Balaam: Numbers 22: 20-22 Why was God angry

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Trekker May 29, 2012

OK, i have never, never, never understood the story of Balaam. Because Numbers22: 20-22 contradicts itself! Can someone please explain?

It says in verse 20: And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, 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.

In verse 21: And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the prince of Moab.

Verse 22: And God's anger was kindled because he went (!!!): and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.

PRAY TELL, WHY WAS GOD ANGRY WITH BALAAM FOR GOING WHEN HE JUST GOT DONE TELLING HIM TO GO???????????

For the life of me i have never understood a single thing in this entire story. Why God was angry with him for going nor why God was angry with him later, since he never did curse the people like Balak wanted him to. What am i missing?

I

InTheLight May 29, 2012

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
(2 Peter 2:15)

for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
(1 Samuel 16:7b)

In Christ,

Ron

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InTheLight May 29, 2012

deleted...double post

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Koheleth May 30, 2012

You are missing that God never wanted him to go. There are many Scriptures in the Old Testament that indicate that God gives people what they ask for if they persist. While that is good encouragement for those who pray for good things, it is also perilous for those who persist in asking for what God has already said no to. In short, the man disobeyed. God didn't permit him to go as much as he said, if you are going to persist, then go ahead and prepare to reap the consequences. He says the same to us.

U

UntoBabes May 30, 2012

If you read these Scriptures and study them you will be able to understand what the story does not reveal direclty as to why God was angry with him.

Jos 13:22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel SLAY with the sword among them that were slain by them.

Nu 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Re 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

You could tell from these verses that Balaam set his heart on bringing a curse on the children of Israel because of the reward that Balak promised him but since he could not speak but the things which God gave him to speak.

When that failed he counseled Balak to find away to get the children of Israel to sin by committing fornication with the women of Median.

God knew all this about him but the initial reading of the story does not show the intentions of his heart. In fact, he sounds like a very pious man from all that he said.

L

learjet May 30, 2012

And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, 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.
21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. ~Numbers 22:20-21

To understand this you have to notice what it DOESN'T say.

It doesn't say that they princes of Moab called him, because they didn't. He just got up and went by himself, without them calling, disobeying the Lord in the process.

Hope this helps!

sermonindex May 30, 2012

Why God was angry? Because Balaam was greedy and spoiled.

It's like a child that nags nags and nags for something that you already said no to and finally out of exhaustion you give it to him but with that you give him a scuff across the head because this wasn't your will for him to have. God acts in the same way, He gives to us what we beg for but with that comes a lean spirit.

Balaam was tempting God.

God knew that this wouldn't be the end of him asking so He told him to go. His Ass was obstinate God showing Balaam like the Donkey all these years he was faithful to Him but the Angel as God standing in the way was God's answer to Balaam, a flat out NO! Balaam repents but tells him to go anyway these new orders was Gods will for him, now that he had repented of the evil.

T

Trekker May 30, 2012

QUOTE: "There are many Scriptures in the Old Testament that indicate that God gives people what they ask for if they persist. While that is good encouragement for those who pray for good things, it is also perilous for those who persist in asking for what God has already said no to. In short, the man disobeyed. God didn't permit him to go as much as he said, if you are going to persist, then go ahead and prepare to reap the consequences. He says the same to us." KOHELETH

Hmm. That is very interesting, thank you. However, that does NOT come across AT ALL in that passage the way it is written. But yes, that IS great encouragement for when we pray for good things, such as for a man's salvation. How thought-provoking. It seems rather strange though that Balaam did not have to persist MUCH before God told him to go. Rather troubling. That is why it did not come across to me in the passage the way you say it is meant. He had only asked twice.

sermonindex May 30, 2012

Balaam was not an Israelite and yet he was used of God to prophecy some of the greatest prophecies in the old testament.

God chooses whom God chooses.

What I see from Balaam's testimony in Scriptures is something of the reality of what happens when a man is divided in their affections. Balaam loved money and for Gold he was willing to curse Israel. At this time Israel was still in the wilderness being kept by God. Egypt had been brought down as a testimony to God. Egypt was raised up for this very purpose. Imagine every first born son, including Pharaoh's son being killed in a single night. Then the whole army is destroyed including Pharaoh himself.

All the surrounding kingdoms were terrified of the God of Israel at this time. Moreover God was also keeping Israel in the Sinai dessert a thing impossible without God. Because God was keeping Israel in circumstances which were supernatural Balak was driven by fear of God and jelousy of Israel to destroy them, but knew he couldn't without God's Prophet to have a part in it otherwise he would be held accountable before the God of Israel. Balaam was willing to have a part in this for money. When God spoke to Balaam concerning what to do to address this fear and jelousy of Balak the commandment was to go with the King only if the King asked for it. Balak didn't ask, but Balaam still went. Love of money proved to be a more compelling councilor than was the command of a King necessary. Or obedience to God.

Balaam was the son of a soothsayer. A soothsayer is someone who uses a gift of seeing for payment. So we know that Balaam was taught of his father. However God chose Balaam. In the end Balaam being a true Prophet realised that he could not bring his calling directly against Israel to harm them so he instead taught Balak how to set a stumbling block in the way of Israel and thus was Balaam paid by Balak.

It should stand as a warning for us today not to be foolish and fail to see that even though we are called and chosen of God we may still be divided in our love. Isn't this what Jesus taught His disciples. "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" Matthew 6:24.

In contrast to Balaam the gentile Prophet, Israel is taught of the Law of Moses, the Prophet of Israel, to love God alone. We are taught of the Spirit to love God alone. If we do anything else we will suffer as Israel suffered. This is no mere religious attitude or vanity. It cuts to the very heart of what it is that is able to please God and what is not. A pure heart. Not a divided heart.

Andrew

sermonindex May 31, 2012

Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel. Moab said to the elders of Midian, Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me. Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since they are too mighty for me; perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed. Numbers 22:1-6

So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; Number 22:7.

And Moses said to them, Have you spared all the women? Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the Lord. Numbers 31:15-16.

My people, remember now .What Balak king of Moab counselled. And what Balaam son of Beor answered him. Micah 6:5.

They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; 15 forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 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 2:13-16.

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. 12 These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever. Jude 1:11-13.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. Revelations 2:14-16.

Balaam received in his body the consequence of his sins:

So they made war against Midian, just as the Lord had commanded Moses, and they killed every male. 8 They killed the kings of Midian along with the rest of their slain: Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, the five kings of Midian; they also killed Balaam the son of Beor with the sword. Numbers 31:7-8.

Hence it is better to judge one’s self than to be judged.

Andrew

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Tusassy May 31, 2012

In verse 12,"God said to Balaam,"You shall NOT GO with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed." 'Nuff said. There's Gods' answer. He told him NO! Balaam tells them he can't go, v.13., but not that he can't curse them. Which leads the men to continue sending more people with more authority to continue asking.

If Balaam would've stood up firmly the first time on God's word, it would've been over, but I think he was hoping for more money and liked the attention he was receiving.

In v.18, Balaam tells them no matter what they give him he can't go beyond what God tells him...but still doesn't tell them God won't curse the people. Instead, he says in v.19, stay here that I might know more of what the Lord will say to me. So in other words, when he goes to God a second time, he is saying to God,

"I really want to do what you tell me,so I'm asking again." By doing this he is telling God, "I'm ignoring what you've already told me."

So then,God, seeing that he isn't going to listen, tells him if they came to him, then go.If you want your way then deal with the consequences.

Someone earlier stated that Balaam didn't nag and beg to go,he only asked twice. My opinion is that if God gave his answer the first time, asking it again shows disrespect for His answer and your failure to hear His word.

T

Trekker May 31, 2012

QUOTE: "God knew all this about him but the initial reading of the story does not show the intentions of his heart. In fact, he sounds like a very pious man from all that he said."==UNTOBABES

Yes, that is the problem...the story kind of leaves out the reader and just assumes he should/would know Balaam's heart and what was going on. The same problem (lack of explanation) occurs in the OT where after God hires Moses to go to Egypt and deliver His people it suddenly says that God tried to kill Moses. It is just stuck in there out of nowhere and one really has to read between the lines and even then it's impossible to understand why God decided to go to that extreme.

T

Trekker May 31, 2012

QUOTE: "To understand this you have to notice what it DOESN'T say.

It doesn't say that they princes of Moab called him, because they didn't. He just got up and went by himself, without them calling, disobeying the Lord in the process."==LEARJET

But they must have called him, because it says that he rose up and went WITH them. So i the reader must assume that THEY came to HIM. That is how i read it. If he had rose up and went by himself then why would it say he went WITH them?