Balaam Tries to Curse Israel
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trary to the will of God. But he longed to comply with the king’s
request. Although the will of God had already been made known to
him, he urged the messengers to tarry that he might further inquire of
God.
In the night, the Lord appeared to Balaam and said, “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.” Thus far the Lord would permit
Balaam to follow his own will, because he was determined upon it.
He chose his own course and then endeavored to secure the sanction
of the Lord.
Thousands at the present day are pursuing a similar course. Their
duty is plainly set before them in the Bible or clearly indicated by
circumstances and reason. But because these evidences are contrary
to their inclinations, they set them aside and presume to go to God
to learn their duty. They pray long and earnestly for light. But God
will not be trifled with. He often permits such persons to follow their
own desires and suffer the result. “My people would not hearken to
My voice... . So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they
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walked in their own counsels.”
Psalm 81:11, 12
. When one clearly sees
a duty, let him not go to God with the prayer that he may be excused
from performing it.
A Donkey “Sees” More Than a Prophet
The messengers from Moab, annoyed at Balaam’s delay and ex-
pecting another refusal, set out on their homeward journey without
further consultation. Every excuse for complying with the request of
Balak had now been removed. But Balaam was determined to secure
the reward. Taking the beast upon which he was accustomed to ride,
he set out and pressed eagerly forward, impatient lest he fail to gain
the coveted reward.
But “the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against
him.” The animal saw the divine messenger unperceived by the man
and turned aside from the highway into a field. With cruel blows,
Balaam brought the beast back into the path. But again, in a narrow
place shut in by walls, the angel appeared. The animal, trying to
avoid the menacing figure, crushed her master’s foot against the wall.