he was used to participating in strange rituals to gather information from animals.
And so we read at the end of the chapter that this sly, manipulative, false prophet is driven to his knees in submission to God’s authority. This is the power of the God we serve. He can take someone who seeks to destroy His people and turn him into an object of divine deliverance as we will soon read in the following chapter.
I want to make one final point. Many over the years have doubted the reality of this story and tried to explain it away as metaphorical. I find this disturbing on many levels. There is no contradiction for the believer who places their faith in the divine nature of Jesus. Consider for a moment how unbelievable it is logically-speaking to explain how a man is both human and divine. Now, also consider, that Jesus died, ressurected, and ascended to Heaven. If you can believe THAT, how can you doubt that God could inspire a donkey to speak human words?