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Patriarchs and Prophets
severed all connection with Moab. He would no longer have presumed
upon the mercy of God, but would have returned to Him with deep
repentance. But Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness, and these
he was determined to secure.
Balak had confidently expected a curse that would fall like a wither-
ing blight upon Israel; and at the words of the prophet he passionately
exclaimed, “What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine
enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.” Balaam,
seeking to make a virtue of necessity, professed to have spoken from
a conscientious regard for the will of God the words that had been
forced from his lips by divine power. His answer was, “Must I not
take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth?”
Balak could not even now relinquish his purpose. He 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. If
Balaam could be induced to curse them in detached parties, the whole
camp would soon be devoted to destruction. On the top of an elevation
called Pisgah another trial was made. 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 to the anxious, expectant company the question
was put to him, “What hath the Lord spoken?” The answer, as before,
struck terror to the heart of king and princes:
“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.”