NUMBERS LESSON 28
We will begin this lesson in Numbers 22:1 "And the children of
Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side
Jordan [by] Jericho."
This was the area that had belonged to Moab. The area, here, was
actually part of the Jordan valley. The Jordan river flowed by the
city of Jericho.
Numbers 22:2 "And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel
had done to the Amorites."
Baalak was the king of Moab, and he saw quickly what was
happening to all the Amorites that Israel came into contact with. It
does not say it, but his fear has become great that Moab will be next.
Numbers 22:3 "And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because
they [were] many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of
Israel."
Now, we see the cause of his fear. There were close to three
million of the Israelites. Balak knew he had no chance in a battle
against them.
Numbers 22:4 "And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall
this company lick up all [that are] round about us, as the ox licketh
up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor [was] king of
the Moabites at that time."
The Medianites were descended from Abraham and Keturah. In a very
distant fashion, they were related to the Israelites. Both groups of
people were descended from Abraham. What he is saying, is that the
Israelites are having no difficulty taking whatever lies before them.
Numbers 22:5 "He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of
Beor to Pethor, which [is] by the river of the land of the children of
his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out
from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide
over against me:"
It appears, that Balak is speaking for himself and for the elders
of Midian, when he sends a message to Balaam. The Nicolaitanes {spoken
of in Revelation} and the Balaamites are thought by some to be the
same people. One was just as evil as the other. Balaam was thought to
be able to bring good, or bad, upon people by pronouncing it. It
appears, Balak was superstitious. The river spoken of is probably the
Euphrates. He implies these are Egyptians. It is not possible,
however, that Balaam would not have heard who they are. It seems to
Balak they cover the face of the earth, because there are close to
three million people.
Numbers 22:6 "Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this
people; for they [are] too mighty for me: peradventure I shall
prevail, [that] we may smite them, and [that] I may drive them out of
the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest [is] blessed, and he
whom thou cursest is cursed."
Balak has heard that Balaam has great powers. Being a
superstitous man, he seeks supernatural help from Balaam. He believes
if Balaam says the word, he can prevail against this large mass of
people. Balaam was a man who proclaimed power by God. He was a heathen
diviner. He thought himself to have the gift from God.
Numbers 22:7 "And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian
departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came
unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak."
Balak is trying to hire Balaam to curse the Israelites for him.
Superstitous people did not understand the spirit world, and they
assumed that Balaam would sell his services to Balak. A true man of
God could not be bought for such a job.
Numbers 22:8 "And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I
will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the
princes of Moab abode with Balaam."
Balaam thought he would hear from God in a dream, or a vision,
about this situation. He wants the money, so if he does not hear from
God, he will go.
Numbers 22:9 "And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men [are]
these with thee?"
We see, from this, that God truly does speak to him. Of course,
God knows who they are, He wants Balaam to examine who they are, with
this question.
Numbers 22:10 "And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor,
king of Moab, hath sent unto me, [saying],"
We see, from this answer of Balaam, he is aware that evil Balak
of Moab has sent these men.
Numbers 22:11 "Behold, [there is] a people come out of Egypt,
which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them;
peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out."
Up until this time, Balak has not mentioned the fact that these
are God's chosen people. He speaks of them, as if they are Egyptians.
The request from Balak is for Balaam to curse these people, so he can
defeat them in battle.
Numbers 22:12 "And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with
them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they [are] blessed."
God reveals to Balaam that these are His chosen people, and
Balaam is not to curse them.
Numbers 22:13 "And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto
the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to
give me leave to go with you."
Balaam does just as God had commanded him to do. The answer is
no. He will not go and curse these blessed of God. He tells the men to
tell Balak, the LORD will not allow him to do this.
Numbers 22:14 "And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went
unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us."
They brought back the news to Balak, that Balaam would not come.
Numbers 22:15 "And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more
honourable than they."
Now, he sends men of greater renown in the land to try to
persuade Balaaam to go.
Numbers 22:16 "And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus
saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee
from coming unto me:"
This is a more urgent request, that Balaam come and curse the
Israelites. He has offered a larger purse for Balaam. This is like
temptation that comes to us sometimes. We refuse the first offer to
sin, but as the temptation gets greater, it is harder to refuse.
Numbers 22:17 "For I will promote thee unto very great honour,
and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray
thee, curse me this people."
Balaam can ask as much as he wants. No price is too much for
Balak to pay Balaam to curse the Israelites.
Numbers 22:18 "And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of
Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I
cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more."
Balaam wanted the money, but he was smart enough not to go
against the command of God. He tells them that no amount of money
could cause him to go against the wishes of the LORD. Notice, Balaam
calls the LORD, my God.
Numbers 22:19 "Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this
night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more."
He is so tempted, he goes back to God, to see if God will change
His mind.
Numbers 22:20 "And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto
him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, [and] go with them; but
yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do."
This is just what Balaam wanted to hear. He could get all of the
reward, and not anger the LORD toward him. Remember, the LORD did not
tell him he could curse Israel, only that he could go.
Numbers 22:21 "And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his
ass, and went with the princes of Moab."
Balaam got what he wanted from God, and now he is on his way with
the princes from Moab.
Numbers 22:22 "And God's anger was kindled because he went: and
the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him.
Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants [were] with him."
Balaam had his answer from the LORD, the first time he asked. He
should not have gone back, and asked the LORD about the same thing
again. It is a dangerous thing to pray, after we have our answer from
God. He may give us what we are praying for, instead of what we need.
The angel was standing in the road, and would not let the ass of
Balaam pass. God was stopping him and his servants from passing.
Whatever it took, God would not let Balaam curse the Israelites.
Numbers 22:23 "And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in
the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out
of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn
her into the way."
The ass saw the angel of the Lord and the sword in His hand, and
she ran out in the field to escape. Balaam did not see the angel of
the LORD, so he hit the ass to try to make her get back on the road.
Numbers 22:24 "But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the
vineyards, a wall [being] on this side, and a wall on that side."
The angel of the LORD stood in the path this time, and there was
nothing but walls to each side.
Numbers 22:25 "And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she
thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the
wall: and he smote her again."
The ass was so frightened, when she saw the angel of the LORD,
that she ran against the wall to try to get away. She banged Balaam's
foot against the wall, when she was trying to get away. Balaam became
angry and hit her again.
Numbers 22:26 "And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood
in a narrow place, where [was] no way to turn either to the right hand
or to the left."
The third time the ass saw the angel of the LORD. It was too
narrow to go around, so she just fell under Balaam.
Numbers 22:27 "And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she
fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote
the ass with a staff."
Now, Balaam is really angry with the ass, and begins to hit her
with a staff.
Numbers 22:28 "And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she
said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten
me these three times?"
Some would like to say this was a vision or a dream, but I
believe it really happened. There is nothing impossible for God. It
would certainly get his attention for an ass to speak to him. This is
a very good question.
Numbers 22:29 "And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast
mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I
kill thee."
What is even more miraculous than the ass speaking to Balaam, is
the fact that Balaam talked to the ass. He thinks this animal worthy
of killing, because it made him look foolish in front of his servants.
Numbers 22:30 "And the ass said unto Balaam, [Am] not I thine
ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since [I was] thine unto this
day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay."
The ass reminds Balaam, that she has been loyal to him, ever
since he had gotten her. She asks him if she had ever embarrassed him
before, and he answers no. This does not even seem to be shocking
Balaam, that this ass is speaking to him.
Numbers 22:31 "Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he
saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in
his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face."
When Balaam's eyes of understanding are opened, and he sees the
angel of the LORD, he falls on his face before the LORD. He suddenly
realizes his error.
Numbers 22:32 "And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore
hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to
withstand thee, because [thy] way is perverse before me:"
The LORD had allowed him to go, but had put the angel of the LORD
to stop him on the way. He was headed for destruction, if the LORD had
not stopped him. He is saying to Balaam, why did you not get the
message that I was trying to stop you, when the ass would not go down
the road? Balaam wanted to go so badly, that he was overlooking all
the warning signs God had sent him. This is a lesson to us. When we
start somewhere, we should ask God to block the way, if we should not
go.
Numbers 22:33 "And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three
times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain
thee, and saved her alive."
The angel of the LORD would have killed Balaam, if the faithful
ass had not seen the angel of the LORD and turned away. The ass saved
Balaam's life.
Numbers 22:34 "And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have
sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now
therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again."
It appears, that Balaam did not realize he was sinning against
the LORD. He repents and offers to turn back, if that is what God
wants.
Numbers 22:35 "And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go
with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that
thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak."
The LORD will let Balaam continue on , but with the message of
God. He will not curse the Israelites, as Balak wants him to.
Numbers 22:36 "And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he
went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which [is] in the border of
Arnon, which [is] in the utmost coast."
He was so pleased to see Balaam come, that he went to the border
of Arnon to meet him.
Numbers 22:37 "And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly
send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I
not able indeed to promote thee to honour?"
Balak thinks that it was the wealth he offered Balaam, that
brought him.
Numbers 22:38 "And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto
thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God
putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak."
Balaam tells Balak that the message he brings is not his, but God
speaking through him. He goes so far as to say, he has no power within
himself.
Numbers 22:39 "And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto
Kirjath-huzoth." Numbers 22:40 "And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and
sent to Balaam, and to the princes that [were] with him." Numbers
22:41 "And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and
brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see
the utmost [part] of the people."
Balak brings Balaam oxen and sheep for payment. We do not see him
accept them, however. Balak takes Balaam to the high places where the
majority of the people were gathered to worship Baal. This will
continue in the next lesson.
Numbers 28 Questions
1. The place, in verse 1, is actually part of the ________ valley.
2. What was Balak afraid of?
3. Balak was the king of _________.
4. Who did Moab talk to about this problem?
5. The Medianites were descended from __________ and _________.
6. Who did Balak send a message to for help?
7. Who did he call the Israelites?
8. What is the river in verse 5?
9. Who were spoken of as the same people as the Balaamites?
10. What did Balak want Balaam to do?
11. Why had Balak gone to him for help?
12. How were they trying to acquire Balaam's help?
13. Who does Balaam seek permission to go from?
14. He speaks of the Israelites, as if they are __________.
15. Why did God tell Balaam not to go?
16. What does Balaam tell the men from Moab?
17. What does Balak do, when he gets the word that Balaam will not
come?
18. How much money would it take to get Balaam for this job?
19. Why does Balaam go back to God the second time?
20. Why does Balaam go?
21. How did God feel about Balaam going?
22. What stopped the ass from carrying Balaam, where he wanted to go?
23. What did Balaam do to the ass?
24. How many times did the ass refuse to go, where Balaam wanted it
to?
25. What did Balaam say, he should do to the ass?
26. This last time, what unusual thing happened?
27. What is even more unusual?
28. What does the ass remind Balaam of?
29. What happened, when Balaam's eyes of understanding were opened?
30. What does Balaam do in response?
31. What would have happened to Balaam, if the ass had continued on
after seeing the angel of the LORD?
32. What did the LORD tell Balaam to do?
33. Where did Balaam find the majority of the people?
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