Proverbs 26 “To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge”

Part 1 – Pro 26:1-2

[Study Aired February 12, 2026]

Pro 26:1  As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
Pro 26:2  As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

Our journey to coming to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, must be accompanied with an evil experience to humble us thereby, bringing us to see the wretchedness of flesh and the one event that is common to all men, that being God’s judgement, which begins at the house of God (Ecc 1:13, Ecc 9:2, 1Pe 4:17).

The truth will set us free if we’re blessed to continue in it stedfastly, enduring the judgement that is preparing us to rule under Christ. The following are just a few verses that explain how we are to approach this spiritual battle which we are continually in (Luk 18:1, Heb 3:14-15, Heb 6:18-19, 1Pe 5:7-9, Php 3:8, Php 1:29).

Luk 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Heb 3:14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (Heb 10:35, Heb 11:25-26)
Heb 3:15  While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Heb 6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:(Col 1:27)
Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;[Christ our hope of glory who has entered into the veil (Heb 10:20, Eph 5:30), our flesh, as our hope of glory (Rom 8:9)]

1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

The general theme of these proverbs is admonishing us against the destructive power of foolishness, laziness, deceit, and strife, and teach of the discernment needed in how to respond to people whose words and actions spread harm. We can ask God to put a bridle on our lips (Psa 39:1) and with His strength people will marvel at our ability to not say anything (Mat 27:14), as we overcome the wicked one by simply agreeing with him quickly, “Agree with thine adversary quickly”, as his accusations continue to unfold “day and night” against the bride of Christ (Rev 12:10, 2Co 10:3-5, Mat 5:25).

Psa 39:1  To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; [“for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night”]

Mat 5:25  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Mat 5:26  Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Pro 26:1  As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.

The basic comparison of snow in the summer and rain in the harvest, which are both untimely and counterproductive, is being used to juxtapose the idea that honour is not seemly for a fool.

Here are three examples in God’s word when honour was given where it was not merited, and the clear destructive nature of such decisions. All of these negative examples show us what naturally happens with the first man Adam within us when he is not judged, and thereby not learning obedience by the things we suffer in this life (Heb 5:8). It also explains why the basest of men end up ruling on this earth (Dan 4:17), another witness to God’s elect that he can take the weak and foolish of the world and make His strength perfect through them (2Co 12:9, 1Co 1:25-26, Rom 11:25, Rom 11:22, Rom 2:4).

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Rom 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

1. King Saul (1Sa 9:1-31) – Saul was honored with kingship, but he repeatedly disobeyed God, acted impulsively, and refused correction.

-His honor didn’t refine him—it magnified his flaws
-His authority led to jealousy, violence, and national instability

“Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being  king.”(1Sa 15:23)

Saul is a textbook example of honor given to someone lacking wisdom, resulting in damage to himself and others. Saul of course represents our old man, the first man Adam that must be destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming into our heavens (2Th 2:5-8).

2. Nabal (1Sa 25:1-43) – Nabal was wealthy and influential, but foolish, arrogant, and abusive.

-His status didn’t make him noble
-His lack of discernment nearly brought bloodshed on his household

“As his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him.” (1Sa 25:25)

His story shows that social standing doesn’t equal wisdom, and fools in positions of honor bring danger. God gives positions of honour to the weak of the world, so that in time the world will come to see and understand that flesh has nothing to do with what God has determined will be done, and no flesh will glory in His sight (1Co 1:26-29).

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.

3.Rehoboam (1 Kings 12) – Solomon’s son rejected wise counsel and listened to foolish advice.

-His foolish leadership caused the kingdom to split
-Honour without wisdom led to national division

“The king rejected the counsel of the old men… and answered them roughly.” (1Ki 12:13)

Pro 26:2  As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

Balak wanting to curse Israel by way of Balaam is a case study of this proverb. The proverb reassures the innocent and warns the complacent.

1. The “curse causeless”

In Numbers 22–24, Balak hires Balaam to curse Israel. But Israel hasn’t wronged Moab, and—more importantly—God at this stage in the story had no intention of cursing Israel via the prophet Balaam. From the proverb’s perspective, the curse Balak wants is causeless.

Balaam himself eventually recognizes this reality:

“How can I curse whom God has not cursed?
How can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?” (Num 23:8)

That line is basically (Pro 26:2) said out loud.

2. The wandering bird imagery

Balak keeps moving Balaam from place to place—high place to high place—hoping the curse will finally “take”. That physical wandering mirrors the proverb’s imagery: the curse keeps trying to land but can’t. Like the bird or swallow, it stays in motion, never settling. Each attempt produces not a curse, but a blessing. The curse has no resting place. The giants in our land will be bread for us, and the accuser of the brethren is used of God to strengthen us and learn that we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ (Num 14:9, Rev 12:10, Isa 54:17).

Num 14:9  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.(2Co 10:4-6)

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

3. God’s sovereignty prevails regardless of what men think

The curse cannot come because it is not what God intended to have happen.

That fits the proverb’s deeper claim: words alone don’t carry power; alignment with God’s will is what will happen (Joh 19:10-11).

Joh 19:10  Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
Joh 19:11  Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

This story of the vagabond Jews who were “exorcists” reveals this reality as well, and it represents our time in Babylon when we were not going from glory to glory but rather from bondage to bondage, because there was no spiritual healing power in Babylon, no stay of bread or water (Isa 3:1) to quicken us via the Son of God (Act 19:14-16, Isa 3:1, Joh 8:34-36).

Act 19:13  Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
Act 19:14  Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this, [Babylon’s complete 7 power to bind us in darkness]
Act 19:15  when an evil spirit said to them, “I know Jesus! And I have heard about Paul. But who are you?”
Act 19:16  Then the man with the evil spirit jumped on them and beat them up. They ran out of the house, naked and bruised.

Joh 8:34  Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

The lesson for God’s children as I mentioned earlier is that despite ourselves, those without cause who come up against God’s people, even with ‘potent speech’ will not prevail against them (Mat 24:24, Rev 20:7-10).

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

4. The curse fails, but harm still comes later

Although Balaam cannot directly curse Israel, (Num 31:16, Rev 2:14) Moab did in time seduce Israel into idolatry and immorality.

Num 31:16  Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

Rev 2:14  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

The curse never “flies in” from outside; the damage comes from within (Mat 15:11).

Mat 15:11  Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

[The doctrine of Balaam is like the leaven of the Pharisees that Christ warned His disciples about, and we need to always be on guard regarding how we handle the word of God. If the Lord will grant us to try the spirits, and not think above what is written (1Co 4:6), the doctrine of Balaam, will never be able to take root in our heavens.]

In short Balaam’s story dramatizes the ineffectiveness of Satan’s influence on the church, because the Lord has prayed for us and is keeping us from the wicked one (Luk 22:32, 1Jn 5:4).

Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

God’s blessing is unstoppable, which was also demonstrated in this story with Balaam, and ultimately Israel’s curse comes about at the time appointed by God, teaching us that His Sovereign Hand is over all the affairs of our life, the light and the darkness, the peace and the evil (Isa 45:7), all which unfolds according to the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11, Gen 50:20, Luk 2:35).

Isa 45:7  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Gen 50:20  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Luk 2:35  (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

We pray the Lord will continue to deeply impress this truth upon the body of Christ found in (Rom 11:25), and with that humble foundation we can “know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge”, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God (Eph 3:19-21).

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Eph 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21  Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Next week Lord willing we will look at these next three proverbs as we continue to work our way through this 26th chapter.

Pro 26:3  A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
Pro 26:4  Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Pro 26:5  Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Numbers 23:1-30  Balaam’s Encounter with Balak

[Study Aired October 9, 2023]

Num 23:1  And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. 
Num 23:2  And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 
Num 23:3  And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place. 
Num 23:4  And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. 
Num 23:5  And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. 
Num 23:6  And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. 
Num 23:7  And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. 
Num 23:8  How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? 
Num 23:9  For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. 
Num 23:10  Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!
Num 23:11  And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. 
Num 23:12  And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth? 
Num 23:13  And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence. 
Num 23:14  And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. 
Num 23:15  And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder. 
Num 23:16  And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. 
Num 23:17  And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken? 
Num 23:18  And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor: 
Num 23:19  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 
Num 23:20  Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. 
Num 23:21  He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. 
Num 23:22  God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
Num 23:23  Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! 
Num 23:24  Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. 
Num 23:25  And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
Num 23:26  But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do? 
Num 23:27  And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence. 
Num 23:28  And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.
Num 23:29  And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. 
Num 23:30  And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. 

Introduction

This chapter looks at the first two attempts by Balaam and Balak in preparation to curse the people of Israel which involves the sacrifice of oxen and rams, the contrary instructions given by the Lord to Balaam and the blessings that Balaam was compelled to pronounce upon the people of Israel, instead of a curse. The chapter ends with a third attempt with Balaam and Balak preparing to offer a sacrifice to the Lord. 

In the previous chapter, we learned that the Lord came to Balaam and told him specifically that the people of Israel could not be cursed since they were blessed. This should have ended Balaam’s quest to enrich himself with his divination. However, he kept on working with Balak thinking that the Lord would change His mind. Even after he got the revelation that the Lord is not a man that He should repent, Balaam kept on searching for a way to receive reward from Balak. This is what Jude said about Balaam:

Jud 1:11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Today’s study shows us the ways of the Lord and the Lord’s view about the church of the firstborn, which is symbolized by the people of Israel as they encamped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan opposite Jericho. 

First Attempt to Find a way to Curse Israel

Num 23:1  And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. 
Num 23:2  And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram. 

As indicated in the previous study, Balaam and Balak represent our brothers and sisters in Babylon. This expensive sacrifice offered by Balak and Balaam was for the purpose of changing the Lord’s mind to cause Balaam to curse the people of Israel instead of blessing them. The Lord had made His will known to Balaam that the people of Israel cannot be cursed since they were a blessed people. The offering of seven oxen and seven rams on seven altars signifies the complete offerings of our brothers and sisters in Babylon where they put more premium on sacrifice in the form of tithes, giving to the church and working for the church, instead of obedience to the Lord. The scenario here is the same as King Saul who disobeyed the Lord’s words by keeping the best of the spoils instead of destroying them. This was what characterized our walk in Babylon. We were paying more attention to sacrifice instead of obedience to the Lord.

1Sa 15:18  And the LORD sent you (Saul) on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 
1Sa 15:19  Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?” 
1Sa 15:20  And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 
1Sa 15:21  But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”
1Sa 15:22  And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 
1Sa 15:23  For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.” (ESV)

What the Lord requires is the sacrifice of a broken heart or a repentant heart. 

Psa 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Num 23:3  And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place. 
Num 23:4  And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. 
Num 23:5  And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. 

Verse 3 shows us that the Lord will not visit us while we are paying more attention to sacrifice than obedience to His words. It was when Balaam had left Balak at the burnt offering that the Lord visited him. Our sacrifices in Babylon were therefore an impediment to the Lord visiting us to drag us to Himself. It is insightful to note that in verse 4, when the Lord visited him, Balaam was boasting to the Lord about his sacrifice of seven oxen and rams. As indicated, Balaam represents our brothers and sisters in Babylon who are only interested in showing to the Lord their tithes and offerings and their good works of charity. This was what happened to us when we were in Babylon. 

Isa 1:11  To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
Isa 1:12  When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? 
Isa 1:13  Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 
Isa 1:14  Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 
Isa 1:15  And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Isa 1:16  Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; 

In verse 5, the Lord putting a word in Balaam’s mouth is another way of saying that the preparation of the heart in man, and what comes out of our mouth, is from the Lord. 

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Num 23:6  And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. 
Num 23:7  And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. 
Num 23:8  How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? 

Balaam returning to find Balak and all the princes of Moab standing by the burnt sacrifice signifies the fact that Babylon is stuck to their sacrifices and are not willing to obey the words of the Lord. That is why in the fullness of time, they will show their sacrifices to the Lord by saying to Him that they have prophesied in His name, cast out devils and done many wonderful works. To this the Lord will tell them they are workers of iniquity because they prefer sacrifices to obedience.

Mat 7:21  Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 
Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

In verse 7, the enmity of our brothers and sisters in Babylon to the Lord’s elect is evident here as Balak, the king of Moab, sought to curse the people of Israel through Balaam. This enmity is demonstrated by King Saul, who represents Babylon, trying to kill David, a type of the elect.

1Sa 19:14  And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she (Saul’s daughter) said, He is sick.
1Sa 19:15  And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.
1Sa 19:16  And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster. 
1Sa 19:17  And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?

Verse 8 assures us that whoever the Lord has blessed, no one can curse or harm. It is another way of saying that no weapon formed or fashioned against the Lord’s elect shall prosper.

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Num 23:9  For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. 
Num 23:10  Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

Verse 9 shows us that it is only in Christ, symbolized by the top of the rocks and the hills, we see who the Lord’s elect are. The people dwelling alone and not counted among the nations of the world signifies that the Lord’s elect are distinct from the people of the world and do not conform to the standards of this world.   

2Sa 7:23  And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 
2Sa 7:24  For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee forever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

The dust of Jacob in verse 10 is a reference to the prophecy by the Lord that the people of Israel would become as the dust of the earth. This implies that the people of Israel had become so many, which symbolizes that they had become a strong or powerful nation.

Gen 28:14  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 

We, His elect, represent the dust of Jacob spiritually as we are the innumerable company of angels as shown in the following verse:

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

The fourth part of Israel in verse 10 alludes to the form of their camp, which is grouped into four teams under four standards. The number four signifies the whole of the matter under discussion. This implies that the fourth part of Israel represents the whole of the Lord’s elect. Balaam stated that he wanted to die the death of the righteous in verse 10. This death of the righteous is the dying of our old man, or the flesh, through the Lord’s judgment. It is not attained by desire as Balaam wished, as the Lord had already penciled in those who are to die to the old man before the foundation of the world.

Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

The Second Attempt to Find a Way to Curse Israel

Num 23:11  And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. 
Num 23:12  And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth? 
Num 23:13  And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence. 
Num 23:14  And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. 

Balak accused Balaam of blessing the people of Israel instead of cursing them, and in response Balaam told Balak that he could only speak what the Lord had put in his mouth. As indicated earlier, this is to show us that it is the Lord who controls what we speak. Irrespective of what we may conceive in our hearts and mind, what comes out of our mouth is what the Lord has ordained. 

Pro 16:1  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Balak thought that changing the location of the offering could influence the Lord to cause Balaam to curse the people of Israel. Balak took Balaam to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah for another expensive offering to the Lord to influence His decision. Pisgah means ‘division.’ As we are aware, it is in Babylon where we have various sects or divisions. What this means is that while we were in Babylon, we thought that if the Lord were not with us in one church, then perhaps, if we go to another church, we may find Him. This resulted in our wandering in the churches of this world trying to find God, just as Balak and Balaam thought by changing location (going to another church) they may find God to change His mind regarding the fate of the people of Israel.

Num 23:15  And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder. 
Num 23:16  And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus. 
Num 23:17  And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken? 
Num 23:18  And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:

As indicated earlier, our sacrifices in Babylon did not result in the Lord appearing to us. It is when we ‘go yonder’ (leave Babylon) that the Lord comes to us with His brightness as He puts His words in our mouth just as He did to Balaam. Again, the fact that Balak was standing by his burnt offering together with the princes of Moab is to let us know that the only thing our brothers and sisters in Babylon can offer is sacrifice, not obedience to the words of the Lord. When Balaam went yonder and had a revelation of Christ and the church, he came to Balak and told him about it in verse 18. As we shall see later, what Balaam told Balaam fell on deaf ears. In other words, our witness of Christ to the churches of this world will fall on deaf ears. 

Isa 6:8  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 
Isa 6:9  And he said, Go, and tell this people (Babylon), Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 
Isa 6:10  Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. 
Isa 6:11  Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, 
Isa 6:12  And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. 
Isa 6:13  But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. 

In Isaiah 6:11, we are given the time frame when our brothers and sisters will start to heed our witness of Christ. Their hardened hearts will continue until Babylon is destroyed, and there will be a great forsaking in the midst of the land (Isaiah 9:12). This great forsaking is when the human race gathers against the Lord and His elect, which will result in the death of all humanity and the beginning of the lake-of-fire age. 

The next verses show us the revelation given to Balaam concerning Christ and His church.

Num 23:19  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 
Num 23:20  Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. 
Num 23:21  He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them. 
Num 23:22  God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

One of the key revelations given to Balaam is that God is not a man that He should repent (verse 19). There are several scriptures which state that God repented, and so we need to investigate the word “repent” in verse 19. The word “repent” in everyday usage means reviewing one’s actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs and taking steps to show a change for the better. However, in the verses where the Lord repented, the word “repented” actually means to pity (in a favorable way), have compassion or console, according to Strong’s Dictionary. 

In Numbers 23:19 and 1 Samuel 15:29 on the other hand, the context shows us that the Lord not repenting because He is not a man has to do with the Lord not changing His mind as we human beings do. 

Gen 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 
Gen 6:6  And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 

Jer 26:13  Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

Jon 3:9  Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

1Sa15:29  And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.

Verse 20 shows us that it is what the Lord has purposed which shall stand. 

Pro 19:21  There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

As the Lord’s elect, the Lord does not see iniquity and perverseness in us even though in time past our ways were perverse, and there was iniquity in our hearts. This is because the Lord who has come to us is doing His work of removing iniquity and perverseness in us. The Lord is therefore looking at us from the perspective of His finished work in us. Are you worrying about some sins in your life? Have confidence that what our Lord starts, He is able to bring to completion. We are indeed blessed that the Lord does not see iniquity in us as He is gradually dealing with the source of our iniquity which is the old man.

Psa 32:2  Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Rev 14:1  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 
Rev 14:2  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 
Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 
Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
Rev 14:5  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. 

The shout of the king among them in verse 21 signifies that Christ has come into our lives riding on a white horse to grant us the victory over our flesh or old man.

Rev 6:2  And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Num 23:23  Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! 

Verse 23 is another way of saying that nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ. In other words, if God is for us, who can fight against us?

Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 
Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 
Rom 8:33  Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 
Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Num 23:24  Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain. 

This verse is another way of saying that since Christ has come into our lives, He will conquer our old man. We, His elect, are represented in this verse as a great and young lion who shall not rest until we have overcome the flesh, or our old man, who is represented here as the prey. Drinking the blood of the slain symbolizes our victory over the flesh, or our old man. 

Deu 20:4  for the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Num 23:25  And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.
Num 23:26  But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do? 

Balak was gradually getting weary of his multitude of counselors, as he wanted Balaam not to either curse or bless the people of Israel.

Isa 47:12  Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. 
Isa 47:13  Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.

In verse 26, Balaam continued to reiterate what the Lord had put in his mouth that which he would speak or do. This is to show us that it is the Lord’s counsel which shall stand in every circumstance.

Pro 19:21  There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

The Third Attempt to Find a way to Curse Israel

Num 23:27  And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence. 
Num 23:28  And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.
Num 23:29  And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. 
Num 23:30  And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar. 

Balak decided to take Balaam to a third place called Peor which overlooks Jeshimon. Peor is a mountain near Mount Nebo in the land of Moab. Here the Moabites’ god Baal was worshiped, hence the name Baal-Peor. Balak believed that at this place, the sacrifice would be acceptable to the Lord and therefore change His mind since it is acceptable to his god, Baal. At Peor, they again built seven altars and sacrificed seven bullocks and seven rams. The question is, why was Balaam tagging along when he knew that the Lord would not change his mind? It is because he had set his eyes on the reward of divination and therefore could not see beyond the reward.

Jud 1:11  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

If it is in this life that we have hope, then we are the most miserable people on earth. The Lord may reward us physically in this life, but that is not the main motivating factor. It is the joy that is set before us which is the driving force for our actions here on earth.

Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 
Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Numbers 22:1-41  Balak Summons Balaam

[Study Aired October 2, 2023]

Num 22:1  And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. 
Num 22:2  And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 
Num 22:3  And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 
Num 22:4  And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 
Num 22:5  He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: 
Num 22:6  Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. 
Num 22:7  And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
Num 22:8  And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 
Num 22:9  And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
Num 22:10  And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 
Num 22:11  Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. 
Num 22:12  And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. 
Num 22:13  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you. 
Num 22:14  And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. 
Num 22:15  And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. 
Num 22:16  And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: 
Num 22:17  For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. 
Num 22:18  And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
Num 22:19  Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more. 
Num 22:20  And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
Num 22:21  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
Num 22:22  And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 
Num 22:23  And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. 
Num 22:24  But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 
Num 22:25  And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again. 
Num 22:26  And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 
Num 22:27  And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 
Num 22:28  And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 
Num 22:29  And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. 
Num 22:30  And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. 
Num 22:31  Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. 
Num 22:32  And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: 
Num 22:33  And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. 
Num 22:34  And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
Num 22:35  And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Num 22:36  And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. 
Num 22:37  And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour? 
Num 22:38  And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. 
Num 22:39  And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth. 
Num 22:40  And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 
Num 22:41  And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people. 

Introduction

This chapter is about the famous story of Balak and Balaam. It focuses on Balak’s attempt to get Balaam to curse the Israelites with the belief that whosoever Balaam blessed is blessed and anyone he cursed is cursed. 

Num 22:6  Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” (ESV)

At this point in Israel’s journey, they had finished their wanderings in the wilderness and were now encamped in the plains of Moab near Jordan. Almost all the people of Israel who left Egypt had died except very few, so the people of Israel consisted of a new generation with the maximum age between 38-40. From a spiritual perspective, we can say at this stage of our walk with Christ that our old man, signified by the death of those who left Egypt, has begun its journey of death, giving way to the new man who is after the image of Christ (the new generation of Israel). We were at this point where Christ came into our lives to deal with our flesh or the old man and were just about to leave Babylon.

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 
2Th 2:8  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.

This chapter therefore shows us Balak’s fear of Israel, and his plot to get the Israelites cursed, the sending of messengers to bring Balaam, the opposition Balaam encountered when he was on his way and the meeting between Balak and Balaam. This story of Balak and Balaam is so important to us, His elect that the Lord reminded the people of Israel regarding it through the prophet Micah. This is because this story teaches us how we can know the righteous acts of the Lord in our lives which are unseen to the world but given to His elect to see.

Mic 6:5  O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”

Incidentally, the name Balak means ‘waster.’ In the Bible, the waster is the devil as shown in the following verse:

Isa 54:16  Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

What this means is that, through this study of Balak and Balaam, we shall also know the devices of the adversary, the devil. Paul said that we should not be ignorant of the devices of the devil.

2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Balak sent Messengers to Fetch Balaam

Num 22:1  And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho. 
Num 22:2  And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 
Num 22:3  And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 
Num 22:4  And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 

Moab and its king, Balak, represent our flesh or our old man who comes to realize that its days are numbered as a result of initial victories we have had over him and the fact that it considered our new man (the people of Israel) as being too many. Considering the people of Israel as being too many signifies seeing the Israelites as being stronger. The gradual defeat of our old man by the new man makes the old man realize that the new man is stronger and that its days are numbered. That is the same as Saul, a type of our old man, seeing that David, a type of our new man, will surely ascend the throne of Israel. 

1Sa 23:17 “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him (David). “My father (Saul) will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.” (NLT)
1Sa 24:17  And he (Saul) said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 
1Sa 24:18  And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
1Sa 24:19  For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
1Sa 24:20  And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 
1Sa 24:21  Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father’s house.

In verse 1 Moab also represents Babylon as these Moabites were religious people with Chemosh as their supreme deity. The people of Israel pitching in the plains of the Moab means that although our eyes were being opened, we were still under the clutches of Babylon. Balak also can symbolize the religious leaders in Babylon who try to stop the zeal of the young believers (the new generation of the Israelites) whom the Lord is preparing to leave Babylon. They therefore try to put impediments in the way of these young believers to prevent them from leaving. In the final analysis, the Lord’s elect will be blessed as they leave Babylon.

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

In verse 4, the fact that the Moabites considered the Israelites as licking up all that is round about them and as ox licking grass on the field is all to show us that when Christ comes to our lives, we should be assured that victory will ultimately be ours. In Revelation chapter 4, we are told that as Christ comes into our lives, we are assured of Him giving us victory over our flesh as He comes conquering and to conquer. Are you being weighed down by sin and guilt and seeing no victory in sight? Have confidence in His words that He has come conquering and to conquer so that at the end of the day, He shall present you faultless before the Father. Whatever the Lord starts, He is able to bring it to completion.

Rev 6:1  And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
Rev 6:2  And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Num 22:5  He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: 
Num 22:6  Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. 

Balaam lived a great way off from the land of Moab, in Mesopotamia, which was the country Abraham left to come to the land of Canaan. The place was also where Laban lived. It appears that Balaam had a great reputation as a prophet of God. However, the fact that He lived in Mesopotamia attested to his inability to leave Babylon as the Lord has enjoined us to do. This means he was just like our brothers and sisters in Babylon who have a reputation of being the chosen children of God in the eyes of the Babylonians and people of the world. Balaam can therefore be compared to the old prophet who was living in Bethel who lied to the man of God sent by the Lord from Judah to tell them of their sins. Both Balaam and the old prophet were all living in Babylon which shows their depraved spiritual state.

1Ki 13:11  Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.

Balak attributed great power to the words of Balaam, and therefore believed that whosoever Balaam blessed is blessed and whosoever he curses is cursed. Balak wanted Balaam to curse the people of Israel such that the Moabites could easily overcome them. From the word of the Lord, we know that cursing the Lord’s chosen one or the elect is like a causeless curse which has no effect. For example, Goliath cursed David by his gods, and in the end, David was blessed. Thus, right from the very onset, this plot to curse the young generations of Israel, who represent the elect, was doomed to fail.

Pro 26:2  As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

1Sa 17:43  And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

We are told that no weapon formed or fashioned against us shall prosper. This plot by Balak therefore shows us the Lord’s hand, which is unseen but yet extremely effective in protecting His elect in this wilderness of life, to accomplish His purpose.

Num 22:7  And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
Num 22:8  And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 
Num 22:9  And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
Num 22:10  And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 
Num 22:11  Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. 
Num 22:12  And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. 
Num 22:13  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you. 

As indicated earlier, Moab represents Babylon. One of the significant characteristics of the Babylonians is the desire to be rewarded for the service rendered to the Lord in this life. No wonder in requesting the service of Balaam, who was living in Babylon, they sent messengers with the rewards of divination in hand. These elders of Moab who were sent represent false apostles in Babylon who only focus on the physical blessings of the Lord, which is symbolized here by the rewards for divination. The Apostle Paul told us that if it is in this life that we have hope, then we are the most miserable people on earth.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

The Lord telling Balaam that he should not go with the messengers, and that the people of Israel are blessed and cannot be cursed, should have settled the matter once and for all for Balaam. However, his desire to receive the wages of iniquity overwhelmed him, and therefore, he was not truthful to the messengers. He only told them that the Lord did not allow him to go with them but never mentioned to the people that it is impossible to curse the people of Israel as they were blessed by the Lord whom he served. That would have ended the enticement. This is what Apostle Jude has to say about this:

Jud 1:10  But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively.
Jud 1:11  Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.

Num 22:14  And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. 
Num 22:15  And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they. 
Num 22:16  And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: 
Num 22:17  For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. 
Num 22:18  And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
Num 22:19  Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
Num 22:20  And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.

A second delegation was sent to convince Balaam to come with them to king Balak of the Moabites to curse the Israelites. This second visit to Balaam was more enticing in the eyes of Balaam. Balak sent more honorable men than the first encounter; he specifically told Balaam not to be hindered by anything and lastly, that he would promote Balaam to very great honor and will do whatever Balaam says. These enticements by Balak show us the devices of the devil in trapping us in sin. As indicated in the introductory section, Balak means waster and therefore represents the devil. 

Jas 1:13  Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
Jas 1:14  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 
Jas 1:15  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 

As shown above, committing sin is a process. First, we are enticed by sin. Like Balaam, we know exactly what the Lord says regarding the issue before us. There is nothing wrong in being enticed by sin since our flesh loves to sin. However, if we are not decisive in turning away but begin to ponder on the issue, that’s when sin is conceived and will finally give birth to death. Giving birth to death means we end up being partakers of sin. As we are aware, we know spiritual things by the things that are made. For example, if you take a frog and put it in hot water, it will quickly jump out of the water. However, if you put a frog in cold water and start to warm it up gradually, the frog will start to enjoy it and before long, the frog will end up dead. 

That is what happens to us when we are enticed by sin. Balaam suffered the same fate. Instead of telling the messengers that the people of Israel were blessed and cannot be cursed, to end the matter, he told the messengers to stay for the night so that he can hear from the Lord, when the Lord has spoken already concerning the matter. This story shows us Balaam’s struggle with his old man. Although in his mind, he wanted to adhere to the commandment of the Lord when he told the messengers that even if they gave him Balak’s house full of silver and gold, he could not go beyond the word of the Lord, his corrupt nature, the old man, strongly inclined him to go with the messengers.

Rom 7:15  For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 
Rom 7:16  Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 
Rom 7:17  So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

The fact that the Lord came to Balaam in the night to tell him to go with the messengers when they come calling is another way of saying that the Lord gives us over to the desires of our hearts when we become fixated on sin. It is a fearful thing to be given over to the desires of our hearts!!

Rom 1:21  For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 
Rom 1:22  Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 
Rom 1:23  and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 
Rom 1:24  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 
Rom 1:25  because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Once sin has been conceived, it will give birth to death. That was what happened to Balaam. Balaam was killed by the Israelites later, which shows us the spiritual state of Balaam – that is, he became spiritually dead.

Jos 13:22  Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

The Journey to Balak

Num 22:21  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 
Num 22:22  And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 
Num 22:23  And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. 
Num 22:24  But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 
Num 22:25  And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again. 
Num 22:26  And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 
Num 22:27  And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 

In verse 22, we see that the Lord was angry that Balaam went with the messengers. When we are persistent in sin, we become blinded by the Lord and cannot perceive the way of the Lord. We become hostile to the Lord’s angels or messengers who come to direct us to the way of the Lord as we see Balaam smiting his ass. The fact that the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way shows us that the Lord can use any beast, that is, people of the world to bring us to the right path of the Lord. This was what happened to Abraham when he lied that Sarah was his sister. The Lord appeared to Abimelech to tell him the truth about Abraham’s relationship with Sarah instead of appearing directly to Abraham to tell him his fault.

Gen 20:3  But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife.”

We can see that all the impediments that were put in the path of Balaam were for the sake of the Lord’s elect, who in this case are represented by the people of Israel. That is the righteous acts of the Lord that the prophet Micah was reminding the people of Israel about.

Mic 6:5  O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”

We, His elect, are blessed to be the apple of the Lord’s eyes.

Isa 43:1  But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
Isa 43:2  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 
Isa 43:3  For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. 
Isa 43:4  Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

In verse 26, we are told that the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow place where one cannot turn to the left or right. This reminds me of the narrow path the Lord has chosen for us. We cannot turn left or right. All we have to do is to move forward as the Lord drags us along.

Mat 7:13  “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
Mat 7:14  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

In verse 27, we can see that Balaam’s anger was kindled against the ass, the beast which had seen the angel of the Lord. As we have discussed earlier, Balaam lived in Babylon and therefore represents our brothers and sisters in Babylon. The angel of the Lord here is Christ and His words, the ass or the beast seeing the angel of the Lord means this beast also represents the elect whose eyes have been opened to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Balaam’s anger against the ass or the beast therefore shows us the hatred of the Lord’s elect by our brothers and sisters in Babylon when we try to show them the truth of the word of the Lord.

Rev 11:7  And when they (the two witnesses who represent the elect) have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 
Rev 11:8  and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.
Rev 11:9  For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb,
Rev 11:10  and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 
Rev 11:11  But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

The people who dwell on the earth in Revelation 11:10 symbolize our brothers and sisters in Babylon who think we are tormenting them with the truth of the word of the Lord and therefore hate us.  

Num 22:28  And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 
Num 22:29  And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. 
Num 22:30  And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? Was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. 
Num 22:31  Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. 
Num 22:32  And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: 
Num 22:33  And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. 
Num 22:34  And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

As indicated, the ass represents the elect. The statement in verse 28 by the ass that Balaam had smitten him three times is to let us know that the hatred from our brothers and sisters in Babylon is all part of the process of our spiritual maturity through judgment. In verse 29, we get to know the reason for hating us. They think we are mocking them when we tell them the truth of the word of the Lord. The verse also shows us the deep hatred of our brothers and sisters in Babylon to the point of even killing us in the name of the Lord. We were also at a certain point in our lives very offensive to the Lord’s elect. As He is, so are we in this life. As Christ was hated by the church during His days on earth, we shall also suffer the same fate in this life. The scenario here is just like that of Joseph who was hated by his brothers, because their father loved him more. 

Gen 37:3  Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.
Gen 37:4  But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

Just as the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam to see the angel of the Lord in verse 31, in the fullness of time (the lake of fire age), our brothers and sisters in Babylon will have their eyes opened by the Lord to see us as saviors. That is when they will see their hatred and evil deeds toward the Lord’s elect and also come to realize that their ways were perverse and will know that they have sinned against the Lord and His elect as shown in verse 34.

Balaam Finally Met Balak

Num 22:35  And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Num 22:36  And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. 
Num 22:37  And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour? 
Num 22:38  And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. 
Num 22:39  And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth. 
Num 22:40  And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
Num 22:41  And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.

Finally, Balaam met Balak in the city of Moab, near the border of Arnon. Balaam and Barak then came to Kirjath-huzoth which means ‘city of streets.’ The street is where we walk. Balaam and Barak coming to Kirjath-huzoth shows us plainly their walk before the Lord. At Kirjath-huzoth, Balak offered oxen and sheep to the god of Moab. Offering sheep and oxen to the god of Moab means that in Babylon, we serve another Jesus. 

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Later, Balak and Balaam went to the high places of Baal to see a fraction of the people of Israel. Seeing the Lord’s elect from the perspective of the idols of our hearts (high places of Baal) as Balaam and Balak did means that there is no way we can appreciate the Lord’s elect while in Babylon. Our natural tendency is to hate them.

In summary, this whole episode of Balak and Balaam shows us the plot against the Lord’s elect, which ultimately will come to nought.

Psa 2:1  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 
Psa 2:2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Psa 2:3  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
Psa 2:4  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 
Psa 2:5  Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 
Psa 2:6  Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

We thank our heavenly Father for His divine love and protection toward His elect as we see the day approaching.  Amen!!

Jdg 4:1-24 And Deborah,…Judged Israel at That Time

[Study Aired March 15, 2021]

Jdg 4:1  And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. 
Jdg 4:2  And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 
Jdg 4:3  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. 
Jdg 4:4  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 
Jdg 4:5  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 
Jdg 4:6  And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 
Jdg 4:7  And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. 
Jdg 4:8  And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 
Jdg 4:9  And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 
Jdg 4:10  And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him. 
Jdg 4:11  Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. 
Jdg 4:12  And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 
Jdg 4:13  And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 
Jdg 4:14  And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 
Jdg 4:15  And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 
Jdg 4:16  But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left. 
Jdg 4:17  Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 
Jdg 4:18  And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 
Jdg 4:19  And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. 
Jdg 4:20  Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. 
Jdg 4:21  Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 
Jdg 4:22  And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. 
Jdg 4:23  So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. 
Jdg 4:24  And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. 

As we are aware, the Book of Judges is about Israel’s disobedience in not ridding the land of Canaan of those living in the land and how God used the disobedience to judge them and, in the end, deliver them from bondage.

Since the scriptures were written for our admonition, we are to pay attention to these cycles of bondage and liberations as they teach us how to war.

We need to remember the recurring phrase that sums up the Book of Judges – that is, “In those days, there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in their own eyes” (Jdg 21:25). What this means is that if Jesus, our King, is not on the throne of our hearts as king, then we are under bondage to the old man and therefore we end up going through cycles of bondage and liberation just like the Israelites.

Jdg 21:25  In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. 

In this review, we are going to look at a kind of judge that was different from all the other judges spoken of in the Book of Judges – a woman named Deborah. She came on the scene following Israel’s disobedience as follows:

Jdg 4:1  And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead. 

The death of a judge (in this case, Ehud) signifies the time period when there is absence of the fiery words of the elect which is able to save us. That is the period, when the word of the Lord is precious (rare) as described in the Book of Samuel. As a result there are no open visions which are the divine revelation that will show us how to deal with sin. Where there is absence of the fiery words of God, false doctrines prevail which sends us back into sin and bondage, as was the case with the Israelites. These false doctrines are the great swelling words spoken of by Peter and Jude which bring us into bondage.

1Sa 3:1  And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 

Jud 1:16  These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. 

Jdg 4:2  And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 

The Israelites came under bondage with Jabin, King of the Canaan as the chief tormentor. In order to understand the kind of bondage we find ourselves in at a certain stage of our walk with Christ, as described in verse 2, we need to look at the meaning of the name Jabin, who was King of Canaan. According to Strong’s definition, the name Jabin means intelligent. Intelligence has to do with human or worldly wisdom. In the scriptures, there are two types of wisdom – Godly wisdom and worldly wisdom. We are enjoined to seek Godly wisdom which is the fear of God. On the contrary, the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the sight of God.

1Co 1:20  Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 

1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 

So the type of bondage the Israelites went into under Jabin spiritually signifies being in bondage to worldly wisdom. What this worldly wisdom entails is shown in the scriptures as follows:

Jas 3:13  Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 
Jas 3:14  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 
Jas 3:15  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 
Jas 3:16  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 
Jas 3:17  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

So being in bondage to worldly wisdom includes everything that we do which is a lie against the truth.  This includes envy, strife, etc. James says that where worldly wisdom rules our lives, there is confusion and every evil work. That is the same as being in Babylon as the name Babylon means confusion, because it is in Babylon that we have the habitation of devils and the hold of every foul spirit. The foul spirit and habitation of devils all represent the false doctrines we’ve imbibed and cause us to rebel against our Lord, thinking we are serving Him.

Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 

Jdg 4:3  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. 

First, let’s talk about the significance of the twenty years oppression under Jabin. In the scriptures the number twenty signifies the beginning of maturity as we are now ready to become enlisted in the Lord’s army to war against the enemies of our land.

Num 1:20  And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

Num 1:22  Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

Based on this, we can say that the twenty years oppression of the Israelites by Jabin is a period in our lives that we are ruled by worldly wisdom which shows itself in lying against the truth through our walk. Being dominated by worldly wisdom is a formidable enemy within to deal with as shown by the use of iron by the Canaanites – nine hundred chariots of iron.  The number 900 can be broken down as 9x10x10. The number nine means judgment, and the number ten is about the flesh, so what this means is that we are being judged in the flesh.  This is good news because if we are being judged in the flesh, because then we will not encounter the second death in the lake of fire. Verse 3 also mentioned that Jabin oppressed them mightily. The use of the word mightily means that this type of judgment is intense. However, the end product of this oppression or judgment is that we start to mature and are ready to war against the flesh as signified by the number twenty.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 

Rev 2:11  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Our fiery trials will cause us to cry for deliverance, and God always makes a way. In this case, God gave the Israelites a female judge called Deborah as follows:

Jdg 4:4  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. 
Jdg 4:5  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. 

All the judges mentioned in the Book of Judges are men except for Deborah.  This was the first time that a woman has played a key role as a judge and is therefore significant. As we are aware, a good woman signifies the church or the elect, and therefore verse 4 is to assure us that we, the elect, shall judge the world and angels together with Christ if we are able to overcome in this life. This is because God has shown us in His word that there is nothing new under the sun, and what will be is what has been.

Eph 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 

1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 
1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 

Ecc 1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 

A significant part of Deborah’s story which many have not observed is that, unlike the other judges, she ministered under a palm tree as shown in verse 5. In the scriptures, the palm tree symbolizes the elect. Thus, Deborah was serving under the umbrella of the elect. Just as we serve under the umbrella of Christ, women should serve under the umbrella of the church. As the elect plays a supporting role to Christ so women must play a supporting role to the church.

Psa 92:12  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Jer 10:5  They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

This supporting role of women is what runs through the whole of scriptures starting from Miriam who supported Moses and Aaron in leading the people from Egypt and in the wilderness. During Jesus’ life on earth, a lot of women played key roles in support of His ministry. The supporting role is what it means for Eve to be a help meet to Adam. Here Adam represents Christ and Eve represents the church who complements Christ.

Gen 2:18  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 

The body of Christ, which is the wife of Christ, consists of both male and females, and we are all part of the joints that supplieth for the edification of the body.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

This supportive role of Deborah is emphasized by the next three verses in which Deborah urged Barak to assemble an army to war against the enemies of their land.

Jdg 4:6  And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? 

As with Deborah, one of the functions of the elect is to call our brothers and sisters to wage this war against the flesh and to assure them of a God-given victory. Let’s look at the characteristics of those who are called to wage this war against worldly wisdom (Jabin and his army). Those called to war are from the tribe of Naphtali and Zebulun. In order to understand the significance of being from the tribe of Naphtali and Zebulun, let’s look at the blessing given to them by Jacob when he was about to die.

Gen 49:13  Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. 

Gen 49:21  Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

From the verses above, we can say that as God’s elect we must be like Zebulun in the sense that we have come out of the sea of worldliness and are on the shore (the haven of the sea). It is on the shore that we can see a beast rising out of the sea.  This beast rising from the sea is you and me. Until we are manifested as beasts, we cannot wage war against the beast within.

Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 

Being a Naphtali means we are like a deer set free (we are set free from bondage to sin), and out of our mouths comes the goodly (beautiful) words which are the fiery words of God which devour the beast within.

Jdg 4:7  And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. 

Here in verse 7, the war was to be waged at the river Kishon. According to Strong, the word Kishon means winding. So it is this winding river which represents the multifaceted word of God where the battle against worldly wisdom (all the false doctrines) is waged. It is the word of God which exposes what worldly wisdom is. As our eyes are being opened and our ears are hearing the word of God, our heavens are being cleansed of this worldly wisdom which is the root of all false doctrines.

As indicated earlier, the outcome of this battle is obvious. God has assured us of victory which should motivate us to press on.

Jdg 4:8  And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. 
Jdg 4:9  And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 
Jdg 4:10  And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him. 

Barak’s response to Deborah’s encouraging words that he will only go only if Deborah accompany him makes it look like our victory depends on the church instead of Christ. What Barak should have said was that he can only go if Christ were with him instead of the church (symbolized by Deborah). If we think that our victory depends on the church, then we are not giving honor to Christ, and whatever endeavor we undertake shall not bring any honor to us as noted by Deborah. This is not to say that the church does not play a role in our victory. The role the church plays in our struggle with sin is to give us the fiery words which are able to edify, encourage and comfort us in this battle. That was exactly what Deborah did in encouraging Barak against the opposition.

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 

Jdg 4:11  Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. 

The Kenites were normadic people and were coppersmiths and metalworkers. Certain groups of Kenites settled among the Israelite population, including the descendants of Moses’ brother-in-law. Heber separated himself from the Kenites and settled in a plain of Zaanaim which was part of Naphtali. When we come into the Assembly of God’s people, we have to separate ourselves from our background (as Heber did) in order to be used by God to defeat the enemy within. That is how we can be of help to the whole body as our victory will become a blessing to many as we will see later in this story.  

Jdg 4:12  And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 
Jdg 4:13  And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 

When Sisera realized that the Israelites, led by Barak, were ready for war, he marshalled his army to confront the Israelites at the river Kishon. This is to let us know that when the enemy within (represented by Sisera) realizes that our eyes are being opened and our ears are hearing the word of God, which is another way of saying that we are preparing for war, it becomes obvious to the enemy within that its time is short (its death is approaching very fast) and so it comes like a flood, strengthened by the devil without to devour us or carry us away captives.

Rev 12:12  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 

Rev 12:15  And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 

Jdg 4:14  And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 

The church, signified by Deborah, must play the role of encouraging us as we see the day of the Lord approaching. This is done through the fiery words of the elect which are to encourage, strengthen and comfort us to be able fight this war of faith.

1Co 14:3  But when you prophesy, you will be understood, and others will be helped. They will be encouraged and made to feel better. (CEV)

The role of the church is to equip us for the day of wrath, and it does so through the ministry of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers as demonstrated by Deborah in her encouraging words to Barak. It is only through the church that we can be delivered from this flood by the enemy which seeks to toss us to and fro with every wind of doctrine.

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 
Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 

Jdg 4:15  And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 

As indicated in an earlier review of the Book of Judges, though we fight the war against the flesh, it is the Lord that wins the battle for us. This is demonstrated in verse 15 by the fact that it was the Lord who discomfited Sisera and his chariots even though physically it was Barak fighting.  For us to know how to war means to learn to depend on God for our victories against the flesh. Sisera lighting down off the chariot and walking on his feet signifies that our victory over the flesh is nearer now than when we first believed. Another way of saying this is that the Lord will do a short work upon our earth (our members). As we are being enlightened to understand the word of God, we are getting ready for the Lord to do a short work on our earth!!

Rom 9:28  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

Jdg 4:16  But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left. 

We have to be ruthless in this war by not allowing anything that offends to remain in our members. That is what it means to pursue the enemy within (represented by Sisera), making sure that no man is left standing (anything that offends). This is because any little leaven has the inclination towards leavening the whole lump of dough. That is, any tendency towards error will cost us dearly.

Gal 5:9  A little yeast can change a whole batch of dough. (CEV) 

It is the word of God (the edge of the sword) that destroys the enemy within and without and is the main weapon God has given us to use in this war against the flesh.

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

Jdg 4:17  Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. 
Jdg 4:18  And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. 

The house of Heber making peace with Jabin the king of Hazor signifies the church (represented by Heber) being ruled by worldly wisdom which is the root of all false doctrines. In this situation, it becomes easier for all kinds of false doctrines to seek refuge in our heavens. Sisera entering Jael’s tent represents our time in Babylon where we become the habitation of every foul spirit.

Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 

During this time in Babylon, we create our own righteousness which is symbolized by the covering of Sisera with a mantle by Jael.

Rom 10:2  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 
Rom 10:3  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 
Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. 

Jdg 4:19  And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. 
Jdg 4:20  Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. 
Jdg 4:21  Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 

We all enter the church (Babylon) feeling thirsty for the word of God and thinking that it is a place of refuge, but we end up being given the polluted milk of the word as Jael give milk to Sisera. As a result, we end up falling into sleep (backsliding) and becoming spiritually dead. On a positive note, our lives in Babylon are not all in vain. It is all part of God’s plan. During our time there, God is able put to death certain aspects of our flesh.  Jael smiting the nail into Sisera’s temple signifies the beginning of the death of false doctrines in our heavens which causes us to come out of captivity under Babylon.

Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 
Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 

Jdg 4:22  And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. 

It was Jael that showed Barak the end of Sisera – death. In a similar fashion, it is the church that has to unveil to us the enemy within and the impending death of the old man.

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 
Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 

Jdg 4:23  So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. 
Jdg 4:24  And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. 

It is the Lord who fights our battles for us and wins the war for us. This fight against the flesh is a long drawn out war, and one day when the flesh or the old man has finally given up the ghost, we can say just like David that:

Psa 18:17  He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. 
Psa 18:18  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay. 

Psa 18:37  I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed. 
Psa 18:38  I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. 
Psa 18:39  For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. 
Psa 18:40  Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. 

Awesome Hands – Part 132

To bless or curse

April 14, 2018

Oftentimes we find ourselves questioning the various situations in which the Lord has placed us. These questions come to our minds as easily as air comes to our lungs.

While it may seem negative at first to question why we are in a situation or trial, it doesn’t need to always be viewed this way. In truth, the Lord wants us to realize that we are where we are because He has put us there. Likewise, it is He who will deliver us as time progresses.

This is a theme that will follow us all of our days. The story we are going to cover today will show us how we should respond to the Lord when He puts Himself in our path.

The reality of our lives is that we should ALWAYS see our trials as the Lord’s angel standing in the road to block our way or to give us passage. It is all of the Lord. How we REACT to what the Lord does determines if we will live or die unto the Lord, spiritually speaking.

To bless or curse

Our story today finds us looking at the choices we make in light of our situation. We oftentimes know what to do, but doing it comes much harder than just knowing it.

The Lord always places choices in front of us, but He also already knows what we will choose. It may seem like there is no real choice in this situation, since the Lord knows ahead of time what will happen, but the process of choosing is to show us that WE DO NOT KNOW what we will choose until we choose it.

Choices are to show us where we are with the Lord, not where the Lord is with us. In other words, our choices are a reflection of our obedience to do what the Lord commands or not.

Balaam and Balak show us these differences. Most of the verses in this study are from the ESV unless otherwise noted.

Num 22:1  Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
Num 22:2  And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
Num 22:3  And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.
Num 22:4  And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,
Num 22:5  sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me.
Num 22:6  Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Balak’s sole motivation in this story is fear. In his fear he wants to use a man’s power of blessing or cursing, as he perceives it, to curse the Israelites. He sends off for Balaam offering Balaam anything he wants in return for his “powerful cursing ability”.

Num 22:7  So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message.
Num 22:8  And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
Num 22:9  And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”
Num 22:10  And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,
Num 22:11  ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.'”
Num 22:12  God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”
Num 22:13  So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.”
Num 22:14  So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

The will of God is made very clear to all parties involved. Balaam is the mouthpiece of the Lord, and  Balak will not have the curse come from Balaam. Do you think this will sit well with Balak? Of course it won’t. It also doesn’t sit well with Balaam either, and that is revealed in how Balaam petitions the Lord for a second time.

Num 22:15  Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.
Num 22:16  And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,
Num 22:17  for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.'”
Num 22:18  But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more.
Num 22:19  So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me.”
Num 22:20  And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”
Num 22:21  So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

The Lord surely had His wrath kindled with this request from Balaam. Balaam wanted to see “what more” the Lord would say to him, but the Lord has already made it clear that the Israelites were not going to be cursed.

Balaam is being offered honor and whatever else he asks of Balak. Though he denies these requests with his words, Balaam’s heart is far from the Lord.

This is where we need to constantly be diligent in our own dealings with the Lord. Where is our heart when we know to do right, but do the opposite anyway?

I find that with myself, I often almost always know what the Lord would have me do, but something in my thinking looks for what is excusable with the Lord or with myself. What can I get away with that keeps me on the fence line without “really” disobeying the Lord?

Not all situations happen this way, but many do. I almost always know what I have learned is the right way to deal with what the Lord has placed in my life, but I do not always want to obey that understanding and knowledge of what is right with the Lord. Such is how we find Balaam, who is a servant of the Lord.

You can’t really blame Balak for trying to keep him and his people safe. If he can get this “man” Balaam to do his bidding, all is good. It isn’t the Moabites who worship Yahweh, so they don’t really care that Balaam is saying he must do what the Lord says. Yahweh is not their Lord.

To that point, here Balaam is going with the Moab representatives even though he already said the Lord said he couldn’t place a curse on the people.

The Lord answers Balaam according to the idols of his heart and tells him to go with “the men”, but that will not be the end of it.

Num 22:22  But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.
Num 22:23  And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.
Num 22:24  Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.
Num 22:25  And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again.
Num 22:26  Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.
Num 22:27  When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

The Lord uses the donkey to save the life of Balaam by preventing him from taking the “wrong road” to his destination. The wrong road, of course, would end in death .. i.e the path that Balaam was on.

The Lord certainly is merciful to Balaam, but this wasn’t strictly for Balaam’s sake. Balaam is still going to be used of the Lord to execute His judgment on the Moabites and to let them know what that judgment is going to be.

Num 22:28  Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
Num 22:29  And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”
Num 22:30  And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”

Isn’t it amazing that this dumb animal knew more and saw more than Balaam did? Balaam was blinded by the prospect of divination and honor, but this donkey saw the angel of the Lord!

Isa 1:3  The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.”

The donkey was smart enough to avoid danger on behalf of his owner, yet Balaam did not have the wherewithal to know the will of his Master!

Num 22:31  Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.
Num 22:32  And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.
Num 22:33  The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”
Num 22:34  Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.”
Num 22:35  And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

I do not have time in this study to read all of the verses that pertain to the entire interaction between Balaam and Balak, but Balaam goes on to have altars erected and offerings/sacrifices made on them.

It should be clear by now that Balaam desired to go and see what Balak had to offer. There simply was no other reason for Balaam to go, seeing as all that Balak wanted was a curse that “could” help him defeat Israel.

Being that Balaam is a type of God’s prophet, and we are all being raised up as the children of God with the prophecy of Jesus Christ in our hearts and minds, we should pause and evaluate if we, too, desire the gains of this life over the life the Lord has promised us.

It is a fair question and one only we can ask ourselves sincerely.

The hands of the Lord work in all things, and while that is intellectually understandable, it is spiritually a hard pill to swallow.

Balaam is ultimately used, via the help Balak provides in creating the altars needed by Balaam, to bless the people of Israel in front of many Moabites.

Num 23:17  And he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, “What has the LORD spoken?”
Num 23:18  And Balaam took up his discourse and said, “Rise, Balak, and hear; give ear to me, O son of Zippor:
Num 23:19  God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Num 23:20  Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.

Num 24:1  When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness.
Num 24:2  And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,
Num 24:3  and he took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,
Num 24:4  the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:
Num 24:5  How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!

The ultimate goal of this study is show that we will all eventually, as the people of God, see what pleases the Lord and what does not.

You might be wondering how we can know what pleases the Lord. Sometimes, we are just told. There is much more that can be said about this topic, but I think these verses help to guide us in to right direction concerning this topic.

(KJV) Col 3:20  Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Or

(KJV) Col 1:5  For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
Col 1:6  Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
Col 1:7  As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
Col 1:8  Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
Col 1:9  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Col 1:10  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Col 1:11  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
Col 1:12  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

The Lord presents choices for us every day of our lives as chances to discover where our mindsets and hearts are with the Lord. When we find that we are not in lockstep with being obedient to the Lord, these choices provide an opportunity for us to correct and judge ourselves in the presence of the Lord.

This truly is a wonderful and merciful way for the Lord to love and teach His children.