Numbers 24

Numbers 24

Balaam’s Third Oracle

24 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him, and he took up his discourse and said,

  “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
    the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
  the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
    who sees the vision of the Almighty,
    falling down with his eyes uncovered:
  How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,
    your encampments, O Israel!
  Like palm groves that stretch afar,
    like gardens beside a river,
  like aloes that the LORD has planted,
    like cedar trees beside the waters.
  Water shall flow from his buckets,
    and his seed shall be in many waters;
  his king shall be higher than Agag,
    and his kingdom shall be exalted.
  God brings him out of Egypt
    and is for him like the horns of the wild ox;
  he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries,
    and shall break their bones in pieces
    and pierce them through with his arrows.
  He crouched, he lay down like a lion
    and like a lioness; who will rouse him up?
  Blessed are those who bless you,
    and cursed are those who curse you.”

And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times. Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, ‘I will certainly honor you,’ but the LORD has held you back from honor.” And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me, ‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the LORD speaks, that will I speak’? And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”

Balaam’s Final Oracle

And he took up his discourse and said,

  “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,
    the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
  the oracle of him who hears the words of God,
    and knows the knowledge of the Most High,
  who sees the vision of the Almighty,
    falling down with his eyes uncovered:
  I see him, but not now;
    I behold him, but not near:
  a star shall come out of Jacob,
    and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
  it shall crush the forehead of Moab
    and break down all the sons of Sheth.
  Edom shall be dispossessed;
    Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed.
    Israel is doing valiantly.
  And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion
    and destroy the survivors of cities!”

Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said,

  “Amalek was the first among the nations,
    but its end is utter destruction.”

And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said,

  “Enduring is your dwelling place,
    and your nest is set in the rock.
  Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned
    when Asshur takes you away captive.”

And he took up his discourse and said,

  “Alas, who shall live when God does this?
    But ships shall come from Kittim
  and shall afflict Asshur and Eber;
    and he too shall come to utter destruction.”

Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way.

(ESV)


Numbers 24 Commentary

by Brad Boyles

To me, the most striking verse in this chapter begins with verse 1.

When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to seek omens but he set his face toward the wilderness.  [2]  And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.

Numbers 24:1-2 NASB

Up to this point, Balaam has tried to seek out an answer for Balak using traditionally pagan rituals. Divination would be a good word to describe it. It is the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by using an occultic, standardized process. Consider that Balaam abandoned this process because he had found something greater. He knew it pleased God for him to prophesy that Israel would be blessed. This higher purpose brought greater satisfaction than his standardized, pagan rituals. He had found the answer and it was good.

It’s a simple and true application. Once we have found what pleases God, we have truly found what pleases us. Our purpose comes out of our choice to obey. Notice that after Balaam abandons his old ways of pagan rituals, he sets his eyes on Israel and the Spirit of God came upon him. This is a blessing of mercy by God in allowing Balaam to experience His power and speak to His faithfulness.

So the question now turns to us. What have you abandoned of your former life in order to share in the purpose and power of the risen Christ? Or, have you gone back to those old ways of life? Some will stumble and fall back. Others will persevere and continue to press into the Spirit of God toward purpose and holiness. The fascinating part of this whole account is that Balaam wasn’t even a believer. It goes to show that when we seek the Lord, He is faithful to deliver us to a higher purpose and calling.

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