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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4a
Balak was disappointed and angry. He exclaims, “What hast thou
done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou
hast blessed them altogether.” Balak thinks it is the grand appearance
of the Israelites in their tents, which Balaam views from a high mount,
that keeps him from cursing them. He thinks if he takes him to
another place, where Israel will not appear to such advantage, he
can obtain a curse from Balaam. Again, at Zophim, at the top of
Pisgah, Balaam offered burnt-offerings, and then went by himself to
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commune with the angel of God. And the angel told Balaam what to
say. When he returned, Balak inquired anxiously, “What hath the Lord
spoken?” “And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and
hear. Hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor. God is not a man, that
he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent. Hath he
said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make
it good? Behold, I have received commandment to bless, and he hath
blessed, and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob,
neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel. The Lord his God is with
him, and the shout of a king is among them. God brought them out of
Egypt. He hath as it were the strength of a unicorn. Surely, there is
no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against
Israel. According to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel,
What hath God wrought! Behold, the people shall rise up as a great
lion, and lift up himself as a young lion. He shall not lie down until he
eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.”
Balak still flattered himself with the vain hope that God was subject
to variation, like man. Balaam informs him that God will never be
induced to break his word, or alter his purpose concerning Israel, and
that it is in vain for him to hope to obtain a curse for his people, or to
expect him to reverse the blessing he has promised to them. And no
enchantment or curse uttered by a diviner could have the least influence
upon that nation that has the protection of Omnipotence.
Balaam had wished to appear to be favorable to Balak, and had
permitted him to be deceived, and think that he used superstitious
ceremonies and enchantments when he besought the Lord. But as
he followed out the command given him of God, he grew bolder in
proportion as he obeyed the divine impulse, and he laid aside his
pretended conjuration, and, looking toward the encampment of the
Israelites, he beholds them all encamped in perfect order, under their
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