Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
Note: For more information relevant to this present passage of Numbers twenty-two, see the accompanying Appendix (PDF download) that provides the complete Scripture text of Numbers 23:1-24:13.
1. What do you learn about Balaam from Numbers 22:5-14 (printed below?)
So he sent messengers to summon Balaam the son of Beor, who was at Pethor, which is near the Euphrates River, in his native land. He said, A people have come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and are encamped next to me. (6) Now, therefore, please come and curse these people for me, because they are too powerful for me. If you curse them, I might then succeed in defeating them and driving them out of the land; for I know that whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed. (7) So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed, taking with them the fee for divination. They came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message. (8) Balaam said to them, Spend the night here, and I will bring back to you the answer Jehovah gives me. So the Moabite princes stayed with Balaam. (9) God came to Balaam and asked, Who are these men with you? (10) Balaam said to God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent messengers to me, saying, (11) The people who have come out of Egypt cover the face of the land. Now come and curse them for me; perhaps I will then be able to fight against them and drive them out. (12) God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse these people, for they are blessed. (13) Balaam got up the next morning and said to Balak’s princes, Go back to your country, because Jehovah refuses to give me permission to go with you. (14) So the Moabite princes got up and returned to Balak, and reported to him, Balaam refuses to come with us. (Numbers 22:5-14)
This man, Balaam, is one of the most mysterious characters to be found in the Old Testament. He comes from the mysterious east, the land of the Babylonian magi, but he is acquainted with the Lord. Whenever he refers to the God of heaven he always uses God’s covenant name, “Jehovah” (LORD). Balaam is a man who has some connection with the true and living God: he knows God by His covenant name, he speaks with God and God speaks with him—Balaam receives divine revelations from God Himself. Balaam is a man who had some power from God; Balak testifies, “I know that whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed” (Numbers 22:6b). Balaam is a man who had some respect and reverence for God. When Balak’s messengers arrive with their request, Balaam seeks the Lord’s counsel (Numbers 22:8). Balaam initially turns the messengers away because “Jehovah refuses to give me permission to go with you” (Numbers 22:13).
2. What answer does Balaam give to the first group of messengers who came to him from Moab (see Numbers 22:7-14 printed above under question #1?) But what does he do when a second group is sent to him? See Numbers 22:15-19 (printed below)
Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the former ones. (16) They came to Balaam and said to him, This is what Balak the son of Zippor says: Please let nothing prevent you from coming to me; (17) for I will greatly honor you and I will do whatever you say. Therefore, please come and curse these people for me. (18) Balaam answered Balak’s servants, Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, either adding to it or subtracting from it. (19) Now, therefore, please stay here tonight, so that I may find out what else Jehovah will say to me. (Numbers 22:15-19)
When Balak’s messengers arrive and explain their mission to Balaam, he informs them that he must find out what the Lord has to say (Numbers 22:8). When he consults with the Lord Balaam gets a very clear answer from God: “God said to Balaam, ‘You shall not go with them; you shall not curse these people, for they are blessed.’” (Numbers 22:12) But when the king of Moab sends another delegation, Balaam seeks further revelation on this subject. Balaam does not want to accept God’s will and he is hoping that God will allow him to have his way.
3. When Balaam seeks further counsel from the Lord, what does the Lord tell him to do? See Numbers 22:20-21 (printed below) But how does the Lord react when Balaam accompanies the messengers to Moab? See Numbers 22:22 (printed below) Why do you think this is the case?
God came to Balaam at night and said to him, If the men have come to summon you, get up and go with them. But you shall only do what I tell you. (21) So Balaam got up in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite princes. (Numbers 22:20-21)
But God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the angel of Jehovah took his stand in the road as an adversary against him. Now Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. (Numbers 22:22)
When Balaam had initially consulted with the Lord he received a very clear answer from God: “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse these people, for they are blessed.” (Numbers 22:12) But now when Balaam seeks further revelation about this matter (hoping to gain divine permission so that he will not forfeit a lucrative soothsaying contract), the Lord “allows” Balaam to accompany the princes back to Moab (Numbers 22:20). Knowing the desire and intent of Balaam’s heart, the Lord is beginning to release Balaam from their relationship and allow him to pursue his own way (cp. Romans 1:28). Although the Lord “allowed” Balaam to go, we are told that God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the angel of Jehovah took his stand in the road as an adversary against him (Numbers 22:22), three times blocking Balaam’s way. Here is both an initial act of judgment and a final act of mercy. In effect, God is saying to Balaam, “I told you not to go, yet you insist on going; now I’m letting you have your way, but I want you to see what is going to be the result: I will be your Adversary” (cp. James 4:4).
4. When the Lord confronts Balaam on the road to Moab what does He tell him? See Numbers 22:31-33 (printed below) How does Balaam respond (see Numbers 22:34 printed below?) Is he sincere? Then what does the Lord say (see Numbers 22:35 printed below?) Is the Lord allowing Balaam to have his way or is He severing His relationship with Balaam?
Then Jehovah opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. He bowed his head and fell face down. (32) The angel of Jehovah said to him, Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Listen; I have come as an adversary, because what you are doing is contrary to my will. (33) The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away, I certainly would have killed you by now, but I would have spared her. (Numbers 22:31-33)
Balaam said to the angel of Jehovah, I have sinned. I did not realize that you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now, therefore, if it is displeasing to you, I will go back. (Numbers 22:34)
The angel of Jehovah said to Balaam, Go with the men, but you shall only speak the word that I speak to you. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. (Numbers 22:35)
When the Lord opens Balaam’s eyes he sees the angel of the Lord and hears Him say: “Listen; I have come as an adversary, because what you are doing is contrary to my will.” (Numbers 22:31-32). Verse 34 records Balaam’s response: “I have sinned. I did not realize that you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now, therefore, if it is displeasing to you, I will go back.” (Numbers 22:34) Despite his pious words, what Balaam really means is this: “I know You don’t approve of this, but I’m going to do it anyway.” The Lord lets him go (Numbers 22:35); releasing him from any kind of potentially saving relationship and friendship that existed between them.
5. What motivated Balaam to resist God’s will and endeavor to comply with Balak’s request that he curse Israel? See Numbers 22:7,15-17 (printed below) and also Numbers 24:10-11 (printed below)
So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed, taking with them the fee for divination. They came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message…(15) Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the former ones. (16) They came to Balaam and said to him, This is what Balak the son of Zippor says: Please let nothing prevent you from coming to me; (17) for I will greatly honor you and I will do whatever you say. Therefore, please come and curse these people for me. (Numbers 22:7,15-17)
Then Balak’s anger was aroused against Balaam. He struck his hands together and said to him, I summoned you to curse my enemies, but you have done nothing but bless them these three times! (11) Now, therefore, leave at once and go home! I intended to bestow great honor upon you, but Jehovah has held you back from honor. (Numbers 24:10-11)
When the elders of Moab came to Balaam they did not come empty handed, they came with the fee divination in their hand (Numbers 22:7). When Balaam informed these elders that the Lord had refused to grant him permission to go with them, Balak did not take “No” for an answer. He sent another contingent of princes to Balaam, more in number and greater in position (Numbers 22:15); he was seeking to impress Balaam with what he had to offer him for his services. Balak exhorts Balaam, “Please let nothing prevent you from coming to me (not even the commandment of God); for I will greatly honor you” (Numbers 22:16-17). When Balaam utterly fails in his efforts to pronounce a curse against Israel, Balak furiously exclaims: “Now, therefore, leave at once and go home! I intended to bestow great honor upon you, but Jehovah has held you back from honor” (Numbers 24:11). Balaam was deluded into thinking that the things Balak offered him were worth the price of disobedience to God.
