NUMBERS LESSON 30

     We will begin this lesson in Numbers 24:1 "And when Balaam saw
that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other
times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the
wilderness."

     After each time they had sacrificed Balaam had prayed, but this
time it seems he had some sort of vision. Perhaps, it was through
enchantments. I cannot say good, or bad, because the message he gives
is true. The Israelites were forbidden enchantments.

     Numbers 24:2 "And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel
abiding [in his tents] according to their tribes; and the spirit of
God came upon him."

     It appears, that God revealed to his mind the thoughts He would
have him express, as he looked at the armies of Israel. The Spirit of
God, which came upon him, was the Holy Spirit.

     Numbers 24:3 "And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the
son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:"

     We must realize that the things which come from Balaam's mouth
are actually the words of God through this vessel. If his eyes were
open, it is a supernatural understanding of what he is seeing.

     Numbers 24:4 "He hath said, which heard the words of God, which
saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having
his eyes open:"

     This was not a dream that Balaam was having. He was fully awake,
when he seemed to be taken of the Spirit of God. He had a vision of
God and heard Words from God.

     Numbers 24:5 "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, [and] thy
tabernacles, O Israel!"

     The blessing of Israel begins. A person, who had his eyes opened
by God, would have to see that God had mightily blessed Israel.  For
close to three million people to have their tents, spread would be
mighty to behold. The wonderful thing about the journey they made, was
the fact that even their shoes did not wear out during the 40 years.
The tabernacle was a wonder greater than any other nation had. God,
Himself, designed it.

     Numbers 24:6 "As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by
the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath
planted, [and] as cedar trees beside the waters."

     Balaam described the camp of the Israelites, as the beautiful
valleys and the river Euphrates, they were all so familiar with. The
cedar tree was known for its strength and endurance. The lign aloe
tree was well known to Balaam. He related Israel to being mature,
because he knew that Israel was what God had made them.

     Numbers 24:7 "He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his
seed [shall be] in many waters, and his king shall be higher than
Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted."

     The buckets are speaking of a man with two buckets, one on each
end of a pole. It appears, the buckets are so full of water that they
overflow as he walks.  The name "Agag" means the fiery one.  This is
just saying that God's overflowing, blessings on Israel will cause a
supernatural growth [overflowing water and seed}. He is seeing the
kingdom of Israel in its greatness.

     Numbers 24:8 "God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it
were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his
enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce [them] through with
his arrows."

     The strength of Israel is the supernatural strength of God
within. There will be no nations able to withstand against Israel.
They will break the bones of their enemies, and pierce them through
with arrows.

     Numbers 24:9 "He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great
lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed [is] he that blesseth thee, and
cursed [is] he that curseth thee."

     Look, with me, at the very same thing God had promised the
descendents of Abraham. Genesis 12:2 "And I will make of thee a great
nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt
be a blessing:" Genesis 12:3 "And I will bless them that bless thee,
and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the
earth be blessed."  This is a renewing of that very same blessing. He
is at rest, and lies down a strong nation; strong as the lion. Jesus
said the same thing in the following verse. Matthew 25:40 "And the
King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch
as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye
have done [it] unto me."

     Numbers 24:10  "And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and
he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee
to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed
[them] these three times."

     This was not at all what Balak had wanted. He clapped his hands
together in disbelief. He wanted Balaam to curse Israel, when, in
fact, he blessed them mightily. I suppose Israel, itself, could be a
blessing, or a curse, to whatever country they came into contact with.
If they warred against them, they were definitely a curse.

     Numbers 24:11 "Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to
promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back
from honour."

     Balak had planned to give Balaam a place of great authority in
his land, if he cursed Israel. Now that he has blessed Israel, Balak
tells him he had better run for his life. Balak blames the LORD for
Balaam not receiving the honor.

     Numbers 24:12 "And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to
thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,"  Numbers 24:13 "If
Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go
beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do [either] good or bad of mine
own mind; [but] what the LORD saith, that will I speak?"

     Balaam reminds Balak that he did not want to come at all. He came
only to bring whatever message God had for these people. All the money
in the world would not have caused Balaam to go against the
commandments of God.

     Numbers 24:14 "And now, behold, I go unto my people: come
[therefore, and] I will advertise thee what this people shall do to
thy people in the latter days."

     Generally speaking, the latter days are the days of the coming of
the Lord. Perhaps, this is speaking of the latter days of these
particular people. "Advertise", in this, means advise.

     Numbers 24:15  "And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the
son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:"

     The parable, here, is the Spirit of God speaking through Balaam.

     Numbers 24:16 "He hath said, which heard the words of God, and
knew the knowledge of the most High, [which] saw the vision of the
Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:"

     Balaam is explaining exactly where, and how, he received this
message for Balak from God.

     Numbers 24:17 "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him,
but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre
shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and
destroy all the children of Sheth."

     He sees Him in the vision. He explains that the Star or Sceptre
is not for the present time. It is a future event. Actually the "Star"
and "Sceptre" are, both, speaking of Jesus. The sons of Sheth could be
speaking of the sons of Seth, or the entire race of people who are of
this earth. Moab sometimes is a symbol of the evil world. It could,
also, mean that Moab will be destroyed.

     Numbers 24:18 "And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be
a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly."

     Edom does, at a much later date, fall to their enemies. In fact,
they almost vanish from existence.

     Numbers 24:19 "Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have
dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city."

     This King, that Balaam sees in the vision, is no less than
Christ, Himself. When He reigns as King, He will have total dominion
of everything, and everyone. Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in
earth, and [things] under the earth;"

     Numbers 24:20  "And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his
parable, and said, Amalek [was] the first of the nations; but his
latter end [shall be] that he perish for ever."

     The Amalekites were bitter foes of Israel. Even though they are
very prominent in the Old Testament, they seem to just vanish with no
record of them. In all of this, we can see that God blesses whom He
chooses, and curses whom He chooses. The church is like Israel. In
fact, they are spiritual Israel. The Lord's blessings are upon His
church.  Those who try to oppose the church, God destroys.

     Numbers 24:21 "And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his
parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy
nest in a rock."

     We can hardly escape the fact that Balaam was actually seeing the
enemies of the church in the Moabites, Edomites, Amalekites, Kenites,
and Assyrians. Each of them symbolize the evil world system, which
opposes God and His people. The Kenites, above, were trusting in their
own ability to save them. They were rock dwellers.

     Numbers 24:22 "Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until
Asshur shall carry thee away captive."

     There is no fortification strong enough that God cannot send
someone to destroy it. Many associate the Kenite with Cain.

     Numbers 24:23 "And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who
shall live when God doeth this!"

     There is no safety against the wrath of God. The answer to the
question above, is no one.

     Numbers 24:24 "And ships [shall come] from the coast of Chittim,
and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall
perish for ever."

     Chittim could be speaking of Cyprus, or it could be speaking of
ships of many other nations. The end result is the same. Eber and
Asshur shall perish.

     Numbers 24:25 "And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his
place: and Balak also went his way."

     Balaam and Balak, both, go to their separate homes.
                        Numbers 30 Questions


1.  What did Balaam usually do after the sacrifices?
2.  The Israelites were forbidden _____________.
3.  When Balaam lifted his eyes, what did he see?
4.  What was the Spirit that came upon Balaam?
5.  The things coming from Balaam's mouth are actually whose?
6.  What is happening in verse 4?
7.  A person, whose eyes had been opened of God, would have to see
    what?
8.  What was so miraculous about the shoes of the Israelites?
9.  What was even more miraculous, than the blessings God had bestowed
    on Israel personally?
10. How does Balaam describe the camp of the Israelites?
11. What does the name "Agag" mean?
12. Israel had as the strength of a ___________.
13. Quote Genesis chapter 12 verses 2 and 3.
14. Quote Matthew chapter 25 verse 40.
15. How did Balak show his anger toward Balaam?
16. What was he angry about?
17. What had Balak planned to do for Balaam, if he cursed Israel?
18. Quote Numbers chapter 24 verse 13.
19. What is "advertise", in verse 14, saying?
20. What is the parable in verse 15 really?
21. Who is the "Star" and "Sceptre"?
22. What happens to Edom?
23. Who is the King, that Balaam sees in the vision?
24. The Amalekites were bitter foes of __________.
25. What happens to those who oppose the church?
26. Balaam was seeing the enemies of the church in whom?
27. Many associate the Kenite with ________.
28. Chittum could be speaking of _________.