Balaam
Who was this Balaam?
“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.”—Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 439.
Read Numbers 22:7–21. On the surface, it looks as if Balaam is standing firm for the Lord. However, if you read carefully, what hints can you find of his playing with temptation?
Balaam had urged the messengers to tarry with him that night, declaring that he would give no decided answer till he had asked counsel of the Lord. Balaam must have realized that his curses would not hurt Israel, for Balaam knew, or at least had known, the Lord. He really didn’t need to ask the Lord; perhaps He did so hoping there would be another answer. Either way, by having them linger when he should have dismissed them right away, he opened himself up to temptation. After all, the men had come with “the fees for divination” (vs. 7, NRSV).
Notice what happened at the second invitation, when they promised him even more. God had said that “if the men come to call” he may go, provided he speak only what God said (vs. 20). But in the early morning—before the princes could say anything—Balaam saddled his donkey and rode off at once with ambassadors of Moab. In other words, despite all the pretense of faithfulness and his claims about not being able to be bought at any price, he was eager to get all the money that was offered to him.
| Read 2 Peter 2:14–16. How did Peter view the actions of Balaam? What warning is there for us regarding covetousness and temptation? Why is it so easy to rationalize away our sin to the point that it doesn’t seem sinful? |
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