Numbers 24:1–2: “Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.”

February 3rd, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Twice in Numbers 23 King Balak took Balaam, the backslidden prophet, to a place where they could look out over the Israelites. He asked Balaam to curse the people. So Balaam made sacrifices and waited to see what the Lord would show him, but instead of cursing the people he blessed them. In Numbers 24, Balak asked Balaam a third time to curse the people of God. The first two times Balaam walked off at a distance and tried to use sorcery. He was consulting the devil, becoming double-minded, having a divided heart. But the third time he did something different; he simply went and met with God to hear what God would say to him. Balaam had sought power from polar-opposite sources. And at last he was tuned in enough to recognize that God’s hand of blessing was on the Israelites, and this time the Spirit of God came upon him.

We shouldn’t read too much into this and assume Balaam was now right with God. Scripture records other occasions where the Spirit of God came upon wicked men, such as the high priest Caiaphas in the gospel of John: “Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation” (John 11:51). Again, just like when God used Balaam’s donkey to speak to him, this should give us pause. We must be careful not to assume too much when the Spirit of God uses us to bless someone else.

God’s grace is an extraordinary gift, so generously given, even when our own attitudes and holiness are at their lowest point. This backslidden man of God was struggling with his own desire for material gain. But against that black backdrop we find the bright light of God’s grace trying to break through into his soul.

“LORD, we do not want to be so stubborn that You have to pry us out of our sin. Give us an undivided heart and singleness of mind to walk with You in integrity this day.”

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Numbers 24 KJV

¹ And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.  ²And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him. ³ And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: ⁴ He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance , but having his eyes open: ⁵ How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! ⁶ 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. ⁷ 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. ⁸ 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. ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. ¹¹ Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORDhath kept thee back from honour. ¹² And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, ¹³ If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak? ¹⁴And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. ¹⁵ And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: ¹⁶ He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance , but having his eyes open: ¹⁷ 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.  ¹⁸ And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. ¹⁹ Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. ²⁰ And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek wasthe first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.   ²¹ And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. ²² Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.   ²³ And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! ²⁴ And ships shall comefrom the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever. ²⁵ And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.