The Man Moses #18

The Lord said to me,.."I will test my people with a plumbline. Amos 7:8 (TLB)

The Plumbline is a blog to encourage the Body of Christ.

The Man Moses #18

Balaam Tries to Curse Israel

ENEMIES FEAR ISRAEL: As fear of Israel struck the region, the peoples there began to look desperately for weapons to use against them. The king of Moab, Balak, frightened at the "horde" which seemed to him to "cover the face of the land," attempted to call in spiritual powers to defeat Israel. He sent for a man named Balaam, saying, "I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed" (Numbers 22:6). Balak wanted to use Balaam to lay a curse on Israel, and thus drain their strength.

BALAAM’S POWER: There is no reason to doubt that Balaam had some spiritual powers. Israel was warned that when they entered the land they were to destroy all those who were spiritualists, possessed by evil spirits, and necromancers (cf. Deut. 18:1). Though Balaam clearly used omens, as did pagan seers, in his divinations (cf. Numbers 24:1), it is possible that Balaam was a channel for God to speak to a pagan people. But it is more likely that the roots of Balaam's spiritual power were in the demonic than the divine. Throughout the Bible Balaam is spoken of in a negative way, and held up as a negative example. His ways and his motives are condemned in the New Testament, and his death is recounted in Numbers 31 as a divine judgment.

BALAK CALLED ON BALAAM: At any rate, Balak called on Balaam to curse Israel for him. The word translated "curse" here is qabab, which suggests the idea of binding, to reduce ability, or to render powerless. Peoples in the ancient world considered curses magic tools to be used to gain power over enemies. Balak was attempting to mount a supernatural attack on this people against whom natural resources seemed inadequate. But Balak was ignorant of the fact that the source of Israel's power was itself supernatural: Israel's strength came from the presence of Yahweh Himself in their camp.

God Tells Balaam to Bless Israel

God spoke to Balaam and told him not to go with Balak's messengers. Yet greed moved Balaam to ask God's permission again. This time God did permit Balaam to go, but warned him sternly that he must speak only the words God would give him.We can picture Balaam's arrival. Balak had been waiting anxiously. Angrily he insisted that Balaam hurry and curse his enemy. Balak took Balaam to a range of hills that looked down over Israel's encampment. There the Moabite offered the sacrifices that Balaam called for—and waited. Balaam finally spoke. But rather than speaking a curse, Balaam was forced by God to pronounce a blessing!From the rocky peaks I see them, from the heights I view them. I see a people who live apart and do not consider themselves one of the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my end be like theirs! Numbers 23:9-10 (NLT)  9 I see them from the cliff tops; I watch them from the hills. I see a people who live by themselves, set apart from other nations. 10 Who can count Jacob’s descendants, as numerous as dust? Who can count even a fourth of Israel’s people? Let me die like the righteous; let my life end like theirs.”

Three times the sequence was repeated. Balak took Balaam to a different height, hoping that from a different viewpoint Israel might be cursed. Yet no matter from where the attack was launched, it returned not as a curse but as a blessing on this people that God has chosen and whom He protects. God has dealt with Israel's sins in sacrifice and forgiveness. Thus: No misfortune is seen in Jacob; no misery observed in Israel. The Lord their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them. God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. There is no sorcery against Jacob, no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, "See what God has done!"  Numbers 23:21-23 (NLT) 21 No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the LORD their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king. 22 God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox. 23 No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel. For now it will be said of Jacob, ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’

It is God who is at work in His people. We are His workmanship. Protected by His very presence, there is no enchantment against us now. The attack from without had failed. But Balaam made an effort to earn his fee. He suggested a strategy which he felt might force God to curse Israel against His will! Balaam reasoned that God could not bless a sinning people—and so he recommended to Balak that his women attempt to corrupt Israel and lead them into idolatry!  Adapted from The Teacher's Commentary.