What Salaam Spoke of Israel Numbers 23 and 24
THE king of Moab took Balaam up on a high hill where idols were worshiped. From there they could see a part of the tents of Israel pitched in the plain. He wanted Balaam to say that God should send trouble to Israel.
But God told Balaam to speak only good, and he asked “Who can count the dust of Jacob, or number the fourth part of Israel.” He meant there were so many the king could not count even a part. This did not please the king and he took him to another hill.
Again, God told Salaam what to say, and he told the king that God had brought the people of Israel from Egypt with great strength to do them good. And he said, “What hath God wrought!”
You may have read those words in school, as they were used for the first public message sent by telegraph. It was a wonder of God’s that sound could be carried over the wire; and it was only God who could take that great company across the Red Sea and feed them in deserts.
Still the king asked for God to curse His people, and took Balaam to a high place where they could see the tents of all the tribes of Israel.
This time Balaam told the king that the nation of Israel would be strong, and rule over the other nations. The king was very angry and did not ask for more.
Balaam went home, but it seems later he told the king to invite the men of Israel to their idol feasts. It is sad to know, that many from the camp of Israel went, and bowed down to the idols, and made friends with the wicked people who had no fear of God. This made great sorrow in the camp of Israel. Balaam, too, joined with the evil nation, and was killed in, battle (Chapter 31:8).
ML 11/14/1937