Message: “Balaam Who What and Why” from Pastor Joe

Balaam - Who and What and Why Lesson Objective: To look at the character Balaam and answer some of the mystery surrounding him. Personal Objective:  To idenitfy at minimum three examples in the story of Balaam that we can apply when we  have temptation in our lives that can separate us from God. Scripture : Numbers  Chapter 22 Story-  A lady had no money and no food so she prayed to God.  So she prayed every day in a very loud voice seeking help from God.  One day her neighbor got tired of hearing the praying and decided to go and buy groceries for the lady.  He knocked on the door to deliver the food and the lady said “Thank you God”.  The neighbor then said that God did not buy the food but he did. The Lady responded “yes but God told you to do it”. Introduction Balaam is a character in the Bible that is found primarily in Numbers Chapter 22 Mostly known for the talking donkey The story leaves us with a couple of questions. Was Balaam an Israelite? Was Balaam a true prophet of God? What does the story of Balaam teach us today? Story Numbers 22: 2-6 Then he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near [b]the River in the land of [c]the sons of his people, to call him, saying: “Look, a people has come from Egypt. See, they cover the face of the earth, and are settling next to me! 6 Therefore please come at once, curse this people for me, for they are too mighty for me. Lesson 1- We will be tempted Numbers 22: 7-14 And God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are” 13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to give me permission to go with you.” Lesson 2 God can say no and we need to hear the no for God knows best   Numbers 22: 15-17 Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more [d]honorable than they. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me; 17 for I will certainly honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore please come, curse this people for me.’ ” Lesson 3: Satan will not stop but will look for other ways to entice us Numbers 22: 18-22 Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me. 20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you—that you shall do. So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him a.Lesson 4: Be careful that we do not continue to ask God for something for the wrong motive Numbers 22; 22-35 Story of the donkey talking and the Angel Lesson 5: God gives us warning signs Numbers Chapter 23 Balaam spoke the words of God 3 times Lesson 6 : God’s will will be done regardless of the vessel   Balaam does tell Balak how to defeat the Israelites by trickery but plan fails Lesson 7—some of us never learn and Balaam paid ultimately with his life Conclusion Question: Was Balaam an Israelite? Answer: No he was probably Aramaic Question: Was Balaam a true prophet of God? Answer No God talked thru him just as he spoke thru the donkey. He was known as a prophet of curses (seer).  Some may suggest that he was a good prophet gone bad but he never was a prophet of God which is why the King summoned him to curse the Isrealites. Question: Is the story true? Answer ‘Alla tablets found in 1967 in Jordan tell the story of the same person with some differences written on tablets dated 1100 BCE There is a book of Balaam Other scriptures 1.   Deuteronomy 23:5 Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee. , 2.   Peter-2 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness 3.   Revelations 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. We must be careful when we see someone who is called a prophet.

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