Balak “King of Moab”
Numbers 22:2-25:9
The Israelite people continued their journey. Word got around and to King Moab specifically, what the Israelite people had done to the communities around him. The people of Moab were afraid, due to the size of the Israelite people. Balak tells the elders, that the Israelite people will wipe them clean, “this horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.”
Balak decides to turn to Balaam, and wants to send word, that these people who have come out of Egypt are many and they are camping out across from him. He asked Balaam to curse the people, because they are too mighty of a group for Balak to handle on his own. Balak is hoping that with the curse, he will be able to defeat and drive the people out of his land. Balaam was known as a powerful and skilled magician or prophet who could influence events, through his words and rituals. Balak’s people take off with money in hand to Balaam to tell him of Balak’s request. When they get to Balaam, they explain the situation. Balaam tells them to stay there and when Balaam has received a word from God, he will tell them what to do next. God came to Balaam and asked him, “who are these men with you”? Balaam tells God, that Balak has sent a message about the people that had come out of Egypt that they cover the earth. Balaam asks God to curse them, so he can go and fight against them and drive them out. God tells Balaam, that he will not go after the people, because the people are blessed. Balaam sends word back to Balak and shares with him what God has said. Balak doesn’t stop, he then sends more of his top people to entice Balaam to come and fight against the people. Balaam understands that even if Balak offers him his own possessions as a barter. He can not go, as the Lord has denied him going to fight against the Israelites.
God comes to Balaam during the night and tells him, that if these men have called upon him to go, God tells him to go, but he must only do what God says. Balaam rises in the morning and sets off on his donkey to Moab.
God’s anger grew because he went. Even though God had told him, if he went, he was instructed to follow what God says. God saw that Balaam’s intentions were motivated by greed as we wanted to curse Israel for money. Don’t get this wrong, God’s will never changed; however, God wanted the true Balaam to show through. God knew it would reveal his true selfish desires. Ultimately, Balaam wanted to bring harm against God’s people.
As Balaam continued on his journey, he had two servants with him as well. The donkey Balaam was riding on saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey sensed danger and veered of the road to avoid an encounter. Balaam didn’t understand why his donkey was not staying the course, so Balaam struck the donkey. The angel of the Lord stood right at a small path with walls on either side. The donkey pressed inward towards the wall and smashed Balaam’s foot between he and the wall. Balaam’s anger grew and he struck the donkey again. The Lord opened the mouth of the donkey and the donkey says, “what have I done to you, that you continue to strike me”? Balaam felt the donkey had made a fool of him. The donkey then says, “am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life”? Balaam agreed that the donkey’s weird hesitations were not the norm. Just then, the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam and he saw what was standing in the middle of the path. Balaam immediately bowed down and fell on his face. The angel now asks Balaam, “why did you strike your donkey”? Your donkey saw me and turned aside to avoid me. If the donkey had not turned aside, surely, I would have struck you down and killed you by now. Balaam agrees to continue with the men, but the angel of the Lord tells him to only speak the word that he tells him.
News travels back to Balak, that Balaam had finally come, so he went out to greet him. Balak asked Balaam, “did I not send to you to call you?” “Why did you not come to me?” Balaam makes sure that Balak understands, he did come to him. Balaam tells Balak, that he must only speak the words, that God puts in his mouth.
The gentlemen continue on. Balak sacrifices animals. In the morning, Balak took Balaam to a place where he saw just a fraction of the people.
Balaam asks Balak to build seven altars and prepare seven rams and Balak did as Balaam had asked. Balaam tells Balak to stand beside the offering and he would go and see if the Lord will meet him and listen to what He has to say. The Lord told Balaam to return to the altars and there stood Balak and the princes beside the burnt offerings. Balaam says, “how can I curse something the Lord has not cursed?” Balak in shock, says, “what have you done to me?”, I brought you here to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them. Balaam understood, that he must speak what the Lord puts in his mouth. This continues on, two more times. But Balak is persistent to try and sway Balaam to curse God’s people. Balaam quickly realizes that it pleased God to bless Israel. Balaam didn’t go again, so he set his face towards the wilderness. Balaam sees Israel camping tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God came upon him. Balaak is angry that Balaam wouldn't curse the people. So, Balaam and Balak returned to their homes.
The Israelite people continued to camp in Shittim. The lust for the daughters of Moab became too strong to resist, and they began to have sexual relations with them. The Isrealites became blinded and began to worship & make sacrifices to their gods. The Lord saw what was going on and became angry with the people. God tells Moses to take all the chiefs of the people and to hang them in the hot sun and the anger of the Lord would turn away from His people. One of the Israelite people came with a midianite women to his family and everyone witnessed this. Phinehas (which is Aaron’s grandson) saw what was going on, he rose and took a sword and went after the Israelite man. He slaughtered both the man and the woman. The plague on the people of Israel stopped, but there had been 24,000 lost, because they yoked themselves to Baal worshipping.
Wow! There is a lot going on in these last couple chapters. What I find intriguing is that, God’s will does not change, but we do. And He sees our hearts, which can lead us to go against His will.
As I read these amazing stories, that seems so long ago, I realize, nothing much has changed. We are still tempted and not also following God’s will in this life.
Blessings & Shalom ~ Deena
