Associate Producer

Timothy LaFontaine

Podcast Introduction

Today is Monday, so we’ll read from one of the books of the Law. We’re in the book of Numbers, and we’ll read chapters 21-24. After the reading I’ll have some comments. And of course I’ll have an “On This Date In Church History” segment for you, too. I’m calling today’s episode “Don’t Be Too Eager."

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Serghei Trofimov on Unsplash

Comments on Numbers 22 and 24

Thoughts on Number 22

If this were Sesame Street, I would say that today's chapter from Numbers was brought to you by the letter "B". Balaam, Balak, Bamoth-Baal, Beor. 

So what did you think about the situation with Balaam and God at first denying him permission to go to see Balak, and then telling him it was okay to go, and then being mad that he did go? Were you confused by that? Is God a capricious God?

Of course not. But I was confused, too. So I did some digging, and here is what I found.

Balak sent messengers first to ask Balaam to come and curse the Israelites. God told Balaam not to go since He, God, had blessed them. Then Balak sent even more distinguished messengers, with the additional message that he would confer great honor upon Balaam, in effect Balak was attempting to bribe Balaam. This appears to have been a bit of a temptation to Balaam, even though he said with his lips that even if Balak gave him enough silver and gold to fill a house, he could not do anything against what God had told him…he told the messengers that he would see if God had anything else to say on the matter.

This seems to be the crux of the matter. God told Balaam that the people were blessed. Why would he expect that God would say anything different about cursing people whom He blessed? 

Here is what God said, and the version we're reading today doesn't convey the original meaning well. Commentators agree that what God said was, "If the men come to you, then you may go with them." 

Let's stop here for a moment. This is an important point. God allows us to do many things that He does not endorse. Right? Sometimes He will allow us to succumb to our own wicked and lustful hearts. He allows us, in effect, to touch the hot stove to see that it will burn us. I can imagine Balaam laying in his bed that night, thinking how cool it was that these important visitors had come to his humble home. He felt important. And I can also imagine him laying there fantasizing about the honors that Balak would bestow on him once he arrived. He got to thinking, perhaps, about the palace full of silver and gold.

So what happened next? In the original Hebrew, God said, "If the men come to call thee, rise up, [and] go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do." But Balaam got up the next morning and saddled his donkey and went with the men. Scripture doesn't say, "When they came to get him, he went." It says, "He got up and went." 

Balaam was too eager. He wanted to get his hands on the treasure Balak promised him. So he did not follow God's instruction.

Remember, the reason that Balak sent for Balaam was so that Balaam would come and curse the Israelites. God's chosen people. God does not look with favor upon those who conspire to harm His people, or those who seek to gain favor with those who conspire to harm his people.

So God became angry at Balaam.  

Thoughts on Numbers 24

In Numbers 24 Balaam once again disappointed Balak. I guess you have to hand it to Balak. He wasn't one to give up easily. And it is good to see that, despite the inauspicious beginning of this time with Balak, Balaam was faithful to what God told him to say. 

There is a good lesson to learn from this. How many times do we sin, and then feel as if, because of that sin, we cannot be a useful instrument for God? We might even think that since others saw our sin, our credibility is ruined. Here in these few chapters of Numbers we see that such is not the case.