Numbers 24:15

Numbers 24:15 says, And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:  Balaam said what he was about to prophesy was what God had shown him.  His eyes were not opened physically but spiritually.  We may have our eyes upon physically and still be blind spiritually.  Verse sixteen adds, He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:  Balaam said he heard God’s voice and saw a vision while he was in a trance but still awake, or had his eyes physically open.  The Bible tells us that in the days before Jesus Christ came to die for our sins that He spoke to people in many ways, but now He speaks to us by our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse seventeen continues, I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.   Matthew Henry says this first referred to David,who did physically destroy Moab, but ultimately referred to Jesus Christ, Who destroys all sinful people.  I guess more accurately we should say Jesus allows them to destroy themselves spiritually by rejecting salvation that He has already provided fot them.  Balaam said he would see Him, which was definitely a reference to Jesus Christ, but not now and he would behold Him, but only from afar.  One day, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, but for too many it will be from far away.  Verse eighteen states, And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.  Balaam said that Israel would also defeat Edom valiantly.  Jesus Christ has defeated all the enemies of God, not by war, but still valiantly on the cross.  Verse nineteen continues, Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.  The destruction of Edom was certain, both physically and spiritually for those who refused to obey God.  Being destroyed physically is not important as long as we are not destroyed spiritually by rejecting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty says, And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.  Balaam then said that the Amalekites, as strong as they were, would one day be utterly destroyed.  No matter how strong a nation may be, those that stand against God will ultimately be utterly destroyed, when Jesus Christ returns in victory if not before.  Verse twenty-one adds, And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.  Verse twenty-two continues, Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.  The Kenites had a strong natural defense where they were located, but it would not keep them from being destroyed.  No matter how strong and well fortified people may be today in their opposition to God, one day they will be utterly destroyed.  Verse twenty-three states, And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!  Balaam asked who should live when God destroyed all these nations.  We know the answer is those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, either as the Messiah Who was to come or the Messiah Who has come.  Verse twenty-four adds, And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.  Balaam concluded by speaking about the coming destruction of Asshur and Eber, which were also to perish forever.  All those who stand against God will one day be sent away into everlasting punishment.  Verse twenty-five continues, And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.  Balaam went back to his home, and so did Balak.  They had gotten together to curse Israel but went away with Balaam having blessed them instead.  Those who would curse God today will one day bless Him instead, but it will be too late for them to avoid being sent away to everlasting destruction. 

Numbeds 24:1

Numbers 24:1 says, And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.  Balaam was finally listening to God and would not go with Balik to attempt to curse Israel since he knew that it pleased God to bless them.  We may have tried to defy God, as Christians, but He will always be ready to show us the truth.  Verse two adds. And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.  When Balaam looked at the people of Israel living in their tents, the Spirit of the LORD came on him.  As followers of Christ, the Spirit of the Lord is always with us, and as long as we are willing to listen to Him, He will open our eyes to God's truth.  Verse three states, And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:  Verse four adds, He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:  Matthew Henry says that Balaam was still trying to exalt himself more than God.   He was the one God was speaking through, so he should be humbled and not exalted.  When we are speaking for God because He has opened our eyes to His word, we must never attempt to exalt ourselves instead of exalting God.  Verse five says, How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!  Balaam then once again begins to proclaim God's blessing on Israel.  God's word is never going to change simply because we want it to say something else for our benefit.  The people of Israel were God's chosen people.  Verse six adds, As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.  Balaam said God had pronounced the people of Israel to be like trees planted by the river.  They were strong and unmoveable, as we as His people are today.   The world will never be more powerful than we are as long as we live by faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse seven continues, He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.  Balaam said that God had revealed to him that the kingdom of Israel would be a bountiful kingdom, planted and watered by God and more powerful than any other kingdom.  As we go into the world today as followers of Christ, we are still empowered by God, and as long as we are faithful to Him, no one can ever defeat us.  Verse eight says, God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.  Balaam said God had brought the people of Israel out of Egypt, and that He would give them victory over all their enemies.  God has brought us out of the bondage of sin today if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and He has already given us the power to defeat all our enemies.  Verse nine adds, He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.  Balaam concluded by saying that God had said that those who blessed Isreal would be blessed and those that cursed them would be cursed, and cursing them was what Balak wanted Balaam to do.  Verse ten states, And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.  Balak became angry with Balaam, and told him that he had brought Balaam there to curse Israel, but that instead he had altogether blessed them.  No matter what the world may want us to do as Christians, even if it will bring us fame and fortune, we must be obedient to God's word.  Verse eleven adds, Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.  Balak told Balaam that he had wanted to promote Balaam to a place of great honor, but that God had prevented him from doing so.  As a prophet of God, as long as Balaam remained true to Him, he was already in a place of grea honor.  As followers of Christ, no matter how much or how little we have of the material things of this world we are already in a place of great honor, and we should never try to change God's word, no matter what we may be offered to do so.  Verse twelve says, And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,  Verse thirteen adds, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?  Balaam asked Balak had he not told Balak’s messengers that no matter what he was promised, he could not go against God's word. Balaam said Balak could not say he was cheating him, since Balaam had warned him to start with that he could only prophesy what God told him to.  As Christians, that is all we can really do today.  Verse fourteen continues, And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.  Balaam told Balak that he was returning to his people, and told Balak to come and hear what would later happen to the people of Israel.  Matthew Henry says that Balaam was telling Balak that he would be shown the way to defeat the people of Israel one day, and that would be by getting them to turn away from God and to turn to idolatry.  We need to be careful that we do not let idolatry creep into our lives as followers of Christ.  As long as we stand firm by faith in God, we will never be defeated spiritually, which is all that really matters.

Numbers 23:13

Numbers 23:13 says, And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.  Balak was not giving up easily.  He told Balaam to come to where he could only see a part of the people of Israel and to curse that part.  Evidently Balaam was still willing to attempt to do what Balak wanted instead of not doing what God had told him not to do.  We cannot compromise God's word by trying to get around it.  Verse fourteen adds, And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.  They once again went up a mountain and built seven altars and offered a bullock and ram on each, but these were not really sacrifices to God, but were attempts to bribe God.  Giving to God in an attempt to get Him to do our will never works.  Verse fifteen continues, And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.  Once more, Balaam told Balak to remain where he was while Balaam went to meet the LORD yonder.  You would think by now that Balaam knew what God had already told him on several occasions.  When God has already given us an answer repeatedly, there is no need to continue to try and get a different answer.  Verse sixteen states, And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.  Once more God put His word in Balaam’s mouth and told him to go tell Balak what he said.  This is all we can do as followers of Christ and still remain faithful to Him.  Verse seventeen adds, And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken?  When Balaam returned, the princes of Moab and Balak stood by his burnt offering, and he asked Balaam what God had said.  He was still expecting a different answer than the one Balaam had already given him from God.  Verse eighteen says, And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:  Balaam told Balak to hear and heed what he said, and this is all we can do as Christians today.  Verse nineteen adds, 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?  Balaam said that God said He was not a man that would lie, nor the son of man who would repent, and asked if He would not do what He said He would.  Once God has proclaimed His word, we are not going to change it just because it would benefit us to do so.  Verse twenty states, Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.  Balaam said he had received God's commandment to bless Israel,  God had blessed them, and Balaam could not change that.  God has blessed those who are His people today, and nothing in the world can ever change that. Verse twenty-one adds, 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.  Though they were often rebellious, those who were truly God's people were forgiven of their sins and then God saw no iniquity in them.  If we put our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, then our sins are forgiven and God sees no iniquity in us.  Verse twenty-two continues, God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.  God brought Israel out of Egypt and gave them the strength of a unicorn, which must have been a great strength.  When God brings us out of our sinful condition when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, He gives us great strength as long asxe are faithful to Him.  Verse twenty-three declares, Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!  Balaam said God had pronounced that there was no enchantment or divination against Jacob and Israel, because if there were people would ask what had God wrought.  Since God is the source of our salvation, we need never fear losing it.  Verse twenty-four adds,  Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.  God said like a hungry lion, Isreal would rise up and could not be stopped.  Neither can we be defeated by the world as Christians today as long as we put our faith in God and are faithful to His word.  Verse twenty-five says, And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.  Balak then told Balaam to neither curse nor bless the people of Israel.  We cannot stay neutral with God.  We either bless Him or curse Him.  Verse twenty-six adds,But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?  At least Balaam recognized that he had to obey God's word.  Even if we want Him to say something else than what He tells us, we must obey God.  Verse twenty-seven continues, And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.  Balak wasn't giving up.  He told Balaam that he would take him to another place, and maybe God would give him another or different answer.  What we must acknowledge is that God is the same no matter where we go, and so is His word.  Verse twenty-eight states, And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. The question is was Balaam still willing to do what Balak said instead of what God said.  Once God has told us something, not just once but several times, we need to listen to Him and not the world, even if we have been promised great riches if we do what the world wants us to do.  Verse thirty continues, And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.  Balak wanted Balaam to do the same thing again, which was to curse at least a part of Israel in the name of God.  No matter how persistent they may be, we as Christians cannot let the people of the world lead us to attempt to do something against God's will.

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.

  

Numbers 22:36

Numbers 22:36 says, And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.  Balak went to meet Balaam when he heard he was almost there.  He evidently thought Balaam was going to do what he wanted him to do.  People will still go out of their way to get Christians to do what they want them to do, without any concern about whether it is God's will or not, if they think they will benefit from it.  Verse thirty-seven adds, And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?  Balak then basically asked Balaam what took him so long to get there, since Balak was going to richly reward him for doing what he wanted Balaam to do.  We should never allow people to think that they can buy our services as followers of Christ, no matter how much they promise to reward us materially.  Verse thirty-eight states, And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.  Balaam should have told Balak that God had already told him not to attempt to do what Balak wanted in the name of God, but he instead said that he could only say what God told Him to say.  We need to be clear when it comes to proclaiming God's word that we can only proclaim His truth, no matter what someone may offer us to do otherwise.  Verse thirty-nine adds, And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.  Balaam went with Balak to Kirjathhuzoth, when he should have simply turned around and gone home, considering that he shouldn't have been there to start with.  If we find ourselves in a place that we know God doesn't want us to be as Christians, we need to turn around and leave.  Verse forty says, And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.  Balak was still trying to flatter Balaam.  We should never allow anyone to think that as followers of Christ that we can be bought with flattery or material riches.  Verse forty-one adds, And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.  The next morning, Balak brought Balaam up to the high places of Baal, a false god worshipped by many people.  Matthew Henry says Balak might have done this thinking that Balaam would be better able to pronounce his curses on Israel from higher up, or closer to God, or maybe that he wanted to be higher up so that he could see the curses take effect.  No matter what the reason someone wants us to go there, we should stay out of places of the worship of false gods, especially if they think we are going to use our relationship with God to benefit them, whether it is God's will or not.  Knowing what God had told him, Balaam had no business going along with Balak. 

Numbers 22:22

Numbers 22:22 says, And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.  Though we were told that God told Balaam he could go, it was more likely his own determination that this was what God said.  Now that Balaam was on his way, an angel of the LORD stood in his way because God’s anger was kindled against him, which it wouldn't have been if God had really given him permission to go.  We may at times convince ourselves that God has given us permission to do something simply because that is what we want to do, but I believe He will always let us know when we are wrong.  Verse twenty-three adds, And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.  Balaam did not see the angel standing in the way with his sword drawn, but his ass, or donkey did, and turned away into a field, where Balaam beat her to get her to go where he wanted to go again.  In this case, Balaam was indeed dumber than a donkey, and if we are trying to do something that we know God doesn't want us to do, then so are we.  Verse twenty-four states, But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.  As Balaam continued on, the angel of the LORD stood in his way in a vineyard with walls on both sides.  There was very little way to turn aside, so turning around would have been the only option.  God will limit our opportunity to sidetrack around His opposition if we continue to go against His word.  Verse twenty-five adds, And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.  Once more, the ass saw the angel and attempted to get away, running into the wall and crushing Balaam’s foot.  Balaam once again beat her to get her to go where he wanted to go, evidently without thinking that God might be trying to tell him something.  If we are determined to do something and think that God has given us permission when He hasn't, then we need to at least be aware when He sends us warnings that He hasn't.  Verse twenty-six says, And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.  The angel went a little further ahead, to a narrow place where there was no room to turn aside and get around him.  God will ultimately make it nearly impossible for us to go against His will without directly confronting Him.  Verse twenty-seven adds, And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.  Once more, the ass saw the angel, and this time, with no way around, fell down under Balaam, who then beat her with his staff.  The ass was trying to save Balaam, and was being beaten for doing so.  Sometimes, we may treat people who attempt to get us to turn around when we are going in the wrong direction the same way.  Verse twenty-eight declares, And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?  God enabled the donkey to speak, asking Balaam what she had done to deserve being beaten three times.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.  Balaam told the donkey it was because the donkey had mocked him, and that if he had a sword, he would kill the donkey.   Evidently, he did not find it strange that the donkey was talking, which only God could cause to happen.  If we are determined to do something contrary to God's will, we may overlook even the strongest warnings that God sends us that we need to turn around.  Verse thirty states, And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.  The ass asked Balaam if she had not been his loyal ass and had she ever done anything like this before in the time Balaam had ridden her, and Balaam said no.  Sometimes, people may turn against loyal friends if they are trying to get them to turn away from doing something that God has told them not to do.  Verse thirty-one adds, Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.  God then opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw the angel standing in his way with a drawn sword.  If we are receptive to God's word, He will always open our eyes to what He is telling us, and in this case, He was atelling Balaam that he was not to go to Balak to do what he wanted Balaam to do.  Verse thirty-two states, And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:  The angel then asked Balaam why he had beaten his ass three times, since the angel had stood in his way since Balaam was perverting God's word.  Since Balaam could now see the angel, God spoke to him through the angel.  Sometimes, it may take us awhile to listen to God, but He will always be telling us by various ways if we are going against His will that we need to turn around.  Verse thirty-three continues, And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.  The angel then told Balaam that the donkey had spared his life three times by turning away from going where Balaam was determined to go, because the angel stood ready to slay him.  If someone trys to keep us as followers of Christ from doing something against God's will, we certainly don't need to get angry with them about it.  Verse thirty-four states, And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. Balaam finally acknowledged that the angel of the LORD stood in his way, and said if his actions displeased him, that he would turn around.  It really wasn't the angel who was displeased, but God, for Whom the angel was but a messenger.  Our going against God's will as Christians always will displease God.  Verse thirty-five adds, And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.  The angel then gave Balaam permission to go on with the men to Balak, but to only speak what God told Him to speak to him, and Balaam went on his way with them.  As long as we are speaking God's word, I believe He will allow us the freedom to do so anywhere, but if we begin to use God's word for our own profit, we put ourselves in real danger of being rebuked by God.

Numbers 22:15

Numbers 22:15 says, And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.  Balak once again sent princes to Balaam to get him to do what he wanted him to do instead of what God had told him to do.  We are told that there were more of the princes this time and that they were mote honorable.  Balik appealed to Balaam's pride by sending more, higher ranking men to him, and Matthew Henry said probably with more money to offer him.  We should not be surprised if the people of the world flatter us today as followers of Christ to attempt to draw us away from doing His will, and sometimes they may even tempt us  with more money.  Verse sixteen adds, And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:  These princes said that Balak asked that Balaam not allow anything to prevent him from coming to him and doing what he wanted Balaam to do.  This would have included God, since Balaam had already told Balak that God prevented him from coming.  Once God forbids us from doing something, no amount of flattery or money should cause us to do it.  Verse seventeen continues, For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.  Balak promised Balaam very great honor and anything he wanted if he would just come and curse the people of Israel, God's chosen people, which God had already forbidden him to do.  No amount of honor or money should tempt us to do something contrary to God's will today.  Verse eighteen states, And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.  Balaam stood firm in his obedience to God at this point, saying even a house full of silver and gold would not get him to go against God's will.  We still need to stand firm in our obedience to God today, no matter how much the world may offer us to go against Him.  Verse nineteen adds, Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.  Balaam again asked the princes to stay for the night while he sought God's will, which had already been revealed to him previously.  If God has already told us what to do, we do not need to let prestige or money change our mind about it. Sometimes we say we are seeking God's will, when in reality we are just seeking His endorsement of what we plan to do.  Verse twenty continues, And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.  God this time told Balaam to go with them, but to only say what God told him to say.  He was not now being sent to do what Balak wanted him to do, but to share God's word instead.  God did not change His mind about Balaam going and cursing the people of Israel, but only told him that if he was determined to go, which his asking God once again about something that should have already been settled, then he could go, but he was still to obey God in what he said.  We may be allowed by God to find ourselves in the wrong place, but even if we are we must remain true to God's word.  Verse twenty-one concludes, And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.  Balaam rose up early and went with the princes.  Since he knew God had not changed His mind about what Balaam could do when he got there, there was really no need for him to go.  We need to be careful that we don't allow ourselves to be tempted to go somewhere that God has already told us not to go.