Numbers 23–24: Balaam’s 4-fold warning for the end-times generation

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The New Testament has multiple warnings about the “error of Balaam” (Jude 11) and “teaching of Balaam” (Rev. 2:12–17), specifically for the Body of Messiah at the apocalyptic time around the Day of the LORD.

But what does the amazing account in Torah reading בָּלָק Balak (Numbers 22:2–25:9) of a talking donkey and double-agent prophet have to teach us today? In short, remember who we are as “treasures” of the Kingdom of Heaven, why that’s special, and whether we are being transformed into people who have the character and heart of the Messiah.

We will be reviewing this parashah in the reverse, so in a sense, I’m focusing on “the good stuff” to answer the question “Why should I care about this?”

There were a lot of warning signs that the main actors in this story should have noticed. There are plenty of warnings given to those who were straying into error to prevent them from falling into catastrophe. 

We are actually going to start today’s parashah in the Book of Revelation. Two of the messages to the seven assemblies in Revelation directly and indirectly reference this incident with Bilam and Israel’s later apostasy at his devising.

• • Message to Ephesus (Rev. 2:1–7)
• • Message to Pergamum (Rev. 2:12–17)

The church in Ephesus saw the warning signs and paid heed to them. They did not tolerate evil men. They examined and tested every statement, every person who claimed to be “apostles” and did not listen to those who were false. Yeshua commended them for this close examination. The Ephesians wanted to make sure that these messengers were speaking a message similar to the teaches of the Messiah Yeshua. 

Yet they were losing their first love. Their bodies were in the communion but their hearts, souls, minds and strength were elsewhere. 

The church in Pergamum, on the other hand, were tolerating evil by allowing some who were holding to “the teaching of Bilam” into fellowship. 

The Apostle Paul discusses the issue of eating meat sacrificed to idols. On the one hand, Paul teaches us that the idols have no power compared to the Creator God. On the other hand, we also should not do anything that can cause others to stumble in their faith. 

We see in Numbers the battle between the Spirit of Peor and the Spirit of God. 

We meet up with Bilam elsewhere in the Bible:

• Midian is destroyed along with Bilam (Numbers 31)
• Bilam is killed (Josh. 13:22)
• Recounting the Balak-Bilam plot: “I would not listen to him” (Josh. 24:9-10)
• After hearing of the treachery of Bilam, returned Israel banned foreigners (Neh. 13:1-3)
• Bilam’s oracle helped show the power of God (Micah 6:5)
• Way of Cain, error of Bilam, rebellion of Korach (Jude 11)

Balak ultimately did get what he paid for, which is trouble on the people of Israel. It didn’t come about in the way he thought it would, though. However, Balak also received four prophesies that fortold his own destruction and the eventual destruction of his nation. 

What is in a name?

בִּלְעָם Bilam (H1109)

• Thought to be a combination of “בֶּלַע and עָם ‘destruction of people’ which accords with his reputation as a charmer and conjurer.” (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament)
•  בָּלַע bala’ (H1104): “swallow down, swallow up, engulf (idea of quickness, suddenness)” (Brown Driver Briggs)
• עַם, עָם ‘am (H5971, 5993): “people” (BDB)
• “Some have suggested that Nikolaos ‘conquerors of the people’ in Rev. 2:6, 15 is a translation of this name.” (TWOT)

Bilam’s first prophecy (Num. 23:1-12)

Now Bilam’s mouth is opened. He has become the donkey. Bilam has become the channel speaking God’s words. 

““My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab counseled And what Bilam son of Beor answered him, And from Shittim to Gilgal, So that you might know the righteous acts of the LORD.”” (Micah 6:5 NAS95)

As we look into the first prophesy, one question we can ask is “Why does Israel dwell apart from the nations?” 

“‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’” (Exodus 19:4–6 NASB) 

How did Yeshua explain treasure in his parables? A treasure is precious, something you search for if you can’t find it. 

The first generation made the mistake of presuming they were the same as the other nations, but they were not the same. They were not different because of how good they were but because of how good God is. 

““You have today declared the LORD to be your God, and that you would walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice. “The LORD has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the LORD your God, as He has spoken.”” (Deuteronomy 26:17–19 NAS95)

We go along with His instructions because it gives us freedom. God’s law is the true law of liberty. It doesn’t just make our lives better but those of our neighbors, too. It keeps us away from the deep end of life. It can also pull us out of the deep end of life. 

“Fear not, O Jacob My servant,’ declares the LORD, ‘And do not be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar And your offspring from the land of their captivity. And Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease, And no one will make him afraid.

 ‘For I am with you,’ declares the LORD, ‘to save you; For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you, Only I will not destroy you completely. But I will chasten you justly And will by no means leave you unpunished.’” (Jeremiah 30:10–11 NAS95)

The world has experienced the rise and falls of empires but the Jewish enclaves refused to succumb to the temptation to assimilate and because of that, they were a witness of God’s word. For example, in Iran, there is still a vibrant Jewish community that is over 2000 years old. 

We also see that the Armenians, who were the first Gentile nation to accept Yeshua, stood firm even as the Turks inflicted genocide on them just over 100 years ago. 

We also witness in our own time the witness of the martyrs in the Middle East who have stood firm, as Islamic radicals marked their homes, businesses and churches for desecration and destruction. 

“For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”

This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:6–12 NAS95)

There is a lot of decay and destruction in this world, but it wasn’t always this way and it won’t be this way forever. God is preparing to reset this world. 

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.” (Titus 2:11–3:2 NAS95)

This is what it means to be a peculiar people and a special treasure. We are to act differently than those of the nations. Do we dress differently but act the same (or worse) than the world?

The message of dwelling apart is not just for their time but for our own. 

“I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” (Revelation 18:4–5 NAS95)

Bilaam’s prophesies were a four-fold blessing to Israel but Bilaam threw a curveball and caused them to curse themselves by allowing themselves to be enticed by the nations. 

Bilam’s second prophecy (Num. 23:13-26)

“The LORD his God is with him, And the shout of a king is among them.” (Numbers 23:21 NASB)

“Our king” is the LORD Psalm 89:18 (88:18 LXX).

Yet Israel later did reject the LORD as king and demanded a human king in the lifetime of the Prophet Samuel. They had forgotten the One who brought them out from Egypt and established them in their own land. 

Bilam’s third prophecy (Num. 23:27-24:14)

“ ‘God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox.’” (Numbers 24:8 NASB)

You would think that by this third time that Baalam and Balak would get the hint that God had already made up His mind to bless Israel and not curse them. But thanks to their stubborn refusal to accept the obvious, Bilam is given the most beautiful prophesy (to Israel) or the most devastating prophesy (to the surrounding nations). 

Bilam’s fourth prophecy (Num. 24:15-25)

Prophecies of the Mashiakh

• “Star from Ya’akob” (Num. 24:17)
  • • Bar Kochba was called “son of the star.”
    • Mighty king of Ya’akob’s house (Targum Pseudo-Yonatan)
• “Scepter from Israel” (Num. 24:17)
  • • Powerful scepter of Israel (Targum Pseudo-Yonatan)
• “One from Ya’akob” (Num. 24:19)

We have these four prophesies like the four corners of the earth. In this final prophesy, we meet the Messiah who will fight and prevail against those who don’t want to walk in the way God wants us to walk. 

Remember who you are, where you came from, who took you there, and why you are different from those around us? Are we more merciful, long-suffering and patient than those around us or are we vengeful, spiteful, and impatient? 

Summary: Tammy