BALAAM & GOD’S WILL

Posted on September 1, 2016 by .....

BALAAM & GOD’S WILL

BALAAM AND GOD’S WILL – In the book of Numbers we find the account of a mysterious soothsayer named Balaam had a reputation for having success in divination (receiving hidden knowledge, especially about the future) and incantation (the use of occult demonic power to grant blessing’s or curses) and he was willing to sell his services for all who could pay him his fee.

Request of the King – The Moabites and Midianites were very frightened when they saw the size and scope of the Israelite people encamped near them and heard all the stories about Israel’s military victories thus far. (Numbers 22:4 – And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.) – So King Balak looks to hire Balaam to place a curse on the people of God encamped near him to protect him from their supposed threat; at this point Balak did not realize that God had told Israel not to attack Moab because the Moabites were relatives of the Jews, descended through Lot, Abraham’s nephew. (Deuteronomy 2:9 – And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.)·

Balaam must have had a wide reputation of his abilities in successfully practicing the occult arts for a King to have searched him out in spite of the distance and the price. We all have a reputation. What is your reputation like? What are you know for?

King Balak was hoping to influence Balaam into cursing the children of Israel, and by such a curse protect him and his kingdom from their attack. He hoped to convince Balaam to help him by the impressive dignitaries he sent calling on him and the price he was willing to pay him for his services. This shows us a great weakness of character on Balaam’s part. Balaam loved money and he was willing to do just about anything to get it. What about you? Is money or financial gain your God? (I Timothy 6:10 – For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.)

Balak had Balaam figured right. Balaam was a hireling of the worst kind. Interested mainly in money. Balaam used deception to try to get his way around issues and problems to fulfill his ultimate goal of self enrichment. Balaam would use pious Godly sounding talk; all the while in his heart he was coveting material gain.·

Balaam was determined to do his own will and not God’s will. (Numbers 22:20 – And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.) – Notice what God said here “If the men come to call thee” then Balaam was to go. Now look at verse 21 what Balaam actually did “And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.” – He took it upon himself to get up and go. He did not do as the Lord instructed, he did not wait on the Lord, and he took the situation into his own hand and by his own wisdom determined it was in his own best monetary interests to not wait on the Lord but to act on his own. Now examine yourself. Are you more interested in God’s will or your own will?

Resistance of a donkey – God was angry at Balaam for defying His will and direction and allowing his love of money to be the controlling factor in his life. You may sometimes hear the phrase “dumb animals” – but in this case it was the human who was “dumb” and the animal was the smart and wise one. (Numbers 22:22 – And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.)·

His donkey saw something that Balaam did not and turned aside to save Balaam’s life. Balaam’s anger was kindled against the donkey and the Bible says he struck him over it. (Numbers 22:23 – And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.)·

Two more times the donkey sees the Angel of the Lord with his sword drawn and two more times the donkey does what it can to avoid him and saves Balaam’s life. Two more times Balaam gets enraged at the donkey because of it. One of the times by the donkey avoiding the angel, Balaam’s leg gets crushed, when the donkey swerved out of the way. (Numbers 22:24-27 – But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again. And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.) Balaam was so angry with the donkey at this point, had he been armed he would have killed his faithful animal. The Apostle Peter called it madness. (II Peter 2:16 – But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.)· Sin in our life has a way of blinding us to other things in our life. Sin can keep us from seeing the efforts of others, motivated by their love for us, to keep us from harm or to keep us from harming ourselves as a result of that sin.

A unique conversation takes place. (Numbers 22:28-31 – And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.) So why wasn’t Balaam shocked when his donkey spoke to him? – Perhaps Satan had used Demons to speak to Balaam in the past through animals speaking to him. In any case a person has reached a very low point in his life when God has to use an animal like a donkey to communicate His mind to him.

Revelation of an angel (Numbers 22:32-33 – And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.) – As God opened the Donkey’s mouth to speak to Balaam He now opens Balaam’s eyes so he too can see the Angel of the Lord standing there with his sword drawn. Balaam fell on his face when he saw the angel and the angel told him how is donkey saved his life.·

The angel warned Balaam that he was rushing headlong and recklessly onto the wrong path that would only lead to his destruction and ruin. Many people today are on a similar path in their life. If we see people on this path it is our responsibility to shout out a warning to them; because it is only the truth of God that can free them and save them from destruction and ruin. (John 14:6 – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. & John 8:32 – And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)·

“I have sinned” – Just saying these words do not repentance make. Balaam said these words to the angel in Numbers 22:34 “And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.” – Pharaoh, King Saul and Judas Iscariot all uttered the same words but did not truly repent and turn to God with their life. Pharaoh in Exodus 9:27 “I have sinned “, King Saul in I Samuel 15:24 “I have sinned” and Judas Iscariot in Matthew 27:4 “I have sinned” – but they did not repent, they did not accept God by faith. ·

MAKE SURE YOU ARE REALLY SAVED – Don’t be guilty of saying the right sounding words but not really meaning them in your heart. It is possible to acknowledge you are a sinner but not repent and turn from your sins and turn to God. We need to acknowledge the fact we are a sinner but true salvation is more than that; it is also a turning from our sin and a turning to God by faith in the saving power of Jesus blood. Salvation comes by trusting in the fact that the shed blood of Jesus paid the penalty for our sins and accepting His free gift of a payment in full on our behalf. Salvation is getting something for nothing; it is getting eternal life, that you can never lose, in exchange for nothing from us but our child like faith in Jesus. (Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. & Romans 10:9,10 & 13 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.) – If you have more questions about salvation please click on this link: KNOW FOR SURE YOU ARE ON YOU WAY TO HEAVEN