Prophet And Consultant - Numbers chapters 22-24
Was Baalam really such a 'bad guy'?
YHVH's anger with Balaam's decision to travel with Balak's messengers (Num 22:12,22) suggests that all along,
his true intentions were to curse Israel.
However, it's hard to pinpoint any specific sin
that Balaam the prophet committed. Before leaving on his journey he clarified to Balak's messengers that
he would do only what YHVH told him (Num 22:18) and indeed, he blessed Israel instead of cursing them,
precisely as commanded. (Num 23:1- 24:9) In the end, and because he seemed to
be so 'pro-Israel', Balak became enraged and ordered him to go away.
"Balak's anger was kindled with Balaam and, striking his
hands together, Balak told Balaam: I asked you to curse my enemy and instead you have blessed them three times! Now, run
away to your own place (before I kill you)." (Num 24:10-11)
Before Balaam left, as though he had not disappointed
Balak enough, he informed Balak of how Israel will one day defeat Moab and Edom in battle. Finally "Balaam got up and went to his homeland, and
Balak also went on his way." (Num 24:25)
Had this been the only account in Torah about
Balaam, it would be quite difficult to judge him as a wicked man. But this was not the end of the story.
The War With Midian - Numbers chapter 25
Immediately following this story
we find the account of Israel's sin with the daughters of Moab and Midian and for that they were punished
severely by a terrible plague. (Num 25:1-9)
After the plague YHVH commanded Israel to avenge the
Midianites with a counter attack, which ended with Balaam's death, together with the
five kings of Midian. (Num 31:1-12)
Was Balaam murdered? What did he do to deserve
the death penalty?
When the army returned from the battle with Midian, Moses
mentioned Balaam in his rebuke of the military officers for taking female captives.
"Moses became angry at the military officers, saying: Were
they not the very ones who, at the counsel of Balaam, induced Israel to sin against YHVH
in the matter of Peor." (Num 31:14-16)
The "counsel of Balaam" was the
advice to use the daughters of Moab and Midian to lure Israel towards worship of "Baal Peor". It was Balaam
who instigated the entire incident and it was his counsel which caused Israel to sin.
In fact, he was so involved in it, that this entire incident was associated with his name. (II Peter 2:15, Jude
11, Rev 2:14)
Balaam was executed not because he tried
to curse Israel but because he led Israel into idolatry.
What was Balaam doing back in Midian? Wasn't
he ordered to go back home after blessing Israel three times?
Balaam's home in Mesopotamia (modern day Syria/Iraq) was
a very far distance from Moab and Midian, several hundred miles away, in fact! Earlier we
were told that,
"Balak sent messengers to Balaam the son of Be'or
to a city of Pethor which is by the river, to call him." (Num 22:5)
The Euphrates river was the main river flowing through Mesopotamia.
"They hired Balaam, from Pethor of Mesopotamia
to curse you." (Deut 23:4)
"From Aram, Balak has brought me,
from the mountains in the East." (Num
23:7)
The Return of Balaam
Balaam 'the prophet' did indeed go 'back home'
to Mesopotamia, but a short time later he was back in Moab, together with the five kings of Midian.
(Num 31:8)
What was it that motivated him to return
to Moab (a journey of several hundred miles) the second time, and why was he so interested in causing Israel
to sin?
To understand that, let us go back to Jacob and Laban. On the way back to Bethel,
Jacob made a treaty with Laban (Gen 31:52) which in part was that neither party was to pass the designated
landmark with hostile intentions. Balaam, who was a direct descendant of Laban
and came from the same geographical area, (Numbers 22:5) knowingly broke the oath
by crossing the forbidden line on his journey to curse Israel.
Balaam's return to Moab proved that his true
intentions all along were to curse Israel, though as a prophet he could not do so.
"How could he curse he whom YHVH Himself did not
curse." (Num 23:8) Overcome by his
desire for money, he devised an alternate plan: he would use his prophetic gift to create a situation where YHVH
Himself will have to curse Israel.
Balaam knew that Israel could not be cursed
without a reason but he also knew that should Israel themselves sin, YHVH would have
to punish them. His evil plan was to cause Israel to be cursed by causing them to sin, and that's
exactly what he advised Moab and Midian to do.
Abraham and Balaam
We find some
interesting parallels between Abraham and Balaam. Both came from Mesopotamia, the center of ancient civilization,
and were men of renowned spiritual stature. While Balaam exploited his spiritual gifts for his own
personal pride and gain, Abraham used them to further YHVH's plan for Israel and all mankind.
Abraham was told: "I will bless those whom you bless, and those who curse you shall be
cursed, and through you all nations on earth shall be blessed." (Gen 12:3)
Balaam acknowledged the same principal: "For it is known, that he whom you bless
shall be blessed, and he whom you curse shall be cursed." (Num 22:6)
Just at the time when the chosen seed of
Abraham were about to fulfil their destiny (enter the Promised Land) and be a 'blessing for all nations', Balaam
the prophet with the ability to bless and curse, together with Moab (the descendants of Lot) and Midian (the
descendants of Ishmael) made a last minute attempt to thwart YHVH's plan and Israel's destiny.
Unlike Moab, who was motivated to destroy Israel because
they were a threat to his national security, Balaam's hatred for Israel had spiritual
roots and was motivated by Satan himself. He knew that the Divine Purpose
for Israel was to end the practice of idolatry and bring YHVH's message to mankind, which threatened
to upset the spiritual 'status quo' of ancient civilization.
The confrontation between Balaam and Israel - between
darkness and light, good and evil - continues until this very day. While Balaam and his modern day 'disciples'
continue to oppose YHVH and His Message to mankind, it remains Israel's responsibility to fulfill it.
