MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
Numbers 22
As we look at the 22nd chapter of Numbers, we see the Israelites nearing the end of their wandering in the desert. They had just beaten up, killed, and plundered the Amorites and now they are camped in the plains of Moab near Jordon.
This is the place where they stayed until they passed through the Jordon river into the promised land under the leadership of Joshua.
Balak, the King of Moab, has just seen what had happened to the Amorites and he begins to consider what might happen to them. The Israelites had a great and powerful army with a reputation that spread through all the land and everyone was terrified of them.
It is easy to see how easily the Israelite army could conquer their country and everything around it if they didn’t do something fast to stop them.
Actually they wouldn’t have needed to fear the Israelites if they knew the orders that God had given to Israel not to mess with the Moabites, and not to use any hostility against them. And it is likely that Moses did let them know.
But they thought it may be a set up...to make them feel secure, making it easier for them to be conquered.
Balak even went to his neighbors the Midianites, and made sure they were aware of the situation, but found no source of comfort there.
The Moabites could have had reason to rejoice at the advance of the Israelite army. They should have been happy at Israel’s success over the Amorites because this freed them from the threat of Sihon, King of the Amorites, who had already taken part of their land and was likely to soon take the rest.
They should have reached out to Israel and helped them in their journey. After all, they were descendants of Lot, which means they were all related. BUT...
They had forsaken the religion of their fathers and sank into idolatry and now hated the people of God. If they had not fallen away from the faith of their ancestors Abraham and Lot they would never have attempted to curse the only people who had stayed true to the service of the true God.
It’s just as true today. Many who have fallen away from their faith not only turn against God but they become resentful and even hostile to those who remain true.
Well, Balak tries to get some "insurance" by getting the prophet Balaam on their side.
READ vs. 4b 6
Balaam was not an Israelite. In fact his vocation which was divination was a grievous sin in Israel. Yet apparently he had established a great reputation. If he said someone was blessed they were really blessed. If he said they were cursed, it was all over for them.
Many writers think that Balaam had once been a great prophet who had been looked upon with great respect because of the answers to his prayers and reliability of his predictions. But that God had departed from him because he became proud and greedy and Balaam had to turn to divination to earn his living.
So while there’s a lot we don’t know about Balaam, we do know that God speaks to him in this story. Although the things he says about Israel do not necessarily represent his own opinions on the subject.
So Balak sent some of his leaders to go see Balaam, to take him the fees for divination, and to fill him in on the situation.
READ vs. 7 12
That’s it. DO NOT GO WITH THEM. You can’t get any clearer than that! Now, God doesn’t always tell you the "why’s" He might just say NO. But God told Balaam not to go and gave him the reason why.
READ vs. 12b 17
Let’s take a close look at Balaam’s answer in verse 13. A bunch of guys come to him and say, "We want you to come and curse these people" But when Balaam asked God, He said NO. These people are blessed, and I don’t want you to hurt them.
The obvious thing for Balaam to have told these people would have been "I can’t curse these people because they are blessed by God.
But what did Balaam say to the messengers? "Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you." What does that mean? He wishes he could go, but God won’t let him.
Remember those fees for divination? Balaam got paid for his work. There wasn’t anything strange about that in those days. It was customary to bring a gift when you sought the word of God from a prophet
Balaam knew there was some big money to be made, and what he was really saying was, "I’d like to go but I can’t."
Let’s put this in a more modern setting. Someone asks Suzy out for a date, but her mom says "No. I don’t think he has the right kind of character for you" or something like that.
Now, there are two ways Suzy can respond to this fellow. "Well, I asked my mom and she pointed out some really good reasons why I shouldn’t go. She doesn’t feel that this is a right relationship, and I trust her, and I really believe I’m supposed to obey her." OR "Boy, I’d really like to go, but my mother won’t let me"
If she uses method number two, all she does is encourage the guy to find a way to get her to disobey her mom. If someone knows that you really want to do something, even if you shouldn’t, it will inspire them to keep trying to get you to change your mind.
But if they know that you are convinced because of strong convictions in your own heart, they’re more apt to give up.
Many of you go to God and say, "God, I really want this, or I really want that...a job, a husband or a wife, a certain ministry...
And maybe God says No. Now if you can’t obey with your heart knowing that he knows what is best for you then you’re asking for trouble. If your response is, "Gee, I’d really like to go but the Lord won’t let me," you need to see how wicked that is, and realize that you’re opening yourself up to all sorts of attack.
If the devil knows that you are convinced that God is the wisest, and that you know it is best to follow His counsel, then he doesn’t have a point of attack. But if he knows that you lack conviction, then all he’s got to do is get you to believe that your opinions are better, smarter, or more pleasing than God’s principles.
THERE’S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JUST OBEYING GOD ON THE OUTSIDE, AND OBEYING FROM A THANKFUL, JOYABLE AGREEABLE HEART.
Now, let’s get back to Balaam. Balaam obviously wishes he could go.
READ vs. 15
Balak figures, "Well, I’m gonna have to really impress this guy. So he sends a bigger group of more distinguished leaders. And when Balaam sees them coming, you can guess what he’s thinking...
Well, now they’re sending the important people. Last time it was just the messengers. This time it is the corporate vice president of the Moab Chariot Company. I must be pretty important...
Balaam was obviously open for temptation, so Balak sent a more tempting temptation, greater in quality and quantity.
A poll was taken in the U.S. and they asked men and women how much money it would take for them to agree to sleep with a stranger just one time. The average amount for the men was $10.00. The average for the women was $10,000. But as the dollar amount got higher, almost everybody said they would sleep with a stranger for a million dollars.
And what I’d say to them is you’re willing to be a prostitute. All you’re changing is the price. You’re willing to set aside your convictions for money. If you can be bought at any price, then God doesn’t care about the price. He only cares that you can be bought.
At what point are you willing to disobey God? What is your price? The temptation for most wouldn’t be the same as I used to illustrate this, but what is there that can buy you? Is God for sale in your life? Is obedience for sale?
So these distinguished fellows bring a message to Balaam.
READ vs. 16 17
So what is Balaam going to say? READ vs. 18
Now that’s a very fine sounding statement, but it’s his next line that gets him in trouble. READ vs. 19
Balaam should have said, "Go away. Get thee behind me. Split. I won’t do this, and I don’t even want to be tempted."
The Bible says to flee temptation; to resist the devil, and he will flee from you. But Balaam is essentially saying to these guys, "Hang out and let me go talk to God. Let me pray about it. Maybe God will change His mind by the morning."
THE MISTAKE OF BALAAM IS OBEDIENCE, PLUS. OR OBEDIENCE TO GOD BUT.
OR OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND...SOMETHING ELSE. It is saying Yes Lord I’ll obey you, but...
How many people have gone to hell "praying about it?" How many people have disobeyed God saying, "Well I really have a burden for this," or "I really feel led to do that."
I can’t believe the number of people who say, "Well I’ve really prayed about it." What I want to know is what did God tell you? Praying about something is not spiritual. Mormons pray, Krishnas pray, Buddhists pray. Hearing from God and doing what God says is spiritual
Don’t ever say, "Well, I’m gonna do this because I’ve really prayed about it" unless you can finish the statement: "I’ve prayed about it, and God answered me. He told me I’m supposed to do this."
It doesn’t impress me that you’ve prayed about it, and it doesn’t impress God that you’ve prayed about it because the most selfish prayer is one way prayer. It’s like picking up the phone, dialing a number, and doing all the talking then hanging up before the other person can talk back.
Balaam thinks, Maybe I’ll get the consolation prize. Maybe I won’t get riches and honor, but I might be able to tell them something and at least get a pig or a goat.
READ vs. 20
Now, on the surface it doesn’t seem like there’s anything harmful or angry in God’s answer to Balaam. But Balaam had asked God once, was told NO, and then asked a second time. "We’ll find out what else the Lord will speak to me."
Don’t ever ask God again once He gives you the final word on something. He gave Balaam a definite word, NO, and He told him why. When Balaam came back the second time God gave in and told him what he wanted to hear.
READ 21 22a
Now why would God tell Balaam to do something and then be angry when he did it? Let this be a warning: God will never tell you to do something He once told you not to do, unless he explains why he is changing his path.
God told Abraham, "Go offer your son as a burnt offering." But later said, "Do not harm the boy for now I know that you fear me. Now I know you love me more than anything else." God said, "I’m changing my direction, and this is why."
Watch out if you keep whining and whimpering to God about that thing you’re so desirous of, after he’s already told you No, you’d better be careful...you might just get what you’re after. He may finally say yes, and you will have to live with the disastrous results.
READ vs. 22b 29
Picture this...Balaam riding with the officials, the princes, all these important people and now they are about to have a pile up because Balaam’s donkey stopped dead in the middle of the road. And he was mad enough to want to kill the donkey. He’s probably never been so embarrassed in all his life.
READ vs. 30
Here he is, having a conversation with his donkey again.
READ vs. 31 34
Now, when I first read Balaam’s statement here, my impression was that he had a pretty good attitude. It showed that he was willing to turn beck. But now I see that it is actually a wicked answer. TOTAL WICKEDNESS!
What did he mean by IF it is displeasing to you? What more do you need? Your donkey is talking to you...and you’ve got the angel of the Lord standing before you with a drawn sword telling you that your way is in opposition to what you were told, and you are saying, "IF it is displeasing I will turn back.
God wrote Balaam off right there. That was the ultimate. He doesn’t repent and he’s written off. He’s not God’s chosen anymore.
READ vss. 35 38
There is something in here that reveals Balaam’s attitude. Let me translate it for you. "Hey look, don’t bug me. I’ve come but I’m not allowed to say what I want to say. I don’t even have a will left. God’s got me. What He tells me to say, I’ll say. Balaam is not happy being the spokesman for God.
I’ve met people who are always grumbling. "I could be doing this, and I could be doing that." Listen...nobody does God a favor. Nobody has given up anything for God nothing. Everything you’ve "given up" is a piece of junk compared to what God has given you.
There is no greater privilege or calling than serving the creator of the universe.
Balaam is really mad. In the morning Balak and Balaam head to the nearest mountain so they can look out and see the people of Israel. Balaam has them build some altars and offer sacrifices, and then he goes off a little ways to "seek the Lord."
READ 23:5 So he returned to him and said...vs. 8...vs. 11 12
Then Balak figures maybe things will be a bit different over the next hill, so he takes Balaam somewhere else and they repeat the same thing over again. And when that doesn’t work he tries it the third time.
Now this guy Balaam is really acting like a fool. God isn’t telling him to continue with Balak. But Balaam keeps right on going, hill after hill. WHY?? He’s looking for payment. He really wants to be given some money. He knows he has to say what God wants him to say, but he’s also been hired by Balak to curse, so he’s trying to please God and to please man. So it’s off to another mountain.
One more time Balaam blesses Israel, and Balak is furious. He’s had all he can take, and he tells Balaam he better run before he gets his head cut off.
READ 24:12 14
Now if you’re glancing over this, it might seem like Balaam has finally come to his senses, goes home, and everything is fine.
But notice the advice Balaam offered to Balak. We aren’t told right here exactly what that was, but if you keep on reading, you’ll soon get the picture.
In chapter 25 we see Israel playing the harlot with the daughters of (who else) Moab. And sure enough, the Israelites joined right in with their pagan sacrifices, and bowed down to their Gods. So the Lord instructed Moses and the judges to kill all who joined themselves to Baal. God also sent a plague because of this sin that wiped out another 24,000.
Now take a look at Numbers 31:9 16. This is years later, right after Israel fought a battle against the Midianites. (By the way, that’s the battle Balaam was killed in) READ 31:9, 15 16
And if there is still any doubt in your mind, check out Rev. 2:14
There it is. Balaam wouldn’t curse Israel, but he offered a little friendly advice: "If you want to know how to get them, send your women down there to entice them and tempt them. Then invite them over to your religious services, to your gods, and you’ll steal their hearts away from their God.
Balaam only said what God told him to say...but instead of sharing God’s feelings about Israel, he just obeyed outwardly. He didn’t share God’s heart for his people.
He wanted to make some money. And I’ll bet that when he gave that little tid bit of advice, Balak probably paid him, and Balaam went home a richer man.
Balaam’s mistake was two fold. He used the gift and calling of God for his own selfish gain...and he asked God twice after he had already said "No" the first time.
Balaam did his best to find a way around being obedient to God. He spoke God’s words but he didn’t have God’s heart.
How about you today? If you don’t share God’s heart, you might think you’re doing what he wants you to do, but you’ll only be going through the outward motions of obedience.
You might read your Bible and say your prayers and keep the rules, yet in your heart wish you could participate in the things of the world. You must know his heart and his attitudes; share his hatred towards sin, and his love for souls...his love for others, and his love for you.
