In Numbers 22, the Israelites camp in the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River from Moab. Balak, the king of Moab became a bit freaked out - since he knew the Israelites had cut through the Amorites like Barry Sanders running through the 1998 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (No Survivors).
Balak send messengers, elders, and payment to fetch Balaam to come to him and curse the Israelites.
Balak's message said, "...I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed.”
He [Balaam] said to them, “Spend the night here and I’ll bring back to you a word exactly as Yahweh speaks to me.” So the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam.
God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”
Once again, the God of Rhetorical Questions. Even though Balaam is counted as evil in the New Testament, and as a major stumbling block for Israel later - at this point he doesn't seem surprised to be visited by God.
Balaam said to God, “Moab’s King, Balak, Zippor’s son, sent them to me with the message, ‘A people has come out of Egypt and covered the land. Now come and curse them for me. Perhaps I’ll be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”
God said to Balaam, “Don’t go with them. Don’t curse the people, because they are blessed.”
Then Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak’s officials, “Go to your land, for the Lord has refused to allow me to go with you.”
Balek raises the stakes - promising Balaam anything if he will come. Balaam has already been given an answer from God (see above), but he is tempted by the offer. So he asks Balak's new messengers to spend the night while he inquires of God.
I think God is upset, and intends to teach some lessons to various parties.
God came to Balaam in the night and said to him, “If the men have come to summon you, arise and go with them. But you must do only what I tell you to do.” So Balaam arose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the officials of Moab.
Balaam said to God, “Moab’s King, Balak, Zippor’s son, sent them to me with the message, ‘A people has come out of Egypt and covered the land. Now come and curse them for me. Perhaps I’ll be able to fight against them and drive them out.’”
God said to Balaam, “Don’t go with them. Don’t curse the people, because they are blessed.”
Then Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak’s officials, “Go to your land, for the Lord has refused to allow me to go with you.”
Balek raises the stakes - promising Balaam anything if he will come. Balaam has already been given an answer from God (see above), but he is tempted by the offer. So he asks Balak's new messengers to spend the night while he inquires of God.
I think God is upset, and intends to teach some lessons to various parties.
God came to Balaam in the night and said to him, “If the men have come to summon you, arise and go with them. But you must do only what I tell you to do.” So Balaam arose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the officials of Moab.
After Balaam abuses his ass and spends some time speaking with it, his eyes are opened so he can see the Angel of the Lord. Balaam said to the Lord’s messenger, “I’ve sinned, because I didn’t know that you were standing against me in the road. Now, if you think it’s wrong, I’ll go back.”
A passive-aggressive wimp. Yahweh has already communicated, clearly, that Balaam was NOT to go with these men. Now Balaam is testing God, asking Him about a settled question.
The Lord’s messenger said to Balaam, “Go with the men. But don’t say anything. Say only that which I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.
The Lord’s messenger said to Balaam, “Go with the men. But don’t say anything. Say only that which I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.
Then Balaam offered seven burnt sacrifices to God (bulls and rams), then Yahweh gave Balaam something to say, and said to him, “Return to Balak and say this.”
Balaam returned to him, while he and all the officials of Moab were standing next to his entirely burned offering. Then he raised his voice and made his address:
“From Aram Balak led me,
the king of Moab, from the eastern mountains.
Come, curse Jacob for me;
come, denounce Israel.
Balaam returned to him, while he and all the officials of Moab were standing next to his entirely burned offering. Then he raised his voice and made his address:
“From Aram Balak led me,
the king of Moab, from the eastern mountains.
Come, curse Jacob for me;
come, denounce Israel.
How can I curse
whom God hasn’t cursed?
How can I denounce
whom God hasn’t denounced?
whom God hasn’t cursed?
How can I denounce
whom God hasn’t denounced?
From the top of the rocks I see him;
from the hills I gaze on him.
Here is a people living alone;
it doesn't consider itself among the nations.
Here is a people living alone;
it doesn't consider itself among the nations.
Who can count the dust of Jacob,
or number a fourth of Israel?
Let me die the death of those who do right,
and let my end be like his.”
Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemy. But now you’ve blessed him.”
He answered and said, “Don’t I have to take care to speak whatever Yahweh gives me to say?”
or number a fourth of Israel?
Let me die the death of those who do right,
and let my end be like his.”
Then Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemy. But now you’ve blessed him.”
He answered and said, “Don’t I have to take care to speak whatever Yahweh gives me to say?”
So Balek took Balaam to another location - one where they could not see the full extent of the Israelite people - and asked Balaam to try again.
The Lord granted Balaam an appearance and gave him a message. He said, “Return to Balak and say this.”
Balaam approached Balak, who was standing by his entirely burned offering with the officials of Moab. Balak said to him, “What did the Lord say?”
Then Balaam raised his voice and made his address:
“Arise, Balak, and listen;
hear me out, Zippor’s son.
God isn’t a man that he would lie,
or a human being that he would change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and not done it,
or promised and not fulfilled it?
or promised and not fulfilled it?
I received a blessing, and he blessed.
I can’t take it back.
I can’t take it back.
He hasn’t envisioned misfortune for Jacob,
nor has he seen trouble for Israel.
The Lord his God is with him,
proclaimed as his king. God, who brought them out of Egypt,
nor has he seen trouble for Israel.
The Lord his God is with him,
proclaimed as his king. God, who brought them out of Egypt,
is like a magnificent wild bull for him.
There is no omen against Jacob,
no divination against Israel.
no divination against Israel.
Instantly it is told to Jacob,
and to Israel, what God performs.
A people now rises like a lioness,
like a lion it stands up.
It doesn't lie down until it eats the prey
and drinks the blood of the slain.”
Then Balak said to Balaam, “Don’t curse them or bless them.”
Just - zip it.
But Balaam answered and said to Balak, “Didn’t I say to you, ‘I’ll do whatever Yahweh tells me to’?”
and to Israel, what God performs.
A people now rises like a lioness,
like a lion it stands up.
It doesn't lie down until it eats the prey
and drinks the blood of the slain.”
Then Balak said to Balaam, “Don’t curse them or bless them.”
Just - zip it.
But Balaam answered and said to Balak, “Didn’t I say to you, ‘I’ll do whatever Yahweh tells me to’?”
Balok is desperate, and is not setting any records for high I.Q. - so he requests, for a third time, that Balaam curse the Israelites.
Because God is all about the pleasant view when delivering a curse.
Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless the Israelites, so he didn’t go as the other times to seek omens. Instead, he turned toward the desert.
Balaam looked up and saw Israel camping by tribes. Then God’s spirit came on him. He raised his voice and made his address:
“The oracle of Balaam, Beor’s son;
the oracle of a man whose eye is open.
The oracle of one who hears God’s speech,
who perceives the El Shaddai's visions,
who falls down with eyes uncovered.
How beautiful are your tents, Jacob,
your camps, Israel!
your camps, Israel!
Like palm groves that stretch out,
like gardens next to a river,
like eaglewood trees that the Lord has planted,
like cedar trees next to water.
like gardens next to a river,
like eaglewood trees that the Lord has planted,
like cedar trees next to water.
Water will drip from his branches;
his seed will have plenty of water;
his king will be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom will be lifted up.
his seed will have plenty of water;
his king will be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom will be lifted up.
Yahweh, who brought him from Egypt,
is like a magnificent wild bull for him.
He will devour enemy nations
and break their bones;
he will strike with his arrows.
He crouched and lay down like a lion;
like a lioness, who can make her rise?
is like a magnificent wild bull for him.
He will devour enemy nations
and break their bones;
he will strike with his arrows.
He crouched and lay down like a lion;
like a lioness, who can make her rise?
The one blessing you will be blessed,
and the one cursing you will be cursed.”
Wow! This blessing is both strong and tender. It's intriguing to hear God's voice to His people, uttered by someone "outside" the main story.
Balak was angry with Balaam. He pounded his fists. Balak said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but now you’ve given a blessing these three times. Now get out of here and go home. I told you I’d greatly honor you, but the Lord has denied you any honor.”
And now, Balaam will deliver God's curse -- but not on the Israelites...
Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I tell your messengers, whom you sent to me, ‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I wouldn’t be able to break the Lord’s command for good or ill by my own will. I’ll say whatever the Lord says’?
and the one cursing you will be cursed.”
Wow! This blessing is both strong and tender. It's intriguing to hear God's voice to His people, uttered by someone "outside" the main story.
Balak was angry with Balaam. He pounded his fists. Balak said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but now you’ve given a blessing these three times. Now get out of here and go home. I told you I’d greatly honor you, but the Lord has denied you any honor.”
And now, Balaam will deliver God's curse -- but not on the Israelites...
Balaam said to Balak, “Didn’t I tell your messengers, whom you sent to me, ‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I wouldn’t be able to break the Lord’s command for good or ill by my own will. I’ll say whatever the Lord says’?
So now I’m going to my people. Let me advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.” He raised his voice and made his address:
“The oracle of Balaam, Beor’s son,
the oracle of a man whose eye is open.
The oracle of one who hears God’s speech,
and understands El Elyon's knowledge,
who perceives El Shaddai's visions,
who falls down with eyes uncovered.
“The oracle of Balaam, Beor’s son,
the oracle of a man whose eye is open.
The oracle of one who hears God’s speech,
and understands El Elyon's knowledge,
who perceives El Shaddai's visions,
who falls down with eyes uncovered.
Now watch and listen, as Balaam is honored by God to be able to spiritually see the coming of David, as well as the conquering Messiah.
I see him, but not now;
I look at him, but not nearby.
A star comes from Jacob;
a scepter arises from Israel,
smashing Moab’s forehead,
the head of all the Sethites.
I look at him, but not nearby.
A star comes from Jacob;
a scepter arises from Israel,
smashing Moab’s forehead,
the head of all the Sethites.
Edom will become a possession,
Seir a possession of its enemies.
But Israel acts powerfully.
Seir a possession of its enemies.
But Israel acts powerfully.
Someone from Jacob will rule
and destroy the survivors from Ir.”
and destroy the survivors from Ir.”
He looked at Amalek
and raised his voice
and gave his address:
“Amalek is foremost among the nations,
but its end is to perish forever.”
and raised his voice
and gave his address:
“Amalek is foremost among the nations,
but its end is to perish forever.”
He looked at the Kenites
and raised his voice
and gave his address:
“Your dwelling is secure;
your nest is set in the rock.
and raised his voice
and gave his address:
“Your dwelling is secure;
your nest is set in the rock.
Yet Kain will burn
when Asshur takes you away captive.”
when Asshur takes you away captive.”
He raised his voice
and made his address:
“How terrible!
Who will live when God does this?
and made his address:
“How terrible!
Who will live when God does this?
Ships from Kittim will attack Asshur;
they will attack Eber,
and even he will perish forever.”
Then Balaam arose, set out, and returned home. Balak also went on his way.
they will attack Eber,
and even he will perish forever.”
Then Balaam arose, set out, and returned home. Balak also went on his way.
But in this case, I think he was an instrument of God in blessing the Israelites.
Later in the story, we read where Balaam had been coaching the Midianite women on how they can lead their Israelite husbands astray - breaking faith with the Lord. [Num 31]. Joshua's army killed Balaam during the war with Midian.
Have you ever sat under a prophetic word, or heard prophecy spoken? What was the sensation in your spirit?
God has given these roles to the church, and it takes all of them to be a healthy church:
Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Shepherds
Teachers
Each of these roles is different from the others, and each is needed in order to maintain equilibrium in the church. Over the years, the last two roles have been emphasized so much that the first three have been mostly eliminated.
If you hear about a church that needs to be better at outreach or at working in the mission field, that church has eliminated its evangelists.
If you know a church that has to seek God in order to build its mission statement or state its purpose, that church has eliminated its prophets.
If you have seen a church that is constantly in turmoil over leadership, or budget, or direction, that church has no apostles.
If you have attended a church that is constantly equipping its members, but never sending them, that church is emphasizing teaching over the other roles.
And if you've been a member of a church that never sees a new spiritual generation maturing, or new members taking on responsibility (or long-time members never taking on responsibility), then you're in a church that elevates the shepherd's role.
Have you ever sat under a prophetic word, or heard prophecy spoken? What was the sensation in your spirit?
God has given these roles to the church, and it takes all of them to be a healthy church:
Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Shepherds
Teachers
Each of these roles is different from the others, and each is needed in order to maintain equilibrium in the church. Over the years, the last two roles have been emphasized so much that the first three have been mostly eliminated.
If you hear about a church that needs to be better at outreach or at working in the mission field, that church has eliminated its evangelists.
If you know a church that has to seek God in order to build its mission statement or state its purpose, that church has eliminated its prophets.
If you have seen a church that is constantly in turmoil over leadership, or budget, or direction, that church has no apostles.
If you have attended a church that is constantly equipping its members, but never sending them, that church is emphasizing teaching over the other roles.
And if you've been a member of a church that never sees a new spiritual generation maturing, or new members taking on responsibility (or long-time members never taking on responsibility), then you're in a church that elevates the shepherd's role.
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