1.How would you describe Balaam? Did he know G-d? Was He a prophet?

Balaam was a well-known seer. Interestingly, in Numbers 22:6 when Balak sends for Balaam  he uses the same words we read in Genesis 12:3 when G-d blesses Abraham. 

Balaam, by what we read, knew G-d on some level. He used the holy name of G-d in Numbers 22:18. However, his actions were unaffected by this knowledge.  He was ruled by his own greed for power and money. His own desires overruled what he may have known about G-d. 

As we read this portion we see how destructive our own fleshly desires can be. This should give us all pause. Are we open and listening to G-d or are we ruled by our own wants and desires? Sometimes G-d’s warnings are crystal clear and yet we choose our own way. Remember G-d grants us freewill. We are not compelled to obey and follow Him. If that were true we would be no more than robots. We are responsible for our actions and decisions.

He knew the right way, he knew what G-d required of him but it did not change his choices. 

In Micah 6:8 we can read exactly what G-d requires of each of us, “do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your G-d.” We see also in Deuteronomy 10:12-13 the same thoughts with the added admonition to obey the words of G-d. In Matthew 19:16-22 we read of a man coming to Yeshua asking what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Yeshua’s response follows in the words of Torah that we just read. However, in this man’s life there was one thing he could not let go. He was wealthy. Yeshua asked him to sell all and give it to the poor and follow Him. He could not. His money was too much to give up. Balaam had somewhat the same issue. He knew what G-d required but yet the house of gold overcame what he knew to be right. He chose wrongly and died for it later.

2.In Numbers 22:9 G-d asked Balaam a question, “Who are these men with you?” This raises a question for us. Why did G-d ask him this question? Is this question familiar to other stories in the Bible?

Did G-d not know who they were? Surely He did. His question to Balaam was meant to be a wake-up call. We see this in several other places in Torah. In Genesis chapter 3:9 we read where G-d called out to Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” He knew where they were but the question, like here, was meant as a wake-up call for Adam and Eve. In Genesis 4:9 G-d asked Cain, “Where is your brother Able?” 

Each of these cases were meant to give the person involved, the opportunity to examine for themselves where they were spiritually. They were meant to challenge these people to realize what a dangerous place they were in. G-d was giving them an opportunity to look at their life and change direction before it was too late.

3.If G-d, in Numbers 22:20, gave Balaam permission to go to Balak, why would He then change His mind and become angry with Balaam “because he went” (vs. 22)—so much so that He sent His Angel to stand in the way of Balaam? Is God “wishy-washy”?

There are several parts to this question. But one answer lies in the two letter word—“if.” It is easy to read through G-d’s statement to Balaam and miss the condition that He placed on giving Balaam permission to go: “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them” (verse 20).  G-d gave him leave to go if the men called him. The verse says Balaam rose up in the morning got his things together and left with the princes of Moab.  

Sadly, Balaam ignored G-d’s condition. His eagerness for gaining money, his desire to appease Balak, and perhaps his own interest in cursing the Israelites overpowered him. Instead of waiting for the men to call the next morning, he got up, saddled his donkey, and left with the princes. G-d did not unjustly threaten Balaam. G-d’s anger was aimed at Balaam’s presumptuous disregard for His stipulations, and His response was to send His Angel to confront him for his error and warn him of his impending doom. If he ignored G-d’s first stipulation, it would have been easy for him to ignore the second stipulation—that he was to only speak what G-d told him to (vs. 20).

If he had simply listened to G-d the first time he was asked to curse the Israelites and not gone to Balak (Numbers 22:12), he would have saved himself the trip, embarrassment, and personal danger from the Moabites. Instead, he made himself look like a fool to the king, and simultaneously did the unthinkable: he blessed the Israelites three times at the word of the L-rd (Numbers 23:5-24:11). 

Also in the conversations between G-d and Balaam there are two different Hebrew words used for “with them” in Numbers 22:12 and Numbers 22:20. In Numbers 22:12 when G-d says don’t go with them the Hebrew word is “imahem.” Next in Numbers 22:20 when G-d says, If they call you go with them- it is itam.  

Imahem means going with someone physically and spiritually – in total agreement.          Itam means just accompanying or traveling with them but not joined to them spiritually. 

In other words Numbers 22:20 is saying Balaam could accompany them but could not share in their purpose or intention.

Finally, in Numbers 22:21 it says, “So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. Here the Hebrew words for went with is Imahem. Again it is saying he was going in total agreement with the princes of Moab.

This helps us understand G-d’s anger toward Balaam. Balaam was determined to have his own way.

4.Where else do we see Balaam mentioned in scripture as a warning of what not to do, how not to live?

Revelations 2:14-15 In the book of Revelation we find out that Balaam has disciples who are deceived by him and his false charm, and continued to cause problems for the brothers and sisters in Asia Minor (Turkey of today). They were rebuked for following in the ways of Balaam. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.”

In II Peter 2:15, Balaam’s disciples have forsaken the right way. This implies that at one time they, like Balaam did know the right way. You can’t forsake something that you don’t have. So, Peter implies that the disciples of Balaam at one time did have a relationship with the L-rd, like the one who they followed. Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing”

Jude 1:11, Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.”

We can learn an important lesson from Balaam. It does not matter how much knowledge you possess – it’s how you utilize that knowledge. That’s exactly what Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians 13: Knowledge is Worthless without Love

Balaam was one who chose the path of evil, of greed, full of self-importance, and pride. One who sought to fulfill his own lustful desires. 

This means, you can be a great and wise man and you can even know the secrets of heaven. At the same time, however, you can still be evil and greedy, seeking wisdom for your own personal benefit.

All knowledge, secrets, and prophecy – all these are worthless without love. Love means caring for others; goodwill towards those around you and protecting individuals who can’t fend for themselves.

5.If this story of Balak did not change the Moabites, Midianites, Israelites, Balaam or Moses, what do you think was the overall point of this episode? What role did it play in the story of the Jewish people?

In Deuteronomy 23:4-5, Moses reminds the people that the Moabites “did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to pronounce a curse on you. However, the Lord your G-d would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the L-rd your G-d loves you.”

In Joshua 24:9-10, when Joshua came to renew the covenant after the conquest of the land, gave an abridged summary of Jewish history, singling out this event for attention: “When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.” 

In Micah 6:5, 8, The prophet Micah, younger contemporary of Isaiah, said in the name of G-d, “My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered,” just before he delivers his famous summary of the religious life: “He has shown you, O man, what is good and what the L-rd requires of you: to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your G-d” 

In Neh. 13:2, At the culmination of the reforms instituted by Ezra and Nehemiah after the Babylonian exile, Nehemiah had the Torah read to the people, reminding them that an Ammonite or Moabite may not enter “the assembly of the L-rd” because “they did not meet the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. Our G-d, however, turned the curse into a blessing” 

So this story is not about Balak, or Balaam, or Moab, or Midian. It is about G-d’s love for His people.