Numbers Chapter 22: Balak hires Balaam, Angel of the Lord withstands him
Mar 1st, 2010 | By admin | Category: Numbers, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)Balaam did two things that were wrong. His words sounded very commendable on the surface: “Though Balak offers me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot do more or less than God says.” However, God had told Balaam the first time, “You shall not go. You cannot curse the Israelites because they are a blessed people.” Balaam should not have parleyed with the situation but should have nipped it in the bud. Because he did not do so, his words about a house full of silver and gold were really meaningless. What he was really saying was, “Stay overnight, for I have to think this over.” The first time Balaam sent the messengers back posthaste, but now he was saying, “Tarry overnight, for perhaps God has changed His mind.”
The second thing Balaam did wrong was to not listen carefully enough to what God had said to him. It is like the earlier lesson where God told Moses, “Speak unto the rock,” but Moses smote the rock. No doubt Moses felt righteous indignation, but he paid the penalty for disobedience by not being allowed to go into the Promised Land. Notice that the instruction to Balaam was, “If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them.”
