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Commentary on "The 'Madness' of the Prophet"
Day 2: Sunday, November 29, 2009
Today’s topic, “A Fearful and Deluded King”, looks at how Balak, the king of Moab dealt with his fear of the formidable Israelite nation camped nearby. In desperation, Balak sought the services of a prophet of the true God, the same God who had brought Israel out of Egypt. It would seem to us, the author states, that Balak’s plans to curse Israel were doomed from the start because Balaam was a prophet of Israel’s God. Perhaps he sought Balaam’s help because he believed that Balaam’s blessings and curses were powerfully effective.
Observations
The author finds it ironic that Balak would seek the services of a true prophet of God, and wonders why he didn’t go to his own “holy men” for answers. However, given Balak’s religious beliefs and culture, it was logical for him to obtain help from someone with a reputation of success in the spiritual world. When Balak saw how the local forces, both military and spiritual, had been powerless against Moab’s foes, he was ready to take extraordinary action. As Numbers 22:6-7 makes it clear, Balak was willing to part with much of his treasure for Balaam to conjure up curses by his witchcraft.
Balak was much like a Mafia godfather who had to hire some muscle to push out a stronger rival gang that was moving in on his neighborhood. Balaam was the hired gun who appeared to have the spiritual connections and firepower to change the fortunes of Israel.
As for Balaam having been a prophet of God, we need to look closer at the story. It was not for any success as a prophet of God that Balak wanted to hire Balaam. One does not build a powerful diviner’s reputation while declaring the words of the Lord. The two occupations are completely incompatible; no man can serve two masters. Nor does one become a famous diviner overnight, but very likely through years of study and successful practice in the occult arts. In this story, it becomes clear that Balaam was a “spiritual heavyweight,” a well established diviner whose sorcery was admired and feared throughout the region. Balaam was Balak’s kind of prophet.
Balak told Balaam, “he whom you bless is blessed, and whom you curse is cursed.” But God told Balaam, “You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” (Numbers 22:12) Four hundred and seventy years before, God had made this promise to Abraham in Genesis 12, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.” Perhaps Balaam was not aware of the covenant with Abraham, but the Israelites knew of it. If Balaam was allowed to curse Israel, word would get out that they are now under a curse, and their God was unable prevent it. Israel’s faith often vacillated between Yahweh and the Baals, and they seemed to ask, “What has He done for us lately?” Balaam stood as a threat to faith in the covenant with Abraham and his descendants. He was also claiming powers that only God possessed and was trying to challenge the sovereignty of the God of Israel. No wonder God intervened.
Summary
- Balak sought out Balaam because of his own faith in divination in which Balaam was renowned.
- Balaam had a well established reputation in the practice of witchcraft before Balak sent his delegation to seek Balaam’s services.
- Balaam could not have been a prophet of God; witchcraft and the call of a prophet of God are incompatible.
- The king of Moab attributes the absolute power of blessings and curses to Balaam, challenging God’s sovereignty and His covenant of blessing with Abraham. God must intervene for the sake of His honor and covenant.
GO TO DAY 3
Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised November 28, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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