This week we read about Balaam the so called prophet of God. When we take a deeper look at Balaam we find he is a diviner. He practices witchcraft which God hates. When we study outside sources we find out Balaam has been a thorn in the Israelites side for a very long time.
The book of Jasher tells us that Balaam had a gift in the supernatural and even as a teenager he would use divination. Any nation he aligned himself with would win when they battled other nations. Balaam finally made his way to Egypt and became one of Pharoah’s adviser and magicians. He interpreted Pharoah’s dream where a male Hebrew child would take his kingdom away from him. It was Balaam’s idea to kill all the males 2 years and under. Balaam was one of the magicians Moses encountered when he threw his staff down and it became a serpent.
Balaam is not new to Moses or the Israelites. We also learn that King Silhon of the Amorites hired Balaam to curse the Moabites. This caused them to serve King Silhon. This is why Balak says he knows who ever Balaam blesses is blessed and whoever he curses is cursed. Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s Palace which means he would have seen Balaam regularly.
Balaam is a prophet for hire. He prostitutes his gift for personal gain.
Romans 11:29
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
We are all given gifts and God does not repent for giving them to us. It is our job to learn how to use it properly. Balaam found his gift made room for itself. However he learned how to manipulate it for personal gain. Balaam could have been one of the greatest men of God in the Bible. He had a great hunger for the things of the supernatural. The hunger was there because that was the gift and purpose God created him with. Balaam spoke to God through divination. He did not have a personal relationship with him. Moses on the other hand spoke to God face to face without any ritual to initiate the conversation.
Now today you have to choose whose example you are going to follow. Are you going to be Balaam a prophet for hire without any eternal reward? Will you be known as someone who actively bless and curse others? Or will you be like Abraham? Will you have a personal relationship with God? Will you use the gifts God gave you to help others? Are you setting up eternal rewards? Are people going to be blessed and cursed based on how they treat you? Today you have to choose whose disciple you are Abraham or Balaam?
