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July 24, 2016 |
| Cursing The Blessed | ||
Throughout their time in the desert, the Israelites complained against God and were unable to trust him to take care of them. All of their problems came from themselves at that time. In the verses we will see in this study, their time in the desert is coming to an end. A new generation has been taking over, a generation that was not raised in Egypt.
Throughout that journey they wandered in desert places where no one else lived. Now, as they prepare to enter the Promised Land they must travel through kingdoms with kings and armies. They are a large group of people that are seen as a threat to these kingdoms. Now their problems come from outsiders.
In this lesson we will work through sets of verses from Numbers. Before each set there will be some questions. Read the questions first and then watch for the answers to them as we go through the verses. After the verses, the questions will be repeated so you can consider your answer. Then you can view the answer to check your answer.
4 Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey. 5 The people spoke against God and Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food."
The Israelites are on the last leg of their journey to the Promised Land. Very few of the generation that left Egypt remain. Their children, who will enter the Promised Land, have destroyed the countries that have come up against them. Unfortunately, because some of the countries don't trust them, they have to take the long way around.
The people did what they had learned to do from their fathers; they complained against Moses, as though he was in charge, and they ignored the fact that God was in charge.
6 The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 So the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and you; intercede with the Lord, that He may remove the serpents from us." And Moses interceded for the people. 8 Then the Lord said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live." 9 And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.
Q1. We see a very important change here in the way the people respond to the punishment God sends on them. How did they respond
in the past and what's different now?
1 Then the sons of Israel journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho.
The Israelites are now just across the Jordan from the point where they will cross into the Promised Land. They are going to stay there for a while though before entering. But the local kings are not happy to see them because the stories about their conquests of other kings have gotten around.
2 Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel. 4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor … to call him, saying, "Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me. 6 Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."
Balaam obviously has a reputation as a man who can pronounce curses or blessings that come true. Balak, the king, believes this is an ability that Balaam has. Much like the Israelites, he doesn't realize that God is the source of everything.
Balak is making a mistake here. He thinks that the Israelites are an existential threat to his kingdom and the other nearby kingdoms. His evidence is that they are a huge number of people and they destroyed the Amorite kingdom. But, the Israelites had only defended themselves against an attack. They were not aggressors. The Israelites were only wanting to cross through these lands and they had offered to pay for anything they needed.
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 repeated Balak's words to him. 8 He said to them, "Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as the Lord may speak to me." And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 Then God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?" 10 Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me, … 12 God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." 13 So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, "Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you." 14 The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."
15 Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former. 16 They came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, 'Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me; 17 for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.'" 18 Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God. 19 Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the Lord will speak to me." 20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do."
Q2. At their earlier visit God had already made it clear to Balaam that he was not to curse Israel. Why is Balaam letting them
stay?
Sometimes we want things very badly that are against God's will. God sometimes gives them to us so we will see how badly things work out when we get them. God is not a man that he should lie or change. Here God is saying "Fine. See what happens when you do it your way." God still does not want Balaam to curse Israel and he still does not want Balaam to go with them.
21 So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab.
God sends an angel to threaten Balaam with death and warn him that he is not to curse Israel and only to speak the words God gives him. In the process Balaam's donkey speaks when it is beaten for trying to avoid the angel.
Q3. Why does God allow Balaam to go with them but then send this angel to threaten his life? What is the point in having
the donkey speak?
The message to Balaam behind the incident with the donkey seems to be that "even your donkey is more aware of danger than you, but you are driven by desires and ignore his help". This is God saying "I told you not to do this, for your own good, not to keep you from the rewards you love".
Balaam's desire for money is driving him into a dangerous situation where he can't win. He is going to feel a lot of pressure to find a way to curse the Israelites. If he succeeds in doing that, God will be angry. If he doesn't, the king will be angry.
41 Then it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from there a portion of the people.
Baal was the main male god of the Canaanites. His worship often involved sexual displays and sexual acts.
4 Now God met Balaam, and he [Balaam] said to Him, "I have set up the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on each altar." 5 Then the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and you shall speak thus." 6 So he returned to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, he and all the leaders of Moab. 7 He took up his discourse and said,
8 "How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how can I denounce whom the Lord has not denounced? 9 As I see him from the top of the rocks, and I look at him from the hills; behold, a people who dwells apart, and will not be reckoned among the nations. 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!"
11 Then Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have actually blessed them!" 12 He replied, "Must I not be careful to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?"
Q4. Verse 5 says "the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth." What does that
mean?
13 Then Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place from where you may see them, although you will only see the extreme end of them and will not see all of them; and curse them for me from there." 14 So he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. 15 And he said to Balak, "Stand here beside your burnt offering while I myself meet the Lord over there." 16 Then the Lord met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak." 17 He came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the leaders of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, "What has the Lord spoken?" 18 Then he took up his discourse and said,
"Arise, O Balak, and hear; Give ear to me, O son of Zippor! 19 God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? 20 Behold, I have received a command to bless; when He has blessed, then I cannot revoke it. 21 He has not observed misfortune in Jacob; Nor has He seen trouble in Israel; The Lord his God is with him, And the shout of a king is among them. … 24 Behold, a people rises like a lioness, and as a lion it lifts itself; it will not lie down until it devours the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain."
Q5. Balak moves the group to a new location now and will after every failed curse. Why is he doing
that?
Notice, though, that Balak tells Balaam "you will only be able to see one end of the group of Israelites". He believes it is necessary to see the people in order to curse (or bless) them. God is not limited this way.
This was common with pagan gods, though. The relationship with a god was tit-for-tat. You did something nice for the god and perhaps the god would do something nice for you. It's interesting that Balak doesn't turn to Baal or one of his other gods to deal with the Israelites.
Notice that part of God's message is directed at Balak. God says that Israel is blessed and cannot be cursed. He warns Balak that he should not make himself their prey or they will destroy him. By this he means that Balak's fear of destruction coming on him from Israel may come true by Balak's own hand if he does something to stir them up.
25 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them at all nor bless them at all!" 26 But Balaam replied to Balak, "Did I not tell you, 'Whatever the Lord speaks, that I must do'?"
Balak now says that, if Balaam cannot curse them, he should not bless them. His point is, if you can't curse them then JUST SHUT UP! You don't need to make it worse by blessing them. Balaam says he doesn't have a choice as he must speak what God says.
27 Then Balak said to Balaam, "Please come, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will be agreeable with God that you curse them for me from there." 28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor which overlooks the wasteland. 29 Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars for me here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here." 30 Balak did just as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.
Q6. God warned Balak through Balaam's message that God was not going to curse Israel, yet Balak continues on. Why is Balak so
determined to have Israel cursed?
By now the king and the people with him have traveled a great distance, built 21 altars, and sacrificed 21 bulls and 21 rams. The king has a large investment in this project. That may also be part of the reason he is determined to follow this plan through.
1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to seek omens but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
That time Balaam didn't need to consult God to receive a word to speak. He knew that God was going to be blessing Israel, not cursing them. The Spirit of God came on him and delivered the message through him.
3 He [Balak] took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, and the oracle of the man whose eye is opened; 4 The oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered, 5 How fair are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel! … 9 He couches, he lies down as a lion, and as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, and cursed is everyone who curses you."
10 Then Balak's anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times! 11 Therefore, flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the Lord has held you back from honor." 12 Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, 13 'though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the Lord, either good or bad, of my own accord. What the Lord speaks, that I will speak'? 14 And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come."
Balaam spoke another blessing on Israel that tells of the coming destruction of Moab by Israel. The kings of the Amalekites and Kenites have joined the group and Balaam pronounced future disaster upon them as well.
Q7. Balak is very angry. What does it mean that "Balak struck his hands together" and said "flee to your
place"? Why doesn't he kill Balaam right there?
He is probably afraid to kill Balaam because Balaam would curse him before dying.
25 Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way.
Something important isn't mentioned here and isn't mentioned until chapter 31 but we need to understand it here. In chapter 31 Moses says "Behold, these [Midianite women] caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor" (Numbers 31:6). Apparently, as he left or maybe later on, Balaam explained how Balak could cause the Israelites to curse themselves. Balaam did this so he could be richly honored by the king. Therefore, Balaam caused the Israelites to be cursed so he could become wealthy.
1 While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. 2 For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the Lord was angry against Israel. 4 The Lord said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel." 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each of you slay his men who have joined themselves to Baal of Peor."
6 Then behold, one of the sons of Israel came and brought to his relatives a Midianite woman, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, while they were weeping at the doorway of the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he arose from the midst of the congregation and took a spear in his hand, 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and pierced both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman, through the body. So the plague on the sons of Israel was checked. 9 Those who died by the plague were 24,000.
Balak has finally succeeded, though not in the way he first planned. Israel has cursed herself.
Eleazar is rewarded for having the zeal of God.
Q8. Verse 1 says "the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab." What does it mean by
harlot?
"Balaam's name and story became infamous, and he is referred to several times in the New Testament. Peter compares false teachers to Balaam, 'who loved the wages of wickedness' (2 Peter 2:15). Jude echoes this sentiment, associating Balaam with the selling of one's soul for financial gain (Jude 1:11). Finally, Jesus speaks of Balaam when He warns the church in Pergamum of their sin: 'There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality' (Revelation 2:14). Satan's tactics haven't changed all that much. If he cannot curse God's people directly, he will try the back-door approach, and idolatry and sexual immorality are his go-to temptations."1
"Deuteronomy 23:3-6 summarizes these incidents, and further states that the Ammonites were associated with the Moabites. Joshua, in his farewell speech, also makes reference to it. With God's protection taken from him, Balaam is later listed among the Midianites who were killed in revenge for the 'matter of Peor,' which is where Balaam showed King Balak how to trap the Israelites so that God might destroy them. Joshua 13:22 records that Balaam died 'by the sword' during a battle for the Reubenite occupation of Moabite land."2
Early in this study, God warned Balak not to stir up the Israelites and thus destroy himself. He stirred them up and was destroyed.
1 http://www.gotquestions.org/Balaam-in-the-Bible.html
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balaam