BALAK BIBLE STUDY

Glad you could come back and join us again at Daily Bread for the end of the story about Balaam and Balak. Old Balak has been a pretty busy man and he's earnest about wanting Balaam to curse Israel for him. He's built 21 altars now and offered 21 bull calves and 21 rams, but still no curses have been made. No, God turned the curse that Balak was looking for, into a blessing!

Now if you recall, the first two times that Balaam told Balak to build seven altars, he said, Okay, now you go stand over there by your offering while I go over yonder and see if the Lord has a message for me. Well, wizards aren't known for consulting with the Lord for their magic spells, in fact, quite the opposite, they're usually dabbling in worlds of spirits that are NOT of God. Some may think or claim that they're communicating with God for the "fortunes" that they're telling, but you'll never hear Jesus refer to a prophet as anything other than a prophet. God threw Balaam a curve ball, not a crystal ball and put words of blessing in his mouth. When God puts words in someone's mouth like that, they have no control of what they're saying, because it's God speaking through them. So Balaam was probably expecting some kind of abracadabra to come out, but to both Balaam and Balak's surprise, a blessing is what they heard instead.

As we continue our story, Balak is standing at his third set of seven altars with his offerings, but by now, Balaam did a little math and realized that the Lord wasn't gonna change His mind. He didn't go off to a remote place looking for enchantments or magic potions of any kind this time, but he turned toward the wilderness and saw Israel with all their tents pitched according to their tribes and the Spirit of God came upon him.

BALAK BIBLE STORY LESSON WITH BALAK BIBLE STORY EXPLANATION AND BALAK BIBLE STORY SUMMARY

Balaam began to speak and he said that he saw a vision from God and it was like he was in a trance, but his eyes were open. In other words, he was in a half-conscious state, unable to move, but he could see. Sometimes God has to use drastic measures to get people's attention. Then Balaam spoke the words that God had shown him.

How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side,
as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted,
and as cedar trees beside the waters.
He shall pour the water out of his buckets,
and his seed shall be in many waters,
and his king shall be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom shall be exalted.
God brought him forth out of Egypt;
he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn:
he shall eat up the nations his enemies,
and shall break their bones,
and pierce them through with his arrows.
He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion:
who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee,
and cursed is he that curseth thee.

Wouldn't you say that was quite a blessing? This made Balak furious with Balaam and he clapped his hands together loudly and said, I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you've blessed them three times now! Go home! I was gonna give you great honor but the Lord has prevented you from honor.

Let's get this straight (from Balak's view). You want to curse God's people but you just found out that if you curse them, you'll be cursed, however if you bless them, you'll be blessed. One would think Balak would be shouting God bless Israel from the top of his voice, but instead, he makes a terrible accusation about God. He'd better be careful.

BALAK BIBLE STORY INFORMATION WITH BALAK BIBLE STORY MEANING AND BALAK BIBLE STORY DISCUSSION

Balaam answered again, Didn't I tell your messengers that you sent to me, that even if you gave me your house full of silver and gold, I can't disobey the commandment of the Lord to do anything that I think, but whatever the Lord says is what I will do. Now, I'm going home, but first I'm gonna tell you what Israel is gonna do to your people in the end.

Then Balaam spoke this prophecy of Jesus:

I shall see him, but not now:
I shall behold him, but not nigh:
there shall come a Star out of Jacob,
and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel,
and shall smite the corners of Moab,
and destroy all the children of Sheth.
And Edom shall be a possession,
Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies;
and Israel shall do valiantly.
Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion,
and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.

Balaam looked in the direction of the Amalekites and said, Amalek was the first of the nations, but in the end, he'll perish for ever. Looking in the direction of the Kenites, Balaam said, Your home is strong, you put your nest in a rock, but even so, the Kenite will be destroyed until Asshur carries you away captive. (Asshur was Shem's son.)

Balaam went on, Who will live when God does this! Ships will come from the coast of Chittim (Chittim is what is now known as Cyprus) and will afflict Asshur (Asshur is what is now known as Syria), and will afflict Eber, and he'll perish for ever too. (Eber was Shem's great-grandson.)