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My commentary answered some questions I’ve wondered about!
“Balaam was definitely a hireling who was interest primarily in money … he
deceptively maneuvered around God’s declared will so that he could go to Moab
and receive his fee … It was God who came to Balaam and not Balaam
who brought God to himself, and the Lord wouldn’t allow him to accept the
invitation. God made His will very
clear. ‘Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people’ …
He told the delegation he wouldn’t go with them. However,
he didn’t tell them the reason: Israel
couldn’t be cursed because God had blessed them. If he had told this to the delegation, that
would have put an end to the negotiations…”
Balak sent a bigger, more important delegation along with a
bigger fee. “Knowing God’s will in the
matter, Balaam should have refused even to consider this second offer, but the
hireling soothsayer was still trying to find some way to circumvent God’s will …
With his lips, he professed to obey the Lord, but in his heart he coveted the
money and hoped God would change His mind.
God came to Balaam and instructed him to go with the princes only if
they came to call him the next morning … But the next morning, Balaam didn’t wait for the men to come
to him; he saddled his donkey and went to the place where the delegation was
camped, determined to do his own will. This determination and covetousness made
the Lord angry … he was impetuously running ahead of the Lord and at the
same time stubbornly refusing to obey God’s clear directions.”
God’s angel stood in front of Balaam’s donkey as he
traveled, and three times Balaam beat his donkey until God allowed Balaam to
see the angel. Balaam said, “I have
sinned,” but he wasn’t repentant. He
still wanted the money.
Father, when I have clearly heard from You, don’t let me do
the same, trying to figure some way around
Your will. Help me to obey.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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