The Unwilling Prophet (22:1-41)
Neal Pollard
With Israel’s wilderness victories, word begins to travel and new enemies began to emerge. The Moabites are afraid of God’s people, and instead of trying to battle them head on they come up with an unconventional plan. King Balak, the mastermind of this plan, forgets one important factor: The One who is causing Israel to succeed.
THE PROPOSITION (1-7). The Moabites saw what Israel did to the Amorites and were afraid (1-3). Moab conspires with the Midianites (4). As part of this, Barak sends for Balaam and asks him to curse Israel (5-6). All we know of Balaam is that who he blessed was blessed, and who he cursed was cursed (6). Messengers arrive with payment and the words of Balak (7).
THE REVELATION (8-13). God tells Balaam not to curse Israel, a message he conveys to the messengers. Surely Balaam knew it would be wrong to curse Israel, and a righteous man would have spoke from that conviction. Instead, he refuses to go because God will not him. Yet, he knew for sure that God had spoken.
THE DETERMINATION (14-21). Barak sends a more impressive delegation to get him to go. The Moabites and Midianites offer to make him rich. God allows it, but only to speak what He says. Balaam saddles up his donkey to go with them. God has already spoken definitively, but he holds out hope that He would say “more” to him (19). Some will not be satisfied until they hear what they want to hear.
THE MIRACULOUS OPPOSITION AND PRESERVATION (22-36). God was angry Balaam was going. It appears Balaam wants to curse Israel though he says all the right things. Balaam’s donkey sees the Angel of the Lord and changes course. It ultimately speaks to Balaam, which incredibly does not seem odd to the prophet. Then, God allows Balaam to see the angel, who rebukes him. Balaam apologizes, offers to turn back, but is permitted to go. God will not let a covetous prophet subvert His overarching purpose.
THE PREPARATION (36-41). Barak is impatient, ready for Balaam to curse Israel. The prophet reminds the pagan king that he can only speak God’s message. The two ascend the heights of the area and look over the part of Israel that they could see, a fraction of them (41).
This text really intrigues us. We don’t fully understand Balaam’s relationship with God, his mysterious ability, or even Balaam’s true motivation and intention. He says all the right things, but there’s obviously something very different going on in his own intention and motivation. God will use this whole situation to reveal His glory, though this generation of Israel will show their true religious colors ultimately. We do know God wants us to do the right things, and He wants us to do them for the right reasons. Our motive must be His glory and our desire to submit to His perfect will, crowding out any ulterior motive that serves our fleshly desires.
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