Numbers 22:1-38

Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009
Study #9: God does amazing things to show his power.
Bible Study: Balaam's Donkey Talks … Numbers 22:1-38

REVIEW:
Romans 8:14 -- For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
More wanderings, more distrust of God, more lessons for future generations
The Israelites had defeated a few adversaries in their travels  .. including the Amorites
They were approaching the Promised Land again

Psalm 66
1 Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
2 Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious.
3 Say to God, “How awesome are Your works!  Through the greatness of Your power  Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
4 All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You;  They shall sing praises to Your name.”
5 Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.

Background Who Was Balaam?

2 Peter 2:15-16
15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

Balaam was a prophet within the network of eastern religions representing the land of Canaan, Moab, Edom, and so on. As a religious leader, Balaam was known as conferring with the gods of all the religious movements.

Balaam is very “Big” throughout the Bible
More is said about Balaam than there is about Mary the mother of Jesus and more than ten of the Apostles.
Balaam was a Midianite
He was covetous and selfish . . . Always out for himself.

an ancient text found at Deir Alla, Jordan, in 1967 tells about the activities of a prophet named Balaam.   Three times in the first four lines he is referred to as “Balaam son of Beor,” exactly as in the Bible

Numbers 22

Balak fears Israeil and Sends for Balaam     Numbers 22:1-14
1 Then the children of Israel moved, and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho. 2 Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.    3 And Moab was exceedingly afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was sick with dread because of the children of Israel.    4 So Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this company will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.    5 Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying: “Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me!        6 Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”    7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner’s fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.             8 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.     9 Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”      10 So Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,    11 ‘Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out.’”    12 And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”    13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go back to your land, for the LORD has refused to give me permission to go with you.”    14 And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”   


King Balak of Moab employed Balaam to call down a curse on Israel.
This was an alternative to King Balak having to face Israel's forces in battle.


Balak Sends for Balaam a 2nd time and Balaam goes to Balak    Numbers 22:15-21
15 Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more honorable than they.    16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me;     17 for I will certainly honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore please come, curse this people for me.’”     18 Then 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 word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.    19 Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.”    20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you—that you shall do.”    21 So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.


Balaam's corruptions at the same time inclined him to go contrary to the command.
He seemed to refuse the temptation; but he expressed no abhorrence of it.
He had a strong desire to accept the offer, and hoped that God might let him go.
He had already been told what the will of God was. It is a certain evidence of the ruling of corruption in the heart, to beg to let us sin.
God gave Balaam up to his own heart's lusts. As God sometimes denies the prayers of his people in love, so sometimes he grants the desires of the wicked in wrath.


The opposition to Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel      Numbers 22:22-35
22 Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the LORD took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 Now the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road. 24 Then the Angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again. 26 Then the Angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And when the donkey saw the Angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff. 28 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?” 29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!” 30 So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?” And he said, “No.” 31 Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. 32 And the Angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. 33 The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.” 34 And Balaam said to the Angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.” 35 Then the Angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.


Just because God lets us sin, does not mean he approves it
those whose hearts are fully set to do evil, will push on through the difficulties God lays in their way.
God made the donkey speak … this was a great miracle
Balaam, for now, has his eyes opened.
God has many ways to bring down the hard and un-humbled heart.
When our eyes are opened, we shall see the danger of sinful ways, and how much it was for our advantage to have God intervene.
Thus many leave their sins, only because their sins have left them.
The angel declared that he should not only be unable to curse Israel, but should be forced to bless them: this would be more for the glory of God, and to his own confusion, than if he had turned back.




Balaam and Balak meet      Numbers 22:36-38
36 Now when Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the border at the Arnon, the boundary of the territory. 37 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not earnestly send to you, calling for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?” 38 And Balaam said to Balak, “Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.”

Balak has now nothing to complain of, but that Balaam did not come sooner.
Balaam bids Balak not depend too much upon him.
He wants to please Balak, as ever he had pretended to be to please God.
See why we need  to pray every day not to be led into temptation.








Psalm 77
1 I cried out to God with my voice— To God with my voice;  And He gave ear to me.
2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
My soul refused to be comforted.
3 I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.
4 You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
5 I have considered the days of old, The years of ancient times.
6 I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart,  And my spirit makes diligent search.
7 Will the Lord cast off forever?  And will He be favorable no more?
8 Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore?
9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?  Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?
10 And I said, “This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
11 I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
12 I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God?
14 You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples.
15 You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid;  The depths also trembled.
17 The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound;  Your arrows also flashed about.
18 The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightning lit up the world;  The earth trembled and shook.
19 Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters,  And Your footsteps were not known.
20 You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.



Balaam  gave four of the most remarkable prophecies in the Scriptures regarding Israel:
1st prophecy — Numbers 23:8-10
2nd prophecy — Numbers 23:20-24
3rd prophecy — Numbers 24:5-9
4th prophecy — Numbers 24:17-24

Balaam had some knowledge of God, and God used him
(Numbers 22:9, 20, 22, 31). He is a strange anomaly. The
Scriptures have a great deal to say about him — see Numbers
31:16; Deuteronomy 23:4, 5; Joshua 13:22; Joshua 24:9, 10;
Nehemiah 13:2; Micah 6:5; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11; Revelation
2:14.

Scripture distinguishes between the way of Balaam, the error
of Balaam, and the doctrine of Balaam:
“The way of Balaam” (2 Peter 2:15) was that he prostituted
his gift for gain, he was covetous, he commercialized his
office.
“The error of Balaam” (Jude 11) was that he concluded a
righteous God must curse Israel. He was unaware of the
grace of God revealed in God’s redemption of Israel out of
Egypt.
“The doctrine of Balaam” (Revelation 2:14) was his counsel
to Balak. Finding that he could not curse Israel, he showed
Balak how to break down the wall of separation by marriage
with women of Moab (Numbers 31:15, 16).


7. The prophet Balaam, Chapters 22 — 25
a. “The way of Balaam” — covetousness,
(cf. 2 Peter 2:15, 16), 22
b. “The error of Balaam” — ignorance of God’s
righteousness (cf. Romans 8:31-34), 23
c. “The doctrine of Balaam” — fornication with
Moabites; embrace their idolatry, 24, 25