Teaching Points
1. Read Numbers 22-24 and make chapter outlines.
ANSWER:
- Num. 22:1-6 Call for Balaam by Balak
- Num. 22:7-14 Balaam refused to go
- Num. 22:15-21 Balaam has consented to go
- Num. 22:22-35 Balaam, the donkey, and the angel of the Lord
- Num. 22:36-41 The meeting between Balaam and Balak
- Num. 23:1-12 At the high places of Baal, Balaam could not curse Israel
- Num. 23:13-26 At the top of Pisgah, Balaam could not curse Israel
- Num. 23:27- 24:10 At the top of Peor, Balaam could not curse Israel
- Num. 24:11-25 Prophecy of Balaam –A star out of Jacob, Edom, Seir, Amalek, Kenites, Asshur, and Eber.
2. What did the Apostle Peter and Jude say about Balaam?
- 2Pet. 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; 2Pet. 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
- Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
OBSERVATION:
- Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness.
- Balaam gone astray for reward.
- Balaam was known for his love of money. 1Tim. 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
3. What did Balak want Balaam to do?
ANSWER:
- To curse Israel.
OBSERVATION:
- Balak knew that he was not able to conquer Israel through military and political means so he tried using a spiritual and religious method.
- Balaam was not able to curse that which was already blessed. It is dangerous to curse that which God blessed. Gen. 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
- Prov. 3:33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
- It is amazing to see how God was protecting Israel from curse of Balaam even though the Israelites were not considered “just” at that time. God truly is long suffering for His people.
3. Read Num. 22:20, 22. Why was God angry with Balaam when God told him to go?
ANSWER:
- God made it clear, “If these men have come to summon you, go with them…” But those men already left without asking Balaam to go with them. So Balaam had no more excuse to go for his “reward”. But he was so determined to get the reward so he got on his donkey to go.
OBSERVATION:
- Opportunity was too great for Balaam to miss out. Balaam felt that the gift of Balak was greater than the eternal reward from God. Not all great opportunities are God’s will. In fact, many of the “open doors” with great benefits might be a trap. A clear spiritual discernment is needed when we are dazzled with offers and gifts.
SOP:
- “Balaam had received permission to go with the messengers from Moab if they came in the morning to call him. But, annoyed at his delay, and expecting another refusal, they set out on their homeward journey without further consultation with him. Every excuse for complying with the request of Balak had now been removed. But Balaam was determined to secure the reward; and, taking the beast upon which he was accustomed to ride, he set out on the journey. He feared that even now the divine permission might be withdrawn, and he pressed eagerly forward, impatient lest he should by some means fail to gain the coveted reward.” {PP 441.2}
APPLICATION QUESTION:
- What reward are you trying to secure today that you know is contrary to God’s will?
4. Read Num. 22:23-34. What means did God use to speak to Balaam, when Balaam did not listen to God’s word?
ANSWER:
- Speaking donkey
OBSERVATION:
- It is interesting to observe the three different ways that the donkey reacted to the angel of the Lord.
- First, the donkey “turned aside out of the way, and went in to the field” (Num. 22:23)
- Second, the donkey “thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall”
- Third, the donkey “fell down under Balaam”
APPLICATION QUESTION:
- Have you ever felt like your own plan “went into the field”? So to speak, “crushed”, against the “wall”? Or “fell down”? Is it possible that God is trying to tell you something?
5. What does it mean to “die the death of the righteous”? What is the only way we can die such a death? Rom. 3:20–24.
ANSWER:
- We can be “righteous” only “in Christ” (Rom. 3:20-25)
- The death of the righteous is better because there is “hope in his death” (Prov. 14:32)
- What hope?
- Hope of resurrection for those who are “dead in Christ” (1 Thess. 4:13-16)
OBSERVATION:
- There are two major resurrections: “both of the just and unjust.” Acts 24:15
- “Just” means righteous in Acts 24:15
- Righteous are those who are “in Christ” (Rom. 3:24); and if they die then they are “dead in Christ” (1 Thess. 4:16)
- And “the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thess. 4:16)
- Rev. 20:5, 6: “This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
APPLICATION:
- People cannot choose how they are going to be born but they can surely choose how they are going to die.
6. Read the parable Balaam told in Numbers 24:15–17. What was this a prophecy of, and how was it fulfilled?
ANSWER:
- The coming of the Messiah.
OBSERVATION:
- This message was already given in Gen. 49:10: “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”
- Shiloh in Hebrew, Shiyloh, shee-lo´; tranquil; Shiloh, an epithet of the Messiah:—Shiloh.
- The wise men studied the prophecy of Balaam. Matt. 2:1,2: “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
- SOP support: “Seeking clearer knowledge, [the wise men] turned to the Hebrew Scriptures. . . . Balaam belonged to the magicians, though at one time a prophet of God; by the Holy Spirit he had foretold the prosperity of Israel and the appearing of the Messiah. . . . The prophecy of Balaam had declared, ‘There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel.’. . . Could this strange star have been sent as a harbinger of the Promised One?”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 59, 60.
- Num. 24:17: “Star” in Hebrew, figuratively, a prince. And “Sceptre” represents king. (Read Esther 8:4)
- Maybe the wise men also studied the book of Daniel, especially chapter 9, where it talks about the timing of the coming Messiah the Prince. (Read Dan. 9:25)
- The book of Revelation talks about the same prophecy in a different way. Rev. 12:5: “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.”
- The book of Hebrews talks about when Jesus was anointed as King as well as High Priest after His resurretion. Heb. 1:8, 9: “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” If you read Heb. 1:5 and compare with Acts 13:33 then you will see that Heb. 1:5 is talking about the resurrection of Jesus. His coronation scene can be read in Rev. 4 and 5.
- It is also interesting to observe that in the book of Revelation Balaam and Balak are mentioned under Pergamos church and the promise to “rule them with the rod of iron” is mentioned under Thyatira church. Read Rev. 2:14, 27. Could you think of any prophetic spiritual insight here?
CONCLUSION:
- The conclusion is pretty clear. 2Cor. 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
APPLICATION QUESTION:
- Have you ever tried to go against the truth and end up supporting the truth? If you have then please share with the class of your “Balaam” experience.
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