Torah portion: Numbers 22:2-25:9

Balak

Following the Lord’s leading to take the land of the Amorites and of Bashan when their kings Sihon and Og fought against Israel to prevent them passing through the land (Numbers 21:23, 33), Israel camped in the plains of Moab. Here, King Balak, fearful of their large numbers, called upon Balaam, a seer from Pethor (near the Euphrates), to curse them using pagan divination.

This week’s important and prophetic Torah portion describes the way Balak tried three times to seduce and bribe Balaam into coming to Moab to curse the Israelites, but God intervened, only allowing Balaam to move and speak according to what He told him.

New Spiritual Vision

God revealed Himself first to Balaam’s donkey, who saw the Angel of the Lord with a drawn sword in his hand standing in the narrow way. He opened her mouth to challenge Balaam’s anger, and then opened Balaam’s spiritual eyes to bow before Him in worship and obedience.

God knew the intention of Balaam’s heart, and how his greed and hatred for Israel had blinded his spiritual vision. But when his eyes were opened he saw Israel’s true condition, which was to be blessed - as a well-watered garden in the Lord’s hand (24:6-7) - and not cursed. Balaam could do no other than bless them. Would that we would ‘see’ that also!

Balaam’s Prophetic Oracles

God could now give Balaam seven important prophetic oracles concerning Israel:

1. Balaam was not to curse or denounce when God had not cursed or denounced. His people are not to be reckoned among the nations (23:7-10) or involved in occult works.
2. God is Israel’s sovereign King. No sorcery could be effective against Jacob, no divination against Israel (23:18-24). They are His people by His covenant.
3. Balaam saw clearly Israel’s blessing under God’s powerful protection (24:3-9). He reiterated the promise in Genesis 12:3: those who bless Israel are blessed and those who curse or denounce them come under God’s full curse (24:9). A word for us also.
4. Balaam was then given a wondrous vision of the Messiah of Israel, Yeshua. Balaam said, with certainty: “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him but not near. A star will come out of Jacob, a sceptre will arise out of Israel…” (24:15-19).

And finally (5, 6, 7): nations raised up to attack Israel or supplant other nations (in this case, Amalek, the Kenites and Kittim) would come to ruin.

The Lesson of Choice

Balaam became a prophet who stood in the counsel of the Almighty, yet sadly he later returned to divination and occult practices. When Israel were camped in Moab, Balaam seduced them into sexual immorality and idolatry in worshipping Baal (Num 31:16, 25:1-6).

Israel suffered plague (24,000 died) and Moab was destroyed for their part in this deception, which led to Israel showing contempt for holy things. Holiness - separation from the world’s values - was to characterise Israel, so they could witness to God’s values.

The character of Balaam can be contrasted strongly with that of Abraham by three characteristics: an evil eye (greed, envy), a haughty spirit and a proud soul (Balaam) compared with a good eye (generosity), a lowly spirit and a humble soul (Abraham).¹ This is echoed in what the Lord showed us by Micah (6:8): that to do good is to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.

May we be disciples of our father Abraham, agree with the will of God expressed through Balaam and Micah, and keep our eyes on Him. May He open our eyes to receive spiritual sight, and may we obey the word He gives us, to bless His people Israel.

References

1 Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 5:22. See also http://chateaumezcal.com/avot/avot5.htm.

Author: Greg Stevenson