At the top of Peor (23:28), Balak was hoping that Balaam would curse the Israelites. However, 24:1-2 tells us that, “When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe.” And so, Balaam introduces his third oracle in verse 3. 

The emphasis in the third oracle is on the contentment of God’s people in their own land – the Promised Land with an abundance of God’s provision in “the land of milk and honey”, as well as a beautiful paradise. Beauty and provision are seen because of the blessing of the Lord. Balaam closes his oracle with a quotation from God’s covenant with Abraham (24:9, cf Genesis 12:3). 

Balak certainly did not like what Balaam said, not only because he had blessed instead of cursed his enemies, but also because of the threat of being cursed if he cursed Israel. He told Balaam to go home, and concluded that Balaam’s reward was taken away because he had listened to the Lord. 

Balaam agreed to return home only after he had delivered his fourth oracle, in which he delivered unsolicited divine counsel regarding what the Israelites will do to the Moabites in the future. He sees a future rules, whom he described as a star or scepter who will originate from Israel and strike the heads of the Moabites. Balaam concludes his oracle with three brief discourses against other nations, before Balaam and Balak go their own ways. 

We see in Numbers 23 and 24 Balaam’s journey with Balak, and with God. He had struggled with the decision to go with Balak, and eventually followed God’s instructions, and showed blessings on Israel. The result of that was that Balak did not pay Balaam as he had promised and was infuriated by what Balaam had said. Similarly, we may find ourselves in situations where we ask ourselves if we should do what is right before God. Sometimes doing what is right before God may be costly to us – it may cost us our finances, our time, our relationships, our pride. What should we do during times like these? First, we need to keep saying “yes” to God in our hearts, minds, and mouths. As we draw near to God, we will choose to accept God’s way to be higher than our way, and we can be more and more like Christ. In so doing, we are then better able to do what is right before God. Second, Psalm 24:1 tells us that everything on earth is the Lord’s, everything that we profit on earth becomes dim when we compare them to God’s limitless provision. May we be willing to take that faith step, and to do what is right before God, and to trust that our faithful God will bring us through. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to keep my eyes on you, to consider you, and to do things right before you. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.