The story of Balaam truly is a sad one. We are introduced to Balaam in Numbers 22 when Balak, king of the Moabites, devised a plan to hire Balaam to curse the Israelites when they were close to Moab territory. Balak had heard how the Israelites had defeated the Amorites and wanted to get one step ahead.

 

So Balaam comes to Balak but told him that he could not curse what God did not allow to be cursed. Even still, Balaam goes to God three times and each time God wouldn’t let Balaam curse the Israelites. Balaam blesses them instead.

 

“Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, started a war against Israel. He summoned Balaam son of Beor to curse you, but I would not listen to him. Instead, I made Balaam bless you, and so I rescued you from Balak.”Joshua‬ ‭24‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭

 

Balak obviously was not happy with this and eventually Balaam figured out a way to appease Balak. Balaam must have secretly advised Balak on how to cause the Israelites to curse themselves. Balak sent in Moabite women to tempt the Israelite men both sexually and spiritually by committing sexual sin, worshipping idols and eating the food offered to them.

 

Balaam clearly heard from God. Yet he used this gift to help destroy the very thing that God was building. Moses says of Balaam, ““These (women) are the very ones who followed Balaam’s advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the Lord at Mount Peor. They are the ones who caused the plague to strike the Lord’s people.”Numbers‬ ‭31‬:‭16‬ ‭

 

Balaam used a gift of prophecy for evil rather than for good. Balaam was obviously well-known for his effective curses and blessings as Balak had called on him to curse Israel. However, in the end, the gift was the very thing that defeated him when the Israelite army killed him and the other Midianite kings.

 

Just think of how Balaam’s story could have gone, how God could have used him, if he would have heeded the warning of the angel and donkey in Numbers 22, repented, and given his life over for use by the Lord. It seems as though Balaam’s motives may not be entirely pure. God reminds him again to only say what He tells him to say.

 

“But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff. Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam. “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!” “But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?” “No,” Balaam admitted. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him. “Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.” Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.” But the angel of the Lord told Balaam, “Go with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.” So Balaam went on with Balak’s officials.”Numbers‬ ‭22‬:‭22‬-‭35‬

 

He took the gift of prophecy into his own hands and used it to build a business of cursing and blessing people. Sorcery.

 

Balaam’s tragic story doesn’t end in Numbers, though. His unfavorable reputation is mentioned several times in the New Testament.

 

“They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.”2 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭

 

“What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.”

‭‭Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬

 

““But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.” Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭