what did balaam say to balak

In verse 1, we read that the people began to commit this terrible sin. In chapters 22-24, Balak, the king of Moab, employs Balaam, a diviner from Mesopotamia, to manipulate the God of Israel so that He will curse the Israelites, rather than bless them. And so when we come to Numbers 25, we do not expect to hear any more about Balaam. 6 Just then one of the Israelites came and brought to his brethren a Midianite woman, before the eyes of Moses, and in the plain view of all the whole community of the Israelites, while they were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting. In the first half of chapter 10, Paul reviews the history of Israel, and especially of the major failures of the nation. While God would not forsake His plans, purposes, and promises, fickle Israel was willing to cast God aside for a mere meal. In chapters 22-24, Balak, the king of Moab, employs Balaam, a diviner from Mesopotamia, to manipulate the God of Israel so that He will curse the Israelites, rather than bless them. Who was Balaam and Balak in the Bible? - Everyday life of a Protestant Phinehas was a leader because he was willing to stand alone, and to act alone, when no one else was willing to do what was right. The word rendered commit fornication in verse 1 is one employed in the Old Testament for literally playing the harlot (Genesis 34:31; 38:15, 24). The Greek word literally means to stand before. This is the kind of leadership that occurs when a man steps out of the crowd and does what he knows to be Gods will. Follow asked Mar 7, 2021 at 14:45. community wiki . One word is found in 1 Corinthians 12:28, and it is often rendered administrations. The NET Bible renders it managements, which I rather like. We should also note that the zealous and courageous action of Phinehas in our text did enhance his leadership role. the message of the man whose eyes see clearly. "Balaam 'loved the wages of . 14 For you will not worship any other god, for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. 21Then he looked over toward the Kenites and delivered this message: Your home is secure;your nest is set in the rocks.22But the Kenites will be destroyedwhen Assyria[d] takes you captive.. 6Just then one of the Israelite men brought a Midianite woman into his tent, right before the eyes of Moses and all the people, as everyone was weeping at the entrance of the Tabernacle. Who can count even a fourth of Israels people? Today, God has ordained human government as the means by which justice is meted out (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-15). Balaam must have congratulated himself all the way back to Balak. And Balaam the son of Beor they slew with the sword. The Israelites could be seduced to follow other gods, and this would anger God to the point that they would incur the curses God had pronounced on those who practiced such sins! But before we press on to consider these verses, let us pause momentarily to consider why Moses appears to have called for action that was less severe than what God commanded. Why would God require such severe action? Jesus likewise took a hard line when it came to sin, and urged others to do likewise: 6 But if anybody causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. The final lesson I wish to highlight is the faithfulness of God and the fickleness of men. 9.) Spinoza: Who Wrote the Bible Determines How We Read It, Joseph and the Famine: The Storys Origins in Egyptian History, The Song at the Sea: What Does it Celebrate?, Does God Split the Sea in the Song of the Sea?. God rewards the righteous. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth." . 39 Gordon J. Wenham, Numbers: An Introduction and Commentary (Downers Grove, Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press, 1981), p. 184. Balak: Balaam and Abraham | Michael Carasik | The Blogs We are not told when the plague started, but only that it stopped (verse 8). "In the morning Balaam reluctantly dismissed the messengers, but he did not tell them what the Lord had said. However, this is not the natural interpretation of the Hebrew, and most commentators suppose the death of the chiefs is being called for. Wenham, Numbers, p. 186. God had commanded Moses to publicly execute all the leaders of the nation. "What did the Lord say?" Balak asked eagerly. Gods response is not surprising. Because the gods are gods of mans making, they are gods of mans shaping as well. These days sexual sin is looked upon lightly by some who profess to be Christians, and it is not even regarded by sin by many others. Something went wrong while submitting the form. There are today a number of efforts to bring various religious groups together, into some kind of union. Now one of you go over there and kill them! The simple fact was that all the nation knew it was wrong, and no one was willing to act, even though they knew what they were to do. So too, implicitly, does God, who instructs Balaam not to curse Israel "for they are blessed." . For some time the plague had been taking its toll among the Israelites; thousands were dying. 12 To the angel of the church in Pergamum write the following: This is the solemn pronouncement of the One who has the sharp double-edged sword: 13 I know where you reside, where Satans throne is. they will oppress Assyria and afflict Eber, but they, too, will be utterly destroyed.. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. It has taken me a while to catch the significance of verse 6, but this verse really goes a long way in explaining why God took this matter so seriously: Just then one of the Israelites came and brought to his brethren a Midianite woman, before the eyes of Moses, and in the plain view of all the whole community of the Israelites, while they were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting. Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. God spoke to Balaam by means of a donkey, Balaams donkey. I believe an important principle is evident here: the sins which leaders knowingly choose to condone or to tolerate become sins for which the leaders are also responsible. He opens his mouth to curse, but instead, blessings upon the Israelites come out of his mouth. With this one act of religious zeal, Phinehas not only puts an end to the sin of these two people, he also brings to an end the plague which God had brought upon Israel, a plague which had already taken the lives of 24,000 Israelites.45 What no one else seemed willing to do, Phinehas did. When Balaam reaches Moab, he does as God has told him, and refuses to speak out against Israel. The name Balak means "devastator," a very evil name. saying, "Look, a nation has come out of Egypt. 13 But you will destroy their altars, you will smash their images, and you will cut down their Asherah poles. I am going to drive out before you the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 4The Lord issued the following command to Moses: Seize all the ringleaders and execute them before the Lord in broad daylight, so his fierce anger will turn away from the people of Israel., 5So Moses ordered Israels judges, Each of you must put to death the men under your authority who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor.. Balak has finally learned his lesson and quits trying to get God to curse Israel. Moab, the land that Balak ruled, lay on the east side of the Dead Sea. They sent a leader from each tribe of Israel and Phinehas. To the true God, otherwise he would not have mentioned it to God as an argument why he should grant his requests, as he doth Numbers 23:4. It is not a matter of personal liberty; it is forbidden (see Acts 15:29; 21:25). Parashat Balak: Summary | My Jewish Learning And therefore when Balaam lost his design this way he tried it another way with greater success, but still used to the same method, in provoking their own God to destroy the Israelites, Num 25. Balaam, non-Israelite prophet described in chapters 22-24 of the Book of Numbers, the fourth book of the Hebrew Bible ( Old Testament ), as a diviner who is importuned by Balak, king of Moab, to place a malediction on the people of Israel, who are camped ominously on the plains of Moab. In his excellent commentary on the Book of Numbers, Gordon J. Wenham points out the parallels between the experiences of the first generation of Israelites to leave Egypt and the second generation, which will enter the land of Canaan.39 The sin of the second generation of Israelites in Numbers 25 is remarkably similar to the sin of the first generation Israelites at Sinai, when Moses had gone up the mountain to receive the law from God: 1 When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered together around Aaron, and they said to him, Get up, make us gods that will go before us. 44 Did Samuel also not bear some responsibility for what his sons did (1 Samuel 8:1ff.)? A Summary and Analysis of the Biblical Story of Balaam's Ass 8 So then, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of vice and evil, but with the bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:1-8). I would therefore understand that God responded very quickly to this sin. 20Then Balaam looked over toward the people of Amalek and delivered this message: Amalek was the greatest of nations,but its destiny is destruction!. Try it FREE. 46 For this expression, see also Isaiah 54:10; Ezekiel 34:25-26; Malachi 2:5. If this logic were valid, eating meats offered to idols would be wrong for a different reason. When the first generation of Israelites worshipped the golden calf, God threatened to wipe out the entire nation, but due to the intercession of Moses, the nation was spared (Exodus 32). Phinehas teaches us that leadership is not just a matter of holding an office, although he did serve in a leadership role as a priest. It is evident, from Nu 23:4 that they were prepared for the worship of the true God; although in choosing the high places of Baal as their site and rearing a number of altars (2Ki 18:22; Isa 17:8; Jer 11:13; Ho 8:11; 10:1), instead of one only, as God had appointed, Balaam blended his own superstitions with the divine worship. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. It is at 1 Corinthians 9:24ff. Balak (parashah) - Wikipedia Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel. So the plague was stopped from the Israelites. Our text teaches what observation confirms: sexual sin is often linked with spiritual adultery and apostasy. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. Instead, he turned and looked out toward the wilderness, 2where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe. 6So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab. Jesus recalls how Balaam "Kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality" (Revelation 2:14) 3 What Balaam did wrong An unfaithful prophet. 18 Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. Comment:The story of Balaam and Balak takes up three chapters of the Book of Numbers (22-24). "But I can't say whatever I please. God Himself will speak the word from heaven. Then Balaam goes to speak with God. 20 As a dream when one awakes, So, Lord, when You awake, You shall despise their image (Psalm 73:15-20). Beware of sexual sin. 26 So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. And, wonder of wonders, the problem at the Lords Table was self-indulgence. Now the Bible has a great deal to say about our responsibility toward those who are being persecuted for their faith (Hebrews 10:32-35; 13:1-3), and I do not wish to minimize our obligations here. 3In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the Lords anger to blaze against his people. It is a kind of leadership that is sadly lacking in our country today. If their brothers had turned away from worshipping God in truth, the Israelites knew that Phinehas was the man to deal with it. Let us remember this when we or others are suffering persecution. "Spend the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will bring you back the answer the LORD gives me." So the Moabite princes stayed with him. The guiding principle for the Christian is that everything we do should be to the glory of God (10:31), and not the satisfaction of fleshly lusts. Numbers 22 GW - Balaam Is Hired to Curse Israel - BibleGateway.com: A That would never happen, as he discovered. Or are you a Balaam, who knows a great deal about God, but does not know God personally, and whose destiny is eternal destruction? 28So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, overlooking the wasteland. Filled with zeal for God, Phinehas stood up in the middle of the assembly (in the sight of all), took a spear in hand, and went after the Israelite man and his mistress. I will speak the word and God will confirm it to you. And the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us.". As we approach Numbers 22:36-24:25, we will attempt to focus on three things: (1) the stubborn persistence of Balak; (2) the progress of Balaam; and, (3) the oracles which God had spoken through Balaam. Numbers 23 ISV - Balaam's First Sacrifice - Balaam - Bible Gateway But I do wish to point out that we are often most vulnerable at those times when we are not under direct attack. 12Now tell him that I am making my special covenant of peace with him. The family tent into which the couple entered appears to have been a certain distance from the tent of meeting. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 15 And the name of the Midianite woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur. The Corinthians had corresponded with Paul and had inquired about eating meat sacrificed to idols (1 Corinthians 8:1ff.). This must be why God could command Moses to publicly execute all the leaders in verse 4. This large crowd of mourners was assembled when a certain Israelite fellow boldly brought a Midianite43 woman home to his brethren.. And Balaam the son of Beor they slew with the sword. Balaam's Donkey. numbers; joshua; Share. He had made it very clear to His people whom they were to worship, and how. By his actions, Phinehas atoned for the sins of Israel and propitiated the righteous anger of God. A wise king separates out the wicked; he turns the threshing wheel over them (Proverbs 20:26). 17So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab. Fifth readingNumbers 23:13-26. . Go back to your land: Balaam said the right words. Our text and the story of Balaam remind me of several other Scriptures: The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot (Proverbs 10:7, NKJ). The whole nation seems to have been affected. Following Balaams counsel, the Moabite women invited the Israelites to dinner. 1. He would use Israels weaknesses (stiff-necked and prone to wander) and Gods strength (He does not change, keeping His Word) against Israel and for Balak and the Moabites. 5 So you must keep my statutes and my regulations by which anyone who does them will live. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Israels future was safe in the hands of God, For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Before we seek to underscore some of the things this text should teach us to do, let me begin by emphasizing something that it does not require or justify. I perceive him, but far in the distant future.A star will rise from Jacob;a scepter will emerge from Israel.It will crush the heads of Moabs people,cracking the skulls[c] of the people of Sheth.18Edom will be taken over,and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered,while Israel marches on in triumph.19A ruler will rise in Jacobwho will destroy the survivors of Ir.. It should be the most comforting truth there is, at least for the believer. It was in ancient times as well, and this is why Phinehas stands out in our text as a true leader. Why did God command that only the leaders be put to death? They cover the face of the earth, and they are settling next to me.6 So now, please come and curse this nation for me, for they are too powerful for me.Perhaps I will prevail so that we may conquer them, and drive them out of the land. What did Balaam say to Balak about the word that was to be delivered? They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. He now sees that while God cannot be changed, the Israelites are a fickle people, whose hearts can easily be turned from God. God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?" The man is Balaam. It will crush the heads of Moabs people. And so the women who engaged in immoral acts with Hebrew men invited them to their temple ritual.. 50+ reference books. 6 And we have different gifts, according to the grace given to us. Surely the wicked vanish; their days of disobedience and of fleshly indulgence are few. Paul described sin as a kind of leaven that would corrupt the whole church, and thus must be rooted out: 1 It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with his fathers wife. Or rather, 2. Sin is like a cancerthe longer we leave it alone, the more likely it is to kill us. The Israelites had accepted the invitation to dine with the Moabites, and thus they became participants in sexual and religious harlotry. Several things impress me in verses 1-5. The Corinthians have gotten soft, and they are living indulgent lives, rather than the disciplined lives of an athlete, or a disciple. 7 Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough, just as you are, in fact, without yeast. So I stopped destroying all Israel as I had intended to do in my zealous anger. 5 And he sent messengers to Balaam, . Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). 17 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To Baal, in whose high places this was done and to whom alone Balak used to sacrifice. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some people there who follow the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. Bureaucracy reverses this, and the administrator is the one in charge, who tells others how they must do their jobs, rather than to listen to those they are helping and assisting them to do what they believe their job requires. 5 But the LORD your God was unwilling to pay heed to Balaam and he changed the curse to a blessing, for the LORD your God loved you (Deuteronomy 23:3-5). He punished Balaam. The Corinthians are caught up in a self-indulgent lifestyle, and thus they insist upon attending those ceremonies where false gods are worshipped, and where delicious meats are servedmeats offered to idols. How clever Satan is, to take what God has condemned as contrary to religion, and make it a vital part of religious worship. 11 Keep that which I am commanding you this day. God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. 11 And they took all the plunder and all the booty, both people and animals. He angrily clapped his hands and shouted, I called you to curse my enemies! Very few abandon their faith or their ministry because they have thought through their biblical beliefs and found them to be false. Balaam returned and told Balak: "My message was to bless: When He blesses, I cannot reverse it.
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