Feb 11

Num 22-24
Are you are a good prophet or a bad prophet?  Will the REAL prophet (ass?) please speak up!!

Set the scene:
As you can see from the map, the Moabites and Ammonites (who are decendants of Lot and his daughters) are west of the Jordon River. In the small yellow cicle (you can click on the map to make it bigger) is where God eventually takes Moses before he dies to see the Promised Land, to the top of Mt. Nebo. I got a little lost in the geography, but commentators say that Balaam the prophet from the Mesopotamia area (near where Abraham was originally) some 350 miles away (this helped me understand Balaam a little better- remember other people there 'sort of' worshiped God, but also their idols. Terah, Abraham's father and Jacob's uncle Laban for example).

We see that they are terrified of Israel. Really they didn't need to be because it is further explained in Deuteronomy that they were not to take any of their land Deut 2:18-19. But never the less, they are terrified and set out to hire the most famous prophet in the land. Balaam. At times he talks a good talk, like maybe he's a true prophet. Kind of reminds me of these mediums you see on TV who talk about love and God and finding your lost loves ones, talking to the dead etc. They know ABOUT God and claim their power comes from Him, but they are involved in activities which God prohibits. Deut 18:10-12. There are only 2 sources of power in the world God and the one who marquerades as an 'angel of light': Satan.

This whole story is confusing and the last time we read it, my sister and I had quite a debate on it. At that time my conclusion was that God did not really speak to Balaam but he said that he had and it was just a bargaining tactic to get more money. That may still be the case, but now I kind of think that God did speak to him but the reason that He confronts him on his donkey is that he knows that it's in his heart to curse the people even though He told him to do "only what He tell him to do" Num 22:20 because it's repeated now in Num 22:35. Amusingly, Balaam does not seem overly suprised to have his donkey talk or to meet an angel in the road. As a side note, it makes you wonder what all animals are able to see. They certainly have God-given instincts that are totally unexplainable in the natural. Balaam seems like kind of a crusty old charachter that has 'seen it all'. And we know from NT references (and upcoming reading) that he was indeed, a 'bad prophet' and that his donkey was smarter than him! See 2 Pet 2:15-16, Jude 1:11, Rev 2:14

Some ancient Jewish historians have said that his 'gift' was knowing exactly when God's wrath was going to strike. This wouldn't be particularly difficult for the demons to know, and therefore let Balaam know, but here, God intervenes and uses Balaam to bless. Even though it appears that he is seeking God and even offering sacrifices as God requires, we see that he had been using sorcery all the time Num 24:1 and when he sees all of the Israelites (he had only seen part of them the first two times). Then the most AMAZING thing happens- God uses this wicked prophet to prophesy of the coming Messiah: "I see him,but not now. I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a sceptor will rise out of Israel". Num 24:16-17

This puts me in mind of when Jesus encountered people with demons in the NT and they had NO CHOICE but to proclaim Him to be God. Matt 8:28-33, Mark 1:23-27.