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Balaam |
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Balaam was one of those noteworthy Old Testament characters who, though
not one of God’s chosen people, was willing to acknowledge that Yahweh
(the Lord) was indeed a powerful God. But he did not believe in the Lord
as the only true God. His story exposes the deception of maintaining an
outward facade of spirituality over a corrupt inward life. Balaam was a
man ready to obey God’s command as long as he could profit from doing
so. This mixture of motives—obedience and profit—eventually led to
Balaam’s death. Although he realized the awesome power of Israel’s
God, his heart was occupied with the wealth he could gain in Moab. There
he returned to die when the armies of Israel invaded.
Eventually, each of us lives through the same process. Who and what we are will somehow come to the surface, destroying any masks we may have put on to cover up our real selves. Efforts spent on keeping up appearances would be much better spent on finding the answer to sin in our lives. We can avoid Balaam’s mistake by facing ourselves and realizing that God is willing to accept us, forgive us, and literally make us over from within. Don’t miss this great discovery that eluded Balaam. 1- Strengths and accomplishments
2- Weaknesses and mistakes
3- Lessons from his life
4- Vital statistics
5- Key verses "They have wandered off the right road and followed the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice" (2 Peter 2:15, 16). Balaam’s story is told in Numbers 22:1—24:25. He is also mentioned in Numbers 31:7, 8, 16; Deuteronomy 23:4, 5; Joshua 24:9, 10; Nehemiah 13:2; Micah 6:5; 2 Peter 2:15, 16; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14.
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Balaam 1. A Midianite prophet who resided at Pethor, son of Beor or Bosor. He was hired by Balak king of Moab to curse Israel, but God compelled him to bless instead of curse His chosen people. Though he talked piously his heart was evidently set on getting the reward from Balak. #Jude 11. The angel of Jehovah withstood him, and he was rebuked by his ass, yet he was allowed to go on his way. Nu 22$, 23$, 24$ #De 23:4,5 Jos 24:9,10 Though compelled by God to bless Israel, he most treacherously counselled Balak to seduce them by means of the Midianitish women, #Nu 31:16 2Pe 2:15 Re 2:14, which led to their gross idolatry. #Nu 25:1,2: see BAAL-PEOR. After Israel was punished for their sin, they were avenged on Moab, and among the slain was Balaam. In #Jos 13:22 he is called a soothsayer, and when he was with Balak he sought enchantments. In #Nu 23:15 the words ‘the Lord’ are added by the translators. #Nu 24:1 says that he went not then as at other times to meet enchantments. But he was overpowered by God. In the passages in the N. T. he is held up as an example of consummate wickedness and apostasy. 2. Lord of the people; foreigner or glutton, as interpreted by others, the son of Beor, was a man of some rank among the Midianites #Nu 31:8 comp. #Nu 31:16 He resided at Pethor #De 23:4 in Mesopotamia #Nu 23:7 It is evident that though dwelling among idolaters he had some knowledge of the true God; and was held in such reputation that it was supposed that he whom he blessed was blessed, and he whom he cursed was cursed. When the Israelites were encamped on the plains of Moab, on the east of Jordan, by Jericho, Balak sent for Balaam "from Aram, out of the mountains of the east," to curse them; but by the remarkable interposition of God he was utterly unable to fulfil Balak’s wish, however desirous he was to do so. The apostle Peter refers #2Pe 2:15,16 to this as an historical event. In #Mic 6:5 reference also is made to the relations between Balaam and Balak. Though Balaam could not curse Israel, yet he suggested a mode by which the divine displeasure might be caused to descend upon them #Nu 25:1ff. In a battle between Israel and the Midianites (q.v.) Balaam was slain while fighting on the side of Balak #Nu 31:8 The "doctrine of Balaam" is spoken of in #Re 2:14 in allusion to the fact that it was through the teaching of Balaam that Balak learned the way by which the Israelites might be led into sin. See Easton on NICOLAITANES 2725 Balaam was constrained to utter prophecies regarding the future of Israel of wonderful magnificence and beauty of expression #Nu 24:5-9,17 |