3rd Time's a Charm
Numbers 23:27- 24:14
By now it should be clear to Balak that Balaam is not the guy to deliver a curse on God's people. However, undaunted, he hypothesizes that it's the location that is the issue, not the fact that his medium is flat out saying that he won't speak against God. Is Balak hoping that God will love His people less if He sees them from a different angle? Oh yes, when I see them in profile, it's clear these people aren't worth protecting...
Perhaps this was a spot that Balak considered holy- and thought that God would think so too. No dice. Peor has the same effect as the other locations, even though there are still seven altars built for seven bulls and seven rams.
Balaam didn't need to divine a message from God this time. Since he saw that God was happy to bless Israel, he just looked out to the wilderness, saw the Israelites in their camps and spoke another God-poem.
Here comes another prophecy from Balaam
He sees things like they are
This guy hears God's words
Sees God's visions
Humbles himself and has his eyes opened
Jacob, you have some fine tents
Israel, I like where you live
Your land spreads out like a valley
Like a garden before a river
Like God's own aloes
Like cedars by the water
That water will flow from their buckets
And there will be more than plenty for their seed
Agag has nothing on their king
Israel's kingdom will be exalted
God brought them out of Egypt
They have the strength of a wild ox
Hostile nations are devoured by them
They will break their bones into little pieces
They pierce them with their arrows
Look at them crouching like a lion
Or even a lioness- who would be foolish enough to stir them up?
(I imagine Balaam gives Balak a good hard stare on this line)
May those who bless Israel be blessed
May those who curse them be cursed
So not only has Balaam not cursed Israel- he seems to be cursing Balak instead. No plot twist, Balak isn't happy.
He claps his hands (NOT in applause) and says... DUDE! I said curse them- and three times you've blessed them. Go home. I said I would pay you a lot- but God has stopped you from being rewarded.
This is kind of funny. Balak obviously believes in God's power or he wouldn't want this curse so badly- and his phrasing (God has stopped you) seems to hint that this curse might not be just for show. But he seems shocked that Balaam wouldn't value money over integrity.
Balaam replies- look, I only did what I said I would. No amount of money could stop me from saying what God wanted me to. So, yeah, I'm going back home... but before I do, let me tell you about what the Israelites are going to do to your people.
The lesson here is more of the same. God can't be manipulated. Your craftiness isn't smart enough to fool Him. As a result, stay on His side instead of trying to play both sides from the middle.
And if you do the same thing three times, you're likely to get the same result all three times.
Numbers 23:27- 24:14
By now it should be clear to Balak that Balaam is not the guy to deliver a curse on God's people. However, undaunted, he hypothesizes that it's the location that is the issue, not the fact that his medium is flat out saying that he won't speak against God. Is Balak hoping that God will love His people less if He sees them from a different angle? Oh yes, when I see them in profile, it's clear these people aren't worth protecting...
Perhaps this was a spot that Balak considered holy- and thought that God would think so too. No dice. Peor has the same effect as the other locations, even though there are still seven altars built for seven bulls and seven rams.
Balaam didn't need to divine a message from God this time. Since he saw that God was happy to bless Israel, he just looked out to the wilderness, saw the Israelites in their camps and spoke another God-poem.
Here comes another prophecy from Balaam
He sees things like they are
This guy hears God's words
Sees God's visions
Humbles himself and has his eyes opened
Jacob, you have some fine tents
Israel, I like where you live
Your land spreads out like a valley
Like a garden before a river
Like God's own aloes
Like cedars by the water
That water will flow from their buckets
And there will be more than plenty for their seed
Agag has nothing on their king
Israel's kingdom will be exalted
God brought them out of Egypt
They have the strength of a wild ox
Hostile nations are devoured by them
They will break their bones into little pieces
They pierce them with their arrows
Look at them crouching like a lion
Or even a lioness- who would be foolish enough to stir them up?
(I imagine Balaam gives Balak a good hard stare on this line)
May those who bless Israel be blessed
May those who curse them be cursed
So not only has Balaam not cursed Israel- he seems to be cursing Balak instead. No plot twist, Balak isn't happy.
He claps his hands (NOT in applause) and says... DUDE! I said curse them- and three times you've blessed them. Go home. I said I would pay you a lot- but God has stopped you from being rewarded.
This is kind of funny. Balak obviously believes in God's power or he wouldn't want this curse so badly- and his phrasing (God has stopped you) seems to hint that this curse might not be just for show. But he seems shocked that Balaam wouldn't value money over integrity.
Balaam replies- look, I only did what I said I would. No amount of money could stop me from saying what God wanted me to. So, yeah, I'm going back home... but before I do, let me tell you about what the Israelites are going to do to your people.
The lesson here is more of the same. God can't be manipulated. Your craftiness isn't smart enough to fool Him. As a result, stay on His side instead of trying to play both sides from the middle.
And if you do the same thing three times, you're likely to get the same result all three times.
