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From Eternity Past
should inspire evil men to misrepresent and destroy God’s people, this
occurrence would strengthen their courage and faith in God.
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The king of Moab, disheartened and distressed, exclaimed, “Nei-
ther curse them at all, nor bless them at all.” Yet he determined to
make another trial. He now conducted Balaam to Mount Peor, where
was a temple devoted to the licentious worship of Baal. Here the same
number of sacrifices were offered. But Balaam made no pretense of
sorcery. He looked abroad upon the tents of Israel, and the divine
message came from his lips:
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob,
And thy tabernacles, O Israel!
As the valleys are they spread forth,
as gardens by the river’s side... .
And his King shall be higher than Agag,
and his kingdom shall be exalted... .
Blessed is he that blesseth thee,
and cursed is he that curseth thee.
Balaam prophesied that Israel’s king would be greater than Agag. This
was the name given to the kings of the Amalekites, who were
at this time a very powerful nation. But Israel, if true to God,
would subdue all her enemies. The King of Israel was the Son
of God; and His throne was one day to be establish in the earth,
and His power to be exalted above all earthly kingdoms.
Balaam Loses All He Tried to Gain
Balak was overwhelmed with disappointed hope, fear, and rage.
He was indignant that Balaam could have given him the least encour-
agement of a favorable response. He regarded with scorn the prophet’s
compromising, deceptive course, and exclaimed fiercely, “Therefore
now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor;
but, lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor.” The answer was
that the king had been forewarned that Balaam could speak only the
message given him from God.
Before returning to his people, Balaam uttered a beautiful prophecy
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of the world’s Redeemer and the final destruction of the enemies of
God: