Balak B’midbar(Numbers) 22:2-25:9 Haftorah Reading Micah 5:6-6:8
Messianic Scripture II Peter 1:1-21, Jude 11, Rev. 2:14-15
To begin, how would you describe Balaam? Who was he?
Peter compares false prophets with men like Balaam:
Having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet. (2 Peter 2:14–16)
Jude gives several examples of the worst type of godless people that appear in the Torah, including Cain, Korah, and Balaam, men who “are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire” (Jude 7).
Jude says, “Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah” (Jude 11).
The book of Joshua refers to him as a diviner, a person who uses magic and reads omens and signs. He was not a prophet of G-d; he was a sorcerer.
1.In Numbers 22:9 it says, “And G-d came to Balaam, and said, What men are these with you?” The beginning phrase, “And G-d came to Balaam” shows us this was a serious matter, a warning. Are there other places in Hebrew scripture when G-d is warning an individual and this phrase (and G-d came to…) is used? What is the message here that we can apply to our lives?
The words, “Then G-d came to Balaam,” that we read in the beginning of the verse gives us a sense of the serious nature of what Balaam is doing. The words in Hebrew are Va’ya vo Elohim.
Where else in scripture are these words used?
Genesis 20:3, “But G-d came to Avimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”
G-d was warning Avimelech to correct the situation he was in and not continue down that path.
We also read the same words in Genesis 31:24, “Then G-d came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” Here again, G-d was warning Laban to not speak a word to Jacob.”
In our case here in Numbers and these other two cases, these words introduce the idea that these people are in a place where G-d is speaking to restrain the person from some intended action.
In our lives it should be a wake-up call when G-d comes to us with a word of correction. This is a serious thing and G-d is giving us pause to consider these questions we have mentioned. “Where are you, what are you doing and who are these people you are with?”
In His mercy G-d reaches out to us to correct our actions, to give us warnings. The questions should give us time to see where we truly are and a time to repent. But the outcome is up to us. Sometime we feel we can bargain with G-d as Balaam did in our portion. Always remember we are not able to bend G-d to our will. Instead we should be striving to mold ourselves to His will.
G-d will allow us to walk the path we choose. Life is not a puppet show. G-d allows us to walk outside of His will. However we will suffer the results of our choices. How we live our day is up to us.
To help us in this struggle against our human will we must train our ears to hear the small voice of G-d. He has also given us tools to use every day, prayer, worship and study of G-d’s word. It is so important to not just let life happen but to everyday use the tools He has given us. It needs to be second nature to us to run to Him when challenges arise and look to G-d for direction instead of relying on our own feelings or desires.
May we never come to the place of being asked by G-d the question that was asked of Balaam, “Who are these men?” We never want to find the company we keep or the friends we have are people who have led us away from our faith.
2a. One of the characters in this story was Balak, King of Moab. Who was Moab? What was his heritage? Who else in the Hebrew scripture was from Moab?
Moab was the son of one of Lot’s daughters. He was born after the two daughters of Lot became pregnant when they slept with their father after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Moabites were excluded from the Jewish community (Deuteronomy 23:3–6), and the name Moab became known as the enemies of G-d (Isaiah 25:10).
In the book of Ruth we learn that Ruth was a Moabite. She married Naomi’s son Mahlon, an Israelite from Bethlehem. She was raised worshiping idols but left that behind to follow the G-d of Israel when she left Moab and went to live in Israel with her mother-in-law Naomi.
So Balak was a distant cousin of the Jewish people who now stood at his borders seeking passage on to the Land. Balak was overcome with fear and sought the help of a well-known seer, Balaam, to help him repel the Jews by invoking a curse.
MIDIANITES
In Numbers 22:4 the Midianites were mentioned. Who were the Midianites?
The Midianites were more closely connected to Avraham. In Genesis 25:1-2 we read where Avraham married Keturah and they had children, one of which was named Midian. So from these connections it is clear that both of these tribes were not thrilled to see Israel on their doorstep. They both had grudges so to speak and did not want Israel to come back and claim the promises of G-d.
However, they were aware that G-d was with Israel. So from a military standpoint they could not stand against Israel. As a result they sought to defeat Israel by using the spiritual world, very similar to how America is being destroyed spiritually from within. For this they called upon Balaam, the most famous gentile prophet of the time.
Interestingly we read in Deuteronomy 23:4-5 Balaam was from the same area as Avraham. (Aram Naharaim) In Genesis 24:3-10 we read that this is the same area that Avraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac. So Midian and Moab went to hire someone from the same area as the father of the Hebrews.
2b.If you read Numbers 22:6 when Balak sends for Balaam he uses some interesting words at the end of this verse. Where have we heard these words before.
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.
Numbers 22:6,“for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples on earthwill be blessed through you.”
3.Numbers 23:9, “The people shall live alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” What do you think this verse is telling us?
What makes Jews “a nation dwelling alone, not reckoned among the nations?”
Exodus 19:6, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
So the Israelites were to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. They could not be like other nations.
Isaiah 43:10-12, “You are my witnesses,” declares the L-rd, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the L-rd, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the L-rd, “that I am G-d.
They were to be witnesses that there is one true G-d and there was none other. He alone is L-rd.
We see in the Middle Ages Jews were hated because of their religion. In the nineteenth and early 20th century they were hated because of their race. In the 21st century they are hated because of their national statehood of Israel.
The Torah never taught that Israel was to be solitary or alone. However, it did teach that they were to be covenant partners with G-d. They were to be set apart because of their faith in the one true G-d. They have faced persecution through the centuries because of their spiritual status.
But the time will come when the nations will turn to Israel. Jews will become an inspiration when many people would say, “Come let us go up to the mountains of the L-rd, to the temple of the G-d of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so we may walk in His path, the law will go out from Zion, the word of the L-rd from Jerusalem.” Isaiah 2:3
This verse, Numbers 23:9, is a prophetic declaration of their enduring separateness from other nations, a separation that will ultimately allow them to fulfill G-d’s purposes in this world.
We too have been set apart. We too are called to be witnesses of the one true G-d. There are times when the desire to be like those around us who do not know G-d is very tempting. We have spiritual boundaries we cannot cross if we want to continue in our calling.
So what is our place in this plan of G-d? The age old question – have we replaced the people of Israel or are we to join with them?
Romans 11:11-31reminds us of who we are and who the nation of Israel is in His eyes.
11 So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling salvation has come to the gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their stumbling means riches for the world and if their loss means riches for gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
13 Now I am speaking to you gentiles. Inasmuch as I am an apostle to the gentiles, I celebrate my ministry 14 in order to make my own people jealous and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted among the others to share the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember: you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off on account of unbelief, but you stand on account of belief. So do not become arrogant, but be afraid. 21 For if G-d did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of G-d: severity toward those who have fallen but G-d’s kindness toward you, if you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And even those of Israel, if they do not continue in unbelief,[j] will be grafted in, for G-d has the power to graft them in again.24 For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.
25 I want you to understand this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not claim to be wiser than you are: a hardening has come upon part of Israel until the full number of the gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.” 27 “And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” 28 As regards the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their ancestors, 29 for the gifts and the calling of G-d are irrevocable. 30 Just as you were once disobedient to G-d but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so also they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they also may now receive mercy.”
Romans helps us to see our place in G-d’s eternal plan. We are grafted in to the Jewish people. We have not replaced them. We are to support and bless Israel. We have not taken their place. Yes the modern state of Israel has many issues that do grieve the Father. G-d has pointed out their sins to them but has never broken His promises with the Jewish people.