Balaam Tries to Curse Israel
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have returned to God with deep repentance. But Balaam loved the
wages of unrighteousness.
Balak had expected a curse that would fall like a withering blight
upon Israel, and he passionately exclaimed, “What hast thou done
unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast
blessed them altogether.” Balaam professed to have spoken from a
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conscientious regard for the will of God the words that had been forced
from his lips by divine power. “Must I not take heed to speak that
which the Lord hath put in my mouth?”
Balak Tries Again
Balak decided that the imposing spectacle presented by the vast
encampment of the Hebrews had so intimidated Balaam that he dared
not practice his divinations against them. The king determined to take
the prophet to some point where only a small part of the host might
be seen. Again seven altars were erected, whereon were placed the
same offerings as at the first. The king and his princes remained by the
sacrifices, while Balaam retired to meet with God. Again the prophet
was entrusted with a divine message, which he was powerless to alter
or withhold.
When he appeared, the question was put to him, “What hath
the Lord spoken?” The answer struck terror to the heart of king and
princes:
God is not a man, that He should lie, ...
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.
The great magician had tried his power of enchantment, but while
Israel was under the divine protection, no people or nation, aided by
all the power of Satan, should be able to prevail against them. All
the world should wonder at the marvelous work of God—that a man
should be so controlled by divine power as to utter, instead of impre-
cations, rich and precious promises in sublime poetry. When Satan