Numbers 23:1

Numbers 23:1 says, And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.  Though God had told Balaam not to prophesy against, or curse Israel, he was still allowing Balak to believe that he was going to.  He told Balak to have seven altars built and to prepare seven oxen and seven rams.  When we know what God has told us not to do, we don't need to do anything but obey Him.  Verse two adds, And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.  Balaam thought he could win over God by offering sacrifices to Him, and Balak was willing to do whatever he said and even participate with him in doing whatever he was doing.  Matthew Henry says Balaam was still looking for the reward from cursing Israel and enjoying the power that Balak was given him.  We must never allow power and material wealth to be a driving force in our life as we claim to be followers of Christ.  Verse three continues, And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.  Balaam told Balak to stand by his burnt offerings, which they really were, and not God's burnt offerings, which they weren't, because they were not offered for the right reason.  If we give something to God today in hope of convincing Him to do what we want, especially if He has already told us that we are not to do it, it is our sacrifice and not His.  Verse four states, And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.  God met Balaam, and Balaam bragged about what he had done for God, though it had really been done for his own benefit and not really to honor God.  There is no purpose in our telling God what we have done for Him if our purpose is to get Him to do what we want instead of doing what He has already told us to do.  Verse five adds, And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.  God put His word in Balaam’s mouth and told him to return to Balak and speak God's word, and not what Balak wanted to hear.  We can only speak God's word if we are to remain faithful followers of Christ, and should never just say what the world wants to hear.  Verse six adds, And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.  Balaam returned to Balak, who stood by his burnt sacrifices along with all the princes of Moab.  Balaam had the attention of all those in power, and he possibly felt that he had great power at that moment, but God was still in charge.  Verse seven says, And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.  Balaam stated why he was there, and that was to curse Jacob and defy Israel, at the request of Balak.   Verse eight adds, How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?  Balaam then asked how he could curse those that God had not cursed and defy those that God had not defied.  This is the question that we need to ask today, with the understanding that instead of coming to curse people that Jesus said that He came to seek and save those who were lost.  Verse nine continues, For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.  Balaam said he saw God from the top of the rocks, and that the people of Israel would dwell alone.  They would not be defeated by any other nation as long as God was with them, nor will we be defeated by any earthly power as long as we are obedient to God.  Verse ten concludes, Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!   Balaam then spoke of the vastness of the people of Israel and asked who could count them, and said let him die the death of the righteous.  This should be our goal as Christians today.  Verse eleven states, And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.  Balak asked Balaam what had he done to him, blessing Balak's enemy, Israel, instead of cursing them, but it was God Who was blessing them and not Balaam.  We cannot curse what God has blessed.  Verse twelve adds, And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?  Balaam asked if he should not take heed of what God had put in his mouth.  We need to always take heed of what God says and only speak what He tells us to, as followers of Christ, even if it may be the opposite of what we want to hear.