The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet #2372

Numbers
Chapter 22

III. The Prophecies of Balaam, 22:1-25:18.

March of Israel: [4] Balaam (2 Pet.2:15; Jude11; Rev.2:14)
2 Peter 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;
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.
Revelation 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
Numbers 22:1  ¶And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.
2  And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.
3  And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
4  And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.
5  [*] He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

[*] Balaam was a typical hireling prophet, seeking only to make a market of his gift. This is the way of Balaam (2 Pet.2:15)
2 Peter 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;
and characterizes false teachers. The error of Balaam (Jude 11)
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.
was that he could see only the natural morality. A holy God, he reasoned, must curse such a people as Israel. Like all false teachers he was ignorant of the higher morality of vicarious atonement, by which God could be just and yet the justifier of believing sinners (Rom.3:26).
Romans 3:26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
The doctrine of Balaam (Rev.2:14)
Revelation 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.
refers to his teaching Balec to corrupt the people whom he could not curse (cp.Num.25:1-3 and Jas.4:4).
Numbers 25:1  ¶And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2  And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3  And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
James 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Spiritually, Balaamism in teaching never rises above natural reasonings; in practice, it is easy world-conformity. See Rev.2:4)
Revelation 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.
The "doctrine of Balaam" was his teaching Balak to corrupt the people who could not be cursed (Num.31:15-16; 22:5; 23:8)
Numbers 31:15  And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive? 16  Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
Numbers 22:5  He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:
Numbers 23:8  How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?
by tempting them to marry women of Moab, defile their separation, and abandon their pilgrim character. It is that union of the world and the church which is spiritual unchastrity (Jas.4:14).
James 4:14  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Pergamum (Rev.2:12-14)
Revelation 2:12  ¶And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 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.
had lost the pilgrim character and was dwelling where Satan's throne was, i.e.in the world (Jn.12:31;14:30;16:11).
John 12:31  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
John 14:30  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
John 16:11  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Numbers 22:6  Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.
7  And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
8  And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9  And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10  And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
11  Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
12  And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
13  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
14  And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.
15  ¶And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.
16  And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:
17  For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.
18  And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.
19  Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.
20  And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.
21  And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
22  ¶And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23  And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
24  But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25  And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26  And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27  And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28  [*] And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

[*] This is the only instance in Scripture where an animal is described as speaking. Unless you want to count the serpent in the Garden of Eden, but we know that serpent was really Satan (See Pamphlet #6218) who God calls a serpent many times in Scripture.  Anyway God, who created the vocal organs of man and beast, used this animal, in this case, to rebuke the weakness of the prophet and to insure that he would carry out the intention he had expressed in v.18 (cp.v.20)

Numbers 22:29  And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30  And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.
31  Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
32  And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
33  And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
34  And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
35  And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
36  ¶And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.
37  And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?
38  And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.
39  And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.
40  And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.
41  And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.


1 Corinthians 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Israel in the wilderness
1 Corinthians 10:1 ¶Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3  And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5  But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6  ¶Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
Wilderness experiences an example
11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12  Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
15  ¶I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
Editor's question.: Just who are the children of Israel and where are they today?

History shows that the northern 10 tribes migrated north over the Caucasus Mountains (hence called Caucasians) and became known as the Cimmerians, the Celts, the Saxons ('Saac's sons), etc., and settled in western Europe, the British isles, and later many migrated to the Americas. (Note: If you would like to know about the location of the 10 so-called "lost tribes" of the house of Israel, then contact Artisan Publishers at www.artisanpublishers.com and purchase the little booklet The Abrahamic Covenant, by E. Raymond Capt.) or log unto pamphlets #1064 and #1020 on this web site.



The beast of Revelation chapter 6, i.e. the Four Hidden Dynasties of the New World Order Revelation 6:1-8
"The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse"
the doctrine of many of our Christian churches, (The Man on a White Horse)
the political direction of our country, (The Man on a Red Horse)
the economic direction our country has taken, (The Man on a Black Horse)
and the teachings of our schools and media. (The Man on a Pale Horse)
Did you know all four are being ridden by Satan?

By the way! Do you want some wisdom???? Rev. 13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

How do I count the number of the beast?"

Read pamphlet #1761. It will explain!
Editor's question: When we are ask to count the number of the beast, aren't we are really being ask to count the number of Satan's descendants living among us?


To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

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