Balaam
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there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face
of the earth, and they abide over against me: come now therefore,
I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me:
peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may
drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is
blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.”
Balaam was once a good man and a prophet of God; but he had
apostatized, and had given himself up to covetousness; yet he still
professed to be a servant of the Most High. He was not ignorant of
God’s work in behalf of Israel; and when the messengers announced
their errand, he well knew that it was his duty to refuse the rewards
of Balak and to dismiss the ambassadors. But he ventured to dally
with temptation, and urged the messengers to tarry with him that
night, declaring that he could give no decided answer till he had asked
counsel of the Lord. Balaam knew that his curse could not harm
Israel. God was on their side, and so long as they were true to Him
no adverse power of earth or hell could prevail against them. But his
pride was flattered by the words of the ambassadors, “He whom thou
blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.” The bribe of
costly gifts and prospective exaltation excited his covetousness. He
greedily accepted the offered treasures, and then, while professing
strict obedience to the will of God, he tried to comply with the desires
of Balak.
In the night season the angel of God came to Balaam with the
message, “Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people:
for they are blessed.”
In the morning Balaam reluctantly dismissed the messengers, but
he did not tell them what the Lord had said. Angry that his visions of
gain and honor had been suddenly dispelled, he petulantly exclaimed,
“Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go
with you.”
Balaam “loved the wages of unrighteousness.”
2 Peter 2:15
. The
sin of covetousness, which God declares to be idolatry, had made him
a timeserver, and through this one fault Satan gained entire control of
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him. It was this that caused his ruin. The tempter is ever presenting
worldly gain and honor to entice men from the service of God. He tells
them it is their overconscientiousness that keeps them from prosperity.
Thus many are induced to venture out of the path of strict integrity.