Israel was on the verge of finally entering the Promised Land when Balak, king of Moab, saw their great numbers and observed the strength of their forces. Feeling threatened, he sent his princes 600 miles away to Mesopotamia to bring back a soothsayer—a false prophet—named Balaam (pronounced BAY-lum).
Balaam had a reputation: whomever he blessed was blessed, and whomever he cursed was cursed (Numbers 22:6). You can bet Balak wanted him to curse Israel. The princes told Balaam of the riches Balak would give him for cursing the people of God, but knowing of the power of the Almighty God and what He had already done for the people of Israel, Balaam asks God whether he should do it.
"And God said to Balaam, 'You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed'" (Numbers 22:12).
Balaam knew the will of God but he wanted Balak's riches so badly. God doesn't force His will on anyone and He did not force it on Balaam. Though he knew it was against God's wishes, Balaam set out on the journey to meet Balak so that he might curse Israel.
Balaam and the Talking Donkey
It is on this journey that Balaam's donkey—that famous talking donkey in the Bible—sees the Angel of the Lord, blocking her path. Three times the donkey stops because the Angel is in the way. Three times Balaam beats the donkey because he cannot see the Angel and thinks the donkey is acting up, refusing to go on. Then the Lord opened the donkey's mouth and the donkey talked to Balaam. You'll learn in this series what the donkey said, and you'll learn about the conversation between Balaam and the angel.
Balaam's Blessing and Prophecy
Balaam finally arrives and Balak shows him the people of Israel in their camps. Balak wants Balaam to curse Israel, and Balaam wants to do that so he can collect his reward, but God has other plans. Instead of cursing Israel, four times Balaam blesses them in the form of prophecies:
- Balaam's prophecy about Israel's separation as a distinct and blessed people
- Balaam's prophecy about Israel's standing as "righteous" on the basis of the individual faith of the Israelites
- Balaam's prophecy about Israel's splendor as a settled and peaceful nation
- Balaam's prophecy about Israel's Savior: Jesus, the Messiah who would come and not only redeem Israel but the world
What Happens Next
The human instrument Satan used to try to curse Israel, Balaam, was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempts to directly curse the people. But the people of Israel were stricken nonetheless.
This three-part series by Dr. Richard L. Strauss tells of the life of Balaam, who aspired to die the death of the righteous, but died the death of the wicked. Read it or listen to it and learn how to avoid the peril of Balaam's way.