• Balaam Blesses Israel: Numbers 23-24

    Balaam, the gentile prophet, was called upon by Balak to pronounce curses upon the children of Israel. Though God was at first displeased with Balaam, He allowed Balaam to go to Balak on the grounds that he was say only what God put in his mouth. Instead of curses upon the children of Israel, God would have Balaam pronounce blessings upon them (Numbers 23-24).

    Balak built altars as Balaam told him to. Then, as Balaam prophesied, he spoke of Israel as a nation that “will not be reckoned among the nations.” It was a blessing. Balak called Balaam’s attention to this, to which Balaam replied that he could only speak what God told him to. They went to another place where Balak wanted Israel cursed. Once again, Balaam pronounced a blessing. Balak tried one more time, but to no avail. Balaam blessed Israel again. Balak was angry at Balaam, telling him that he would not be honored as had been agreed upon.

    Balaam prophesied again, but this time it was an oracle against Moab, Edom., and Amalek, among others. Moab would be crushed, Edom. would become a possession, and Amalek’s end would be destruction. These nations were all the enemies of Israel, and since God was providing for and protecting Israel, her enemies would suffer the consequences.

    God’s plans cannot be thwarted. No matter who it is, or how much one has, no one can ultimately stand against what God has done or will do. As Balaam spoke in one of his oracles: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)

    Discussion
    1. Review why Balak wanted the children of Israel cursed.

    2. Discuss the blessings that Balaam pronounced on Israel (23:7-10, 18-24; 24:3-9). What do they say about God’s people?

    3. Why is it not possible to thwart God’s plans? What do these prophecies say about God?

    4. Discuss the curses put on the enemies of God’s people (24:15-24). As a project, try to locate these places on a Bible map.