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The verses of our study introduce us to a man named Balaam. He’s infamous in the history of Israel, although he is not a Hebrew. He lived in Mesopotamia, a great distance away from where Israel was camped in the wilderness, in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite the city of Jericho.

Israel had military victories over the Amorites and the people of Bashan, so Moab was in great fear because the people of Israel were numerous, and they had seen all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

The king of Moab at that time was Balak. He sent elders from Moab and Midian to hire Balaam to bring a curse against Israel because Israel was too mighty to defeat in battle.

There is debate whether Balaam was a prophet. It is clear from this story that he received instructions from God and heard God’s voice, but it is also clear that his heart was not right. In fact, the scripture refers to this unfolding story as the ‘error of Balaam.’

Balak offered to pay Balaam to curse Israel. At first, God instructed Balaam not to go, “You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” Balak, however, not taking no for an answer, sent greater emissaries with offers of more money, saying, “I will honor you richly, please come and curse this people for me.” This time, God allowed Balaam to go, but with a firm warning that he must speak only as he was instructed.

Balaam becomes an important figure in the Bible. He is mentioned by name more than 60 times. He is mentioned three times in the New Testament, but never in a good light.

There are three parts to this story. Balaam knows he must say only what God tells him to say, and he knows that Israel is blessed and cannot be cursed. But he also wants the riches offered by Balak and so he makes the journey with the elders of Moab and Midian to see what opportunities might arise.
The second part of the story is the fact that Israel is blessed of God and cannot be cursed. They may have grumbled and complained and had bitter hearts, but they are still His people. The promises of God still stand; those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed.

The third lesson comes at the end of the story. Balaam goes with the elders of Moab and Midian, but God only speaks blessings over Israel. In other words, he was hired to curse Israel, but he can’t. But Balaam still wants the riches, so he counsels Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel. He knows that Israel cannot be cursed, but he also knows that if the people of Israel can be tempted to sin against God, a wedge would be driven between the people and the Lord.

I. Strengthen the Character Within

 We can learn from the error of Balaam. This is spiritual warfare. Balak realizes he cannot defeat the armies of Israel, so he offers to pay Balaam to bring a curse. That is the very definition of spiritual warfare.

 You and I are also in spiritual warfare today and there are principles here that apply to us as well. The enemy would very much like to defeat you. If he can get you to compromise your character, he will have won a key battle. You must decide the course of your life.

A. Listen when God warns

 One of the lessons we learn early on in this story is to listen when God gives a warning.

 God warned Balaam before he left with the leaders of Moab, saying, “Only the word which I speak to you shall you do.” In other words, “say what I tell you to say and don’t add a single word to it.”
 God warned him again when the angel of the Lord met him along the way… because the Lord knew the motives of his heart.
Numbers 22:22, 35, God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took a stand in the way as an adversary against him… The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I shall tell you.”

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