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Numbers 24:10 What to make of Balaam

Good afternoon fellow servants,

Some of the strangest events recorded in scripture can make us scratch our heads.  Why did God put this in his Word?  How does this advance the fulfillment of Genesis 3:15?  Such is the story of Balaam.  We see him at the end of his accurate prophecies but before involvement in helping to leading Israel astray.  I encourage you to dig into these stories and not dismiss as something that is not really that important to God's plan of salvation.

Blessings,

Jeff

Balaam is the most unusual prophet that I can think of.  There is the conversation with his donkey who was more aware than her master.  Then Balak, king of Moab, tries to induce him to curse Israel by taking him to three different locations.  But Balaam sticks to what the LORD told him to say.  So at this point, it seem like he is a true prophet.  Certainly the things he says about Israel exactly right.  

So why is this story included and in such detail?  How did Moses even become aware of these events?  All we can really do is look at the context.

Israel was at the end of the 40 years of wandering brought about by refusing to enter the Promised Land after the spies gave a bad report.  But not all of the generation that was condemned has died yet.  So we could put Balaam in the Judas category.  

Mark 14:21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

Judas betrayed Jesus of his own free will.  Yet, he is morally responsible even though he was fulfilling prophecy about the Messiah.  Balaam also knew God's blessing of Israel, but he was the channel through whom the last portion of the condemned generation was to perish.  

Model of Jesus warning in Matthew of "you shall know false prophets by their fruits."  Balaam's actions don't ultimately  line up with his words.  

God gives us the rest of the story through Peter and John.  Balaam shows up in a letter and Revelation.  If this episode had not happened and been reported by Moses, these NT authors would not have an example to point back to.

Thanks be to God that Moses was told of these events even thought he was not there to personally witness them.


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