Numbers 22:15-27
“AND BALAK sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.” The first princes of Moab had returned to Balak sang Balaam refused to come, though it was evident he really wanted to accept the offer. Not to be defeated, however, and acting just as a man of the world would act, Balak sent more honorable princes to Balaam and promises of even greater reward. “Let nothing, I pray thee,” he said, “hinder thee from coming to me: for I will promote thee to very great honor,...; come, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.”
Feeling he was held in check by God while at the same time contriving to get the most for his services the crafty Balaam said to the messengers: “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold. I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God.” Nevertheless he told them to remain with him that night until he found out what more the Lord would say to him. This only shows how determined his will was and how great was his desire to get the promised reward.
It also shows that though Balaam might talk about “the Lord my God,” yet his knowledge of God was only make-believe, for there was no real faith in him. Had there been, he would have known that God is not one to change His mind. However, on this second occasion God did tell him to go with the men; He allowed him to follow his own will, yet told him he was powerless and could speak only the word that He gave him. In permitting him to go it did not make Balaam’s sin any the less for he was still ready to curse Israel to gain the reward. So in the morning he saddled his ass and went with the princes of Moab.
It is really a wonderful scene, bringing out as it does the malice of Satan and his utter defeat by God who intervenes on behalf of His people. If He had not allowed Balaam to go with the men we would never have had those wonderful prophecies of coming glories and blessing. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” Rom. 11:33.
“And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him.” v. 22. Balaam did not see the angel with the drawn sword, but the ass did and she turned out of the way and went into the field. In his anger he beat her and tried to force her into the way again, but the angel again stood in the way, in a narrow place with a wall on either side. “And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot,” so he beat her again.
But the angel stood in a still narrower place where there was no way to escape, and when the poor animal saw the angel with his drawn sword this time she fell down. In his anger Balaam smote her again.
We can take a warning from Balaam. Covetousness ruled his heart, even to opposing God. It was this that brought to ruin Judas who not for a house full of silver but for a mere thirty pieces sold his blessed Master. If one insists on having his own way, Satan can draw a veil over the heart, and cause even a believer to dishonor the Lord. Oh may He keep us from covetousness and from persisting in our own will.
ML-04/14/1974