Balaam’s Second Encounter with God
22: 15-20
Balaam’s second encounter with God DIG: Why do you think God did not allow Balaam to speak false prophecies, even though He allowed other false prophets to speak in other situations? Why did Balaam think that ADONAI would change His mind? Why is there no inconsistency between 22:12 and 22:20?
REFLECT: Balaam’s words in 22:18 sound so great. Do you think they were sincere or just pious talk? How can we know if a person is sincere? Why is the love of money so destructive? Have you ever had selective listening from the LORD so you could do what you wanted to do? How did that turn out?
Balaam heard the first part of the LORD’s command: get up and go with them;
but not the second part: but do only what I tell you.
Further negations (22:15-17): Undaunted in his pursuit of victory over Isra’el, Balak sent Balaam a larger and even more impressive delegation of rulers of the two nations with the promise of paying any fee Balaam asked, plus bestowing royal honors on him.474 Then King Balak sent rulers, more numerous and more distinguished than the first group to persuade the reluctant sorcerer (22:15). He assumed everyone could be bought for a price, and must have thought that Balaam’s first refusal was merely a negotiating tactic. Thus, they told Balaam that he could name his own price, and offered him a blank check, so to speak. Here is what King Balak says: Please don’t let anything keep you from coming to me. I will reward you very well, and whatever you say to me I will do. So please come, and curse these people for me” (22:16-17).
Paul warned Timothy that people who long to be rich fall into temptation, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (First John 2:16), and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction will come upon them suddenly without warning. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. To illustrate his point, Paul referred indirectly to some people undoubtedly known to Timothy, who had fallen into the trap of craving money, and had wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But Paul’s solution for the believer is to flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (First Timothy 6:9-11 NLT).
Balaam’s greed (22:18-19): Knowing God’s will in the matter, Balaam should have refused to even consider this second offer, but the greedy sorcerer was still hoping to find some way to circumvent the will of ADONAI. His words were simply pious talk. With his lips he professed to obey the LORD, but in his heart, he coveted the money and hoped YHVH would change His mind.475 But Balaam answered the rulers of Balak, “Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of ADONAI Elohim to do anything, great or small” (22:18). We must remember that Balaam was polytheistic and ADONAI would have been one of the many gods in his pantheon. Here, his use of the name of Isra’el’s God was one of fraudulent boasting.
Imagining a house full of silver and gold, Balaam was greatly tempted by the new offer. However, he remembered how sternly Ha’Shem had forbidden him to go the last time. He already knew God’s will in the matter. Nevertheless, he decided to implore Him once again. Now, please, you too, stay here tonight; so that I may find out what else ADONAI will say to me” (22:19).
God’s answer (22:20): As was likely the case in the first encounter (see Dp – Balaam’s First Encounter with God) this second encounter with Elohim took place at night, a time recounted in the TaNaKh for revelations, dreams, and visions. As He did so with Abimelech (see the commentary on Genesis, to see link click Fe – Then God Came to Abimelech in a Dream); Laban (see Genesis Hr – Laban Pursues Jacob); and twice we see this in the book of Dani’el, first with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (see the commentary on Dani’el Ak – Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream), and secondly with Nebuchadnezzar’s vision (see Dani’el Bf – Nebuchadnezzar’s Vision of a Great Tree).God came to Balaam during the night and said to him, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them; but do only what I tell you (22:20).”
Perhaps YHVH will change His mind. Such was indeed the unspoken premise behind all sorcery. The same ritual procedures were repeated by the ancients until a favorable omen was received. It was common to sacrifice three times on two or three consecutive days, based upon this hope. So, Balaam would have had king Balak repeat the same sacrificial ritual, although in different places, in order to get the desired result. Even in dream interpretation, a single dream was not decisive, as in the case of Pharaoh in Genesis 41:5. Therefore, Balaam assumed that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was fickle, and attempted to exploit his delusion with the aid of sorcery, without a drop of success.476
There is no real inconsistency with Numbers 22:12, “You are not to go with them; you are not to curse those people, because they are blessed.” The absolute and unchanging ban there had to do with not putting a curse on the Israelites. Going with the princes, which was forbidden in mercy in 22:12, was ordered as a judgment here at 22:20. Ha’Shem often punishes disobedience to His declared will by permitting the rebels to eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, thus choking on their own schemes (Proverbs 1:31 NLT). Thus, He gave Balaam the desires of his evil heart; but sent a wasting disease into his soul (Psalm 106:15 ERV; also see Psalm 81:12; Isaiah 66:4; Jeremiah 2:19; Romans 1:28-32). After many attempts to rescue Judas from hell, Yeshua told him, “Go, do what you have to do,” even though the Master knew the evil in Judas’ heart. The same is true here, God said, “Get up and go with them,” even though He knew the evil in Balaam’s heart.
Overjoyed at the opportunity to make a fortune, Balaam immediately set out. Blinded by money, he had every intention of cursing Isra’el when he arrived. Despite ADONAI’s warning, Balaam was intent on earning his wages, ignoring the fact that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a). He heard the first part of the LORD’s command: get up and go with them; but not the second part: but do only what I tell you. He only heard what he wanted to hear. Often, we find ourselves suffering from the same selective listening. We will quote a proof text or passage that supports our position, while ignoring those that do not. Mitzvot contrary to our wishes are easily ignored while those that affirm us are waved around like flags. Lest we fall into the error of Balaam, we must be careful to obey the whole Word of God (Acts 20:27).477
God was protecting the Israelites by stifling the powers of the demons and idolatrous nations who wanted to consume them. It was a mighty, supernatural protection against attacks from the vicious and powerful forces of darkness whose sole intent was to destroy God’s people, thereby foiling God’s plans. He was turning curses into blessings.478
Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You for the blessings that You love to pour on those who love You. What a comfort it is that Messiah Yeshua is preparing a home in heaven for those who love You. Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you may also be (John 14:1-3). The riches of this world will soon be gone. What lasts for eternity is our love for You and the deeds Your children do for You with their heart of love. You see the heart motive for all deeds and You have promised to reward those whose deeds pass through fire which tests the heart motive. For no one can lay any other foundation than what is already laid – which is Yeshua the Messiah. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear. For the Day will show it, because it is to be revealed by fire; and the fire itself will test each one’s work – what sort it is. If anyone’s work built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. (First Corinthians 3:11-14). Only one life will soon be past – Only what’s done for Messiah will Last! It is a delight to serve You with our whole heart! In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and the power of His resurrection. Amen
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