Numbers 22:2-25
As we read the story of Balaam we marvel at the overruling hand of God, for God interfered and hindered the wicked purposes of Balak king of Moab who had hired Balaam to prophesy against Israel. King Balak was afraid of Israel. He had heard what God had done through them to the Amorites, and he trembled for himself and his people. Being under the power of Satan, to which the heathen had sold themselves, he knew of no other place to turn but Satan’s enchantments. He therefore sent messengers to Balaam offering him great rewards and honors if he would come and curse the people. Balaam, on his part, would have been glad to come, for he “loved the wages of unrighteouess,” 2 Peter 2:15, but even Satan himself cannot go beyond what God allows, and Balaam (though a wicked man) must do and say what God ordered. God told Balaam not to go with the men who came from Balak, because the people of Israel, whom Balaam wanted to curse, were really blessed.
Balaam therefore told the men, “Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you.” We can see by this remark that he really wanted to go, if only the Lord would let him.
The messengers then returned to Balak, telling him that Balaam would not come. This would not satisfy Balak, however, and he sent more messengers, and more honorable ones, too, promising very great honor for Balaam if he would only come. King Balak said he would do anything Balaam wished him to do if he would only come and curse the people of God. The world will pay a tremendously high price to have its own way, and it hates God and His people with the same hatred as Balak had toward Israel. What a world it is!
A fear—not filled the heart of Balaam and he was afraid to go against the Word of God. He did, however, ask God again what he should do. The Lord had already declared His mind very definitely, and Balaam need not have asked again. This is important for us to remember, for if God makes His mind known to us, we ought not to ask Him to change it just to suit or please ourselves. It is a very serious thing to do so, as with Balaam here, and it almost cost him his life. If we are persistent to have our own way, contrary to the will of God, He may allow us to have it to our own sorrow, as with Baam here (see also Psalm 106:15). It is a solemn thing to trifle with God.
God then, because of the insistence of Balaam, told him to go with the mea from King Balak, but He said he must speak only what God said. Poor Balaam was quite ready to go, for he wanted this easy reward offered by the king. Little did he realize what was before him.
He rose up in the morning, saddled his ass, and started out with king Balak’s messengers. Now God knew how much Balaam wanted this reward, so He must put His fear before him in order to make him say only what God would have him say. But Balaam did not have eyes to see, even when the angel of the Lord stood in the way with a drawn sword in his hand, but his ass, upon which he was riding, saw the angel and turned aside into a field. This made Balaam angry, and he hit the poor animal and made her go back on the path again. The angel of the Lord then stood in the way again in a narrow place with a wall on either side.
ML 12/30/1951