The Oracles of Balaam

The Oracles of Balaam

Part 1

Background from the OT: Numbers 22:1-35

There is more said about Balaam in the Scriptures than is said about either Mary the mother of Jesus, or the Apostles. The Old Testament references him 57 times, and there are three mentions in the New Testament. Clearly, he's an important figure…

A. The Players

1.                  Balak, King of Moab

a)                  His name means "The Devastator"

b)                  Reigns in Moab after Israel destroys the Amorites during the time of Moses

c)                  He worships Baal

2.                  Balaam, Soothsayer for Hire

a)                  His name means "Devourer of the People"

b)                  A famous diviner/prophet/soothsayer who at least knew who the God of Israel was.

c)                  Lived in Mesopotamia along the Euphrates River (northern Iran/Iraq region)

3.                  The Midianites

a)                  Desert nomad people populating what is now the Arabian Peninsula

b)                  Descendents of Abraham and one of his concubines

c)                  Baal worshippers

d)                  Moses' father-in-law was a Midianite, as were the traders who bought Joseph and carried him off to Egypt

B. Act One: Balak's Hired Gun

1.                  Scene One: Balak looks around one day and realizes he's in trouble. The Israelites are taking over the neighborhood. (vs 2-8)

a)                  He colludes with the Midianites

b)                  He sends messengers to Balaam asking him to curse the Israelites, for a fee, of course

c)                  Balaam says he needs to ask God about that, so the messengers spend the night

2.                  Scene Two: God speaks to Balaam, asking what's going on (v 9-14)

a)                  God didn't need to ask -- perhaps he was testing Balaam's humility

b)                  God's answer is three-part:

(1)                 You may not go with them

(2)                 You may not curse them

(3)                 They are blessed

c)                  Balaam's response to the messengers conveniently omitted parts 2 & 3. He was probably negotiating at this point, thinking he might get a better offer. Either way, he showed his true colors by not telling them everything God had said.

d)                  Life Lesson Rule of Thumb: If God has blessed it, don't mess with it.

3.                  Scene Three: Balak the King, who won't take no for an answer, sends a group of high-ranking messengers back to Balaam to make him a really juicy offer (v 15-21)

a)                  They offer him the moon, basically

b)                  Balaam piously invokes the name of God in one breath, and money in the other, then allows them to stick around overnight so that "he can consult" with God one more time about it.

c)                  God says "You want to go? Fine, go…" Balaam takes off in a flash

d)                  Life Lesson Rule of Thumb: Don't entertain Temptation. Send it packing.

C. Act Two: The Smart Donkey

1.                  Scene One: God's anger was "kindled" because of what Balaam did, and sent The Angel of The Lord to block his way. (v 22-27)

a)                  Balaam is hell-bent for leather on his way to Moab on a donkey. He didn't see the angel, but the donkey did.

b)                  First, the donkey runs off into a field. Balaam beat her and got her back onto the path.

c)                  Then, she tries to squeeze past the angel and mashes Balaam's foot. He beats her again.

d)                  Finally, when she can't get past the angel, she simply falls down. Balaam beats her unmercifully.

e)                  Life Lesson Rule of Thumb: Feet swift to do mischief are blind to the dangers ahead.

2.                  Scene Two: God causes the donkey to speak (v 28-35)

a)                  Balaam apparently didn't think it was unusual to be engaged in conversation with a donkey. The donkey, incidentally, used some pretty advanced logic to try to talk sense to Balaam.

b)                  God opens Balaam's eyes to see the battle-ready angel

c)                  Balaam says, "Oh, you know what? I think maybe I should turn back now." The Angel of the Lord says, "No, you go, but only speak the words I give you."

d)                  Life Lesson Rule of Thumb: True repentance is a change of heart, not a change of mind.

The Oracles of Balaam

Part 2

Background from the OT: Numbers 22:36 - 25:10

Balak comes out to meet Balaam, anxious to get the show on the road. Balaam reiterates that he will only be able to speak the things that God would have him speak. Is he a changed man now?

A. Act Three: Seven Alters, Seven Oracles

Pay attention to the use of sevens and threes as the story unfolds. The first three oracles are presented with pomp and ceremony, the last three are not. The middle oracle, the fourth one, is the kicker.

1.                  Scene One: The First Oracle (v 23:1-10)

a)                  Balaam instructs that seven altars are to be built, each with a sacrifice of a bull and a ram

b)                  He goes off to be alone with God, and returns with a message: God's people, the Israelites, are unique. Leave them alone.

2.                  Scene Two: The Second Oracle ( v 23:11-24)

a)                  Balak wigs out at the first oracle, but decides to try again in a new place

b)                  They repeat the process at the top of Mt Pisgah, seven altars, seven bulls, seven rams

c)                  God's message this time: He is faithful, and will never curse that which he has blessed.

d)                  Balak's response to Balaam: "If you can't say something mean, don't say anything at all!" (v 25-26)

3.                  Scene Three: The Third Oracle (v 23:27 - 24:9)

a)                  Again, Balak tries to improve things by changing the locale

b)                  Again, we have seven altars, seven bulls, seven rams

c)                  This time, God's message foretells the future: Israel will destroy her enemies. Anyone blessing her will be blessed. Anyone cursing her will be cursed.

B. Act Four: Balaam Gets Fired

Balak is so mad at Balaam now that he smacks his fist into his hand and fires him, without pay. Balaam says "I told you so…" (v 24:10-12)

1.                  Scene One: The Fourth Oracle (v 24:15-19)

a)                  No altars or ritual this time. Balaam just blurts out what God puts in his heart to say: These words are true, and this is a vision of the future. Leaders will rise up out of Israel to destroy the Moabites, the Edomites, and the Midianites, and she will rule the land.

(1)                 Balaam himself will be killed in the beginning of these campaigns. He doesn't realize he's prophesying his own death. (Num 31:7-8)

2.                  Scene Two: The Fifth Oracle (v 24:20)

a)                  One very short proclamation: The Amalekites will disappear forever

3.                  Scene Three: The Sixth Oracle (v 24:21-22)

a)                  The Kenites will be destroyed by the Assyrians

4.                  Scene Four: The Seventh Oracle (v 24:23-25)

a)                  The Assyrians will be wiped out by Cyprus. Eventually, even Cyprus will be destroyed. No one can stand up to God's will.

C. Epilogue (v 25:1-10)

1. Balak didn't need to curse the Israelites after all. In time, they were seduced into Baal Worship. This was the hope of the Midianites all along.

2. Had it not been for the actions of the priest Phinehas, God would have wiped them out for their sin.

The Oracles of Balaam

Part 1

A. The Players

1. Balak, King of Moab

a) His name means "The Devastator"

b) Reigns in Moab after Israel destroys the Amorites during the time of Moses

c) He worships Baal

2. Balaam, Soothsayer for Hire

a) His name means "Devourer of the People"

b) A famous diviner/prophet/soothsayer who at least knew who the God of Israel was.

c) Lived in Mesopotamia along the Euphrates River (northern Iran/Iraq region)

3. The Midianites

a) Desert nomad people populating what is now the Arabian Peninsula

b) Descendents of Abraham and one of his concubines

c) Baal worshippers

d) Moses' father-in-law was a Midianite, as were the traders who bought Joseph and carried him off to Egypt

B. Act One: Balak's Hired Gun

1. Scene One: Balak looks around one day and realizes he's in trouble. The Israelites are taking over the neighborhood. (vs 2-8)

a) He colludes with the Midianites

b) He sends messengers to Balaam asking him to curse the Israelites, for a fee, of course

c) Balaam says he needs to ask God about that, so the messengers spend the night

2. Scene Two: God speaks to Balaam, asking what's going on (v 9-14)

a) God didn't need to ask -- perhaps he was testing Balaam's humility

b) God's answer is three-part:

(1) You may not go with them

(2) You may not curse them

(3) They are blessed

c) Balaam's response to the messengers conveniently omitted parts 2 & 3. He was probably negotiating at this point, thinking he might get a better offer. Either way, he showed his true colors by not telling them everything God had said.

d) Life Lesson Rule of Thumb: If God has blessed it, don't mess with it.

3. Scene Three: Balak the King, who won't take no for an answer, sends a group of high-ranking messengers back to Balaam to make him a really juicy offer (v 15-21)

a) They offer him the moon, basically

b) Balaam piously invokes the name of God in one breath, and money in the other, then allows them to stick around overnight so that "he can consult" with God one more time about it.

c) God says "You want to go? Fine, go…" Balaam takes off in a flash

d) Life Lesson Rule of Thumb: Don't entertain Temptation. Send it packing.

C. Act Two: The Smart Donkey

1. Scene One: God's anger was "kindled" because of what Balaam did, and sent The Angel of The Lord to block his way. (v 22-27)

a) Balaam is hell-bent for leather on his way to Moab on a donkey. He didn't see the angel, but the donkey did.

b) First, the donkey runs off into a field. Balaam beat her and got her back onto the path.

c) Then, she tries to squeeze past the angel and mashes Balaam's foot. He beats her again.

d) Finally, when she can't get past the angel, she simply falls down. Balaam beats her unmercifully.

e) Life Lesson Rule of Thumb: Feet swift to do mischief are blind to the dangers ahead.

2. Scene Two: God causes the donkey to speak (v 28-35)

a) Balaam apparently didn't think it was unusual to be engaged in conversation with a donkey. The donkey, incidentally, used some pretty advanced logic to try to talk sense to Balaam.

b) God opens Balaam's eyes to see the battle-ready angel

c) Balaam says, "Oh, you know what? I think maybe I should turn back now." The Angel of the Lord says, "No, you go, but only speak the words I give you."

d) Life Lesson Rule of Thumb: True repentance is a change of heart, not a change of mind.

The Oracles of Balaam

Part 2

A. Act Three: Seven Alters, Seven Oracles

1. Scene One: The First Oracle (v 23:1-10)

a) Balaam instructs that seven altars are to be built, each with a sacrifice of a bull and a ram

b) He goes off to be alone with God, and returns with a message: God's people, the Israelites, are unique. Leave them alone.

2. Scene Two: The Second Oracle ( v 23:11-24)

a) Balak wigs out at the first oracle, but decides to try again in a new place

b) They repeat the process at the top of Mt Pisgah, seven altars, seven bulls, seven rams

c) God's message this time: He is faithful, and will never curse that which he has blessed.

d) Balak's response to Balaam: "If you can't say something mean, don't say anything at all!" (v 25-26)

3. Scene Three: The Third Oracle (v 23:27 - 24:9)

a) Again, Balak tries to improve things by changing the locale

b) Again, we have seven altars, seven bulls, seven rams

c) This time, God's message foretells the future: Israel will destroy her enemies. Anyone blessing her will be blessed. Anyone cursing her will be cursed.

B. Act Four: Balaam Gets Fired

1. Scene One: The Fourth Oracle (v 24:15-19)

a) No altars or ritual this time. Balaam just blurts out what God puts in his heart to say: These words are true, and this is a vision of the future. Leaders will rise up out of Israel to destroy the Moabites, the Edomites, and the Midianites, and she will rule the land.

(1) Balaam himself will be killed in the beginning of these campaigns. He doesn't realize he's prophesying his own death. (Num 31:7-8)

2. Scene Two: The Fifth Oracle (v 24:20)

a) One very short proclamation: The Amalekites will disappear forever

3. Scene Three: The Sixth Oracle (v 24:21-22)

a) The Kenites will be destroyed by the Assyrians

4. Scene Four: The Seventh Oracle (v 24:23-25)

a) The Assyrians will be wiped out by Cyprus. Eventually, even Cyprus will be destroyed. No one can stand up to God's will.

C. Epilogue (v 25:1-10)

1. Balak didn't need to curse the Israelites after all. In time, they were seduced into Baal Worship. This was the hope of the Midianites all along.

2. Had it not been for the actions of the priest Phinehas, God would have wiped them out for their sin.