1. Balaam

2. Balaam
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Background
The 2nd generation of Israelites (out of Egypt) were making their way to the Promised Land
This required passage through enemy lands
The leaders of these countries were nervous
King Sihon & King Og (kings of Amorites & Bashan) tried to refuse passage and were soundly defeated
The story of Balaam begins when Israel was camped on the plains of Moab
Balak, king of Moab, “was exceedingly afraid” (Num. 22:3)

3. Balaam Balaam had a reputation Num. 22-24
He was a prophet of God (cf. 2 Pet. 2:16)
“I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks” (22:8)
“The LORD has refused to give me permission” (22:13)
“I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more” (22:18)
“Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak” (22:35)
“Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me, and whatever He shows me I will tell you” (23:3)
“The LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth” (23:5)
“The LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth” (23:16)
“Did I not tell you, saying, ‘All that the LORD speaks, that I must do'?’” (23:26)
Balaam possessed great potential for good…for God!

4. Balaam Balaam had a reputation Num. 22-24 He was a prophet of God
He was a soothsayer/diviner (Jsh. 13:22; Num. 22:7)
When Balak needed “help,” he knew who to call
“I know that whom you curse is cursed” (Num. 22:6)
Balaam was in Mesopotamia – 400 miles away
God had been very clear about sorcery
“You shall not…practice divination or soothsaying” (Lev. 19:26).
“Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them” (Lev. 19:31).
“There shall not be found among you anyone who… practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist…” (Deut. 18:11-11).
Balaam could be whoever you wanted him to be!

5. Balaam Balaam had a reputation Num. 22-24 He was a prophet of God
He was a soothsayer/diviner
He could be bought (Nu. 22:5-21; 2 Pt. 2:15; Jude 11)
Price #1: Flattery (22:6)
Price #2: Diviner’s fee (22:7)
Price #3: Even more honorable princes (22:15)
Price #4: Let nothing stop you, great honor will be yours, I will do whatever you say to me (22:16-17)
Response #1: “Stay here tonight, let me check” (22:8)
Response #2: “Refused to give me permission” (22:13)
Response #3: “Though give me…stay here…what more the Lord will say to me” (22:18-19)
Response #4: Balaam rose and went with them (22:21)
Balaam had a price. Bless or curse, just wanted reward!

6. Balaam Balaam had a problem
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Balaam had a problem
He clearly knew the will of God in this matter
You shall not go with them (22:12)
You shall not curse the people; they are blessed.
Only the word I speak to you (22:20)
Your way is perverse before Me (22:32)
Only the word I speak to you (22:35)
The word that God puts in my mouth (22:38)
Whatever He shows me I will tell you (23:3)
The LORD put a word…thus you shall speak (23:5)
Must I not speak what the Lord put in my mouth (23:12)
The LORD put a word…thus you shall speak (23:16)
All that the LORD speaks, that I must do (23:26)
Balaam saw it pleased the LORD to bless Israel (24:1)
Did I not speak, What the LORD says (24:12-13)

7. Balaam Balaam had a problem
Num
Balaam had a problem
He clearly knew the will of God in this matter
He tried his hardest to violate the will of God
To enemies of God: “stay here tonight” (22:8)
To enemies of God: “stay here tonight” (22:19)
“I may know what more the LORD will say” (22:19)
“IF it displeases you, I will turn back” (22:34)
Allied with Balak to do what God forbid him to do
Went with Balak to high places of Baal (22:41) and offered sacrifices three times (23:1-4, 13-15, 27-30)
Used sorcery/enchantments/omens in first attempts to curse God’s people (24:1)
Balaam finally went back home (24:25)

8. Balaam Balaam had a problem
Num
Balaam had a problem
He clearly knew the will of God in this matter
He tried his hardest to violate the will of God
Angry with God, Balaam shrewdly counseled with Balak before leaving, with a plan that would destroy/curse Israel as Balak wanted
“…You have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality” (Rev. 2:14)
“Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD” (Num. 31:16; cf. 25:1-9)

9. Balaam Balaam still has a reputation
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Balaam still has a reputation
He died in the Lord’s vengeance on the Midianites (31:8)
He is renowned in Biblical history for:
Having less sense than a donkey
Having an argument with a talking donkey
Trying to resist God’s will but failing & looking like a fool
Instigating sinful behavior among God’s people that led to 24,000 deaths
“Loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet” (2 Pet. 2:15-16; cf. greedy error, Jude 11).
“You have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam…Repent!” (Rev. 2:14)

10. Balaam Positive Things We Can Glean from Balaam
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Positive Things We Can Glean from Balaam
May we say it and mean it:
“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.” (22:18)
“I have sinned” (22:34)
“Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.” (22:38)
“All that the Lord speaks, that I must do” (23:26)
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.” (23:19-20)

11. Balaam Positive Things We Can Glean from Balaam Num. 22-24
God’s word & God’s will do not change, no matter how many different ways I approach it, no matter where I’m standing, no matter what I want it to be.
“Nevertheless the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.” (Deut. 23:4-5; cf. Josh. 24:9-10)
“Hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.” (Neh. 13:2)
God used even Balaam’s tongue to prophesy of Christ: “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.” (cf. Is. 9:2; 13:10; 14:12; Jn. 8:12; Rev. 22:16; Gen. 49:10; Heb. 1:8; etc.)