Sermon Audio: LINK

Series Introduction: 

In our last sermon, we saw the Israelites’ defiance after the spies’ negative and fearful report and the resulting punishment: a 40-year journey through the wilderness. Though this 40 year detour was a punishment for Israel’s sin, God also used this as time of teaching and instruction. Since we last joined the people of Israel, God imparted new laws regarding offerings and commands, demanding unwavering obedience from His people. Yet, even amidst these divine instructions, another rebellion flared up when Korah challenged Moses’ leadership. This sparked yet another dramatic act of divine judgment, with the rebels meeting a swift and powerful end.

As the years went by, Miriam and Aaron aged and passed away, and Moses, having faltered in his own obedience, was told he could view the Promised Land but would never set foot in it. However this 40 year journey was not without moments of victory. Throughout their journey, the Israelites faced numerous battles, triumphing over the Canaanite king of Arad and the mighty kings Sihon and Og, thereby securing new territories. 

Now, as their 40-year journey draws to a close, they find themselves camped in the plains of Moab., Balak, the Moabite king, stricken with fear, enlists Balaam to curse Israel. But today, as we will uncover, Balaam’s encounter with God turns this plan on its head, leading not to curses but to blessings for Israel. Let’s dive into this narrative and discover how God’s protection and promises continue to shine brightly.

Scripture Reading:  

Numbers 22:1-35 (ESV) – Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message. And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.’” But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more. So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.” And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.” So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side. And when the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So he struck her again. Then the angel of the Lord went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff. Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.” And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me. The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.” Then Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.” And the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we gather in Your presence today, grateful for Your unwavering love and protection. As we delve into the story of Balaam, open our hearts and minds to the truths You have for us. Help us to see Your hand at work, even in the midst of greed and disobedience, and to understand the depth of Your blessings and promises. May Your Holy Spirit guide us, convict us, and draw us closer to You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Introduction: 

Imagine the Israelites, after a long and arduous journey, standing on the edge of the Promised Land for a second time. This was the culmination of God’s promise to their ancestors, and they would not make the same mistake that their fathers made. They were going to be the generation that finally enters the land of promise.Joy and anticipation fill the air as they prepare to claim their inheritance. Yet, amidst their celebration, a dark plot brews in the shadows. King Balak of Moab, filled with dread at the sight of Israel’s might, seeks to curse them through the sorcerer Balaam.

The Allure of the Occult:

Numbers 22:3 says, “And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.” King Balak, realizing he cannot defeat them militarily, turns to divination and sorcery. He seeks out Balaam, a renowned diviner, to curse Israel. Balak’s fear drove him to seek control through spiritual powers other than God. This same desire for control leads many today to paganism, witchcraft, and other occult practices. As Deuteronomy 18:10-12 makes clear, such practices are detestable to the Lord: “There shall not be found among you anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you.”

There may be a temptation to dismiss my words this morning as woefully out of date. Are we really going to talk about witchcraft in 2024? Let me tell you, I have seen firsthand the dangers of these practices. I have witnessed young women, once devoted to Christ, being seduced by paganism and witchcraft. Some of my hardest ministry moments have been watching them walk down that dark path, ignoring my pleas to turn back. I still pray for them by name, asking God to rescue them from the path they have chosen.

Sadly, I am not alone in this. According to Helen Berger, a scholar at Brandeis University, “The number of Americans identifying with Wicca or paganism has risen from 134,000 in 2001 to nearly 2 million today. The witch community in America has been growing steadily since the 1960s, and much of the recent growth is coming from young women” (USA TODAY, 2022). 

NBC reported, “Witchcraft, which includes Wicca, paganism, folk magic and other New Age traditions, is one of the fastest-growing spiritual paths in America. In 1990, Trinity College in Connecticut estimated there were 8,000 adherents of Wicca. In 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau figure was 342,000. A 2014 Pew Research Center study increased that projection several times over in assessing that 0.4% of Americans identified as pagan, Wiccan or New Age. By 2050, it said, the number of Americans practicing ‘other religions’ (faiths outside Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism) would triple ‘due largely to switching into other religions (such as Wicca and pagan religions)’” (NBC, 2022).

Why are young people trading faith for vague spirituality and occultism? I believe a self-professed witch answers this question for us when she was interviewed in 2022 by NBC News: “The religion is individualistic in many ways. You can do your own thing. It’s not signing on to an institutional religion. It’s not signing on to a set of actions or beliefs that you must adhere to” (NBC, 2022). People are walking away from organized religion for various reasons, and Satan is taking advantage of this. The psychological appeal of occultism makes it attractive, offering a sense of power and community without the guilt and rules of traditional faith. It sounds appealing, but it is a slippery slope leading to darker places.

I remember a conversation with a young pagan where, after pleading with them to return to Christ, they said they would rather die. This is not a harmless trend. It corrupts and destroys, leading people further from the truth and into bondage. Paul was not being metaphorical when he wrote in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

The Allure of Wealth:

Balaam was a man who lived off the dark arts of divination and sorcery, driven by an insatiable greed. The Apostle Peter warns us about following Balaam’s path, saying, “Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing” (2 Peter 2:15, ESV). 

When officials from Moab and Midian came to Balaam, offering a hefty fee, it exposed his lust for riches. Balaam invited these men to stay while he sought God’s will. Now, it might seem odd that a sorcerer like Balaam would seek the Lord’s will, but remember, polytheism (worshiping many gods) was the norm. The Hebrew people stood out by worshiping only one God. Archaeological evidence even suggests that some Canaanites worshiped YAHWEH as one among many gods, which sheds light on the first commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3, ESV). 

While we might not face the temptation to worship other gods as the Israelites did, idolatry is still very much alive today. It’s not just about statues or images but anything that competes with God for our ultimate loyalty. Wealth, status, career, relationships, these can all become idols if they take precedence over our relationship with God. Just as Balaam was tempted by the allure of wealth, we too can be swayed by the enticements of this world. We must examine our lives and ask ourselves: Are there ‘other gods’ we have placed alongside or before God? Are there things we rely on or value more than Him?

To Balaam’s surprise, God responded to his inquiry: “And God came to Balaam and said, ‘Who are these men with you?'” (Numbers 22:9, ESV). Balaam explained that these men wanted him to curse Israel so their king could defeat them in battle. But God’s answer was firm: “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed” (Numbers 22:12, ESV).

Initially, Balaam obeyed and sent the officials back with God’s refusal. This act of obedience, though short-lived, reminds us that God’s people are His treasured possession, and no one can curse whom God has blessed.

Yet, the story doesn’t end there. The king of Moab, desperate to curse Israel, didn’t give up. He sent more distinguished officials with an even greater offer, appealing directly to Balaam’s greed: “For I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me” (Numbers 22:17, ESV).

Balaam’s response seemed noble at first: “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more” (Numbers 22:18, ESV). But his actions revealed his true intentions. He invited the officials to stay the night, hoping perhaps that God would change His mind (Numbers 22:19, ESV). Balaam knew God’s will, God had forbidden him from going and cursing Israel (Numbers 22:12, ESV). Yet, his greed led him to entertain the possibility that God might relent.

Driven by his lust for wealth and honor, Balaam rose in the morning and went with the officials, knowing full well God’s command. This story illustrates the dangers of greed and covetousness. As Paul warns, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:10, ESV). Balaam’s story teaches us that no amount of wealth or honor is worth turning away from God’s will. As Proverbs 16:8 says, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice” (ESV).

This tale of Balaam resonates with us today. Sometimes, even after God has clearly revealed His will, we continue to pray for a different outcome, hoping God might change His mind or that we can convince ourselves He hasn’t been clear. Like Balaam, our persistence often stems from our desires and unwillingness to accept God’s initial response. This double-mindedness can lead us away from His path and towards our downfall.

Balaam’s story serves as a stark reminder that our hearts should be set on obedience to God above all else, free from the entanglements of greed and covetousness.Let us strive to align our hearts with God’s will, rather than trying to align His will with our desires. 

God Speaks Through A Donkey:

Despite knowing God’s will, Balaam entertained King Balak’s lucrative offers to curse Israel, arousing God’s anger: “But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary” (Numbers 22:22, ESV). Ironically, a diviner like Balaam, who claimed to communicate with the divine, was so blinded by greed that he couldn’t see the angel blocking his path. Yet, a mere donkey saw the angel and tried to avoid it, leading to Balaam striking the donkey three times.

God then performed a miracle, opening the donkey’s mouth: “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” (Numbers 22:28, ESV). In his blind fury, Balaam argued with the donkey until God opened his eyes to see the angel with a drawn sword. The angel rebuked Balaam, revealing that the donkey’s actions had saved his life: “I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me… If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live” (Numbers 22:32-33, ESV). Balaam’s confession was hollow, lacking true repentance, but the angel allowed him to continue, commanding him to speak only what God told him.

This account reminds us that God’s power to protect His people is boundless. By using a donkey to thwart Balaam’s reckless path, God demonstrated His ability to perform miracles for His purposes. As Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26, ESV). God’s commitment to His people is unshakable, and He will use any means necessary to protect and guide us. What the king of Moab intended for evil, God used for good, turning Balaam’s intended curse into a blessing for Israel.

Despite Balaam’s greed and disobedience, God used him to affirm His covenant with Israel and to proclaim blessings instead of curses. In Numbers 23 and 24, Balaam would not only refuse to curse Israel, but he would actually bless them and confirm God’s promises to Abraham. He spoke of Israel’s numerous descendants, their blessing and security, and the promise of land and a future messianic ruler. Balaam declared, “A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17, ESV). This points us to Jesus Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises. As Paul tells us, “For those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28, ESV). If God could bless through Balaam, how much more through Christ, whose blood secures our salvation (Hebrews 12:24).

Conclusion: 

All of these events unfolded beyond Israel’s awareness. They had no inkling of the conspiracy brewing against them. Yet, what was hidden from Israel was fully known to God. It is a profound blessing to know that God is with us, even in the midst of unseen dangers and adversities. Today, we are reminded that God’s protection extends to threats we cannot perceive. We may never fully grasp the depth of God’s shielding hand (Psalm 139:5-6). So, take a moment to rejoice and be grateful for these powerful truths.

Our God is unwavering; unlike a sorcerer-for-hire, He cannot be bribed or swayed. His blessing is immutable and irreversible. No force can curse what God has blessed (Numbers 23:20). The eternal and steadfast truth for all who are united with Christ is: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

In moments of despair, when the darkness seems overwhelming, we can find comfort in knowing that God’s blessings and presence are constant. His support is our shield, His presence our fortress, offering us hope and strength to persevere.

Let us hold fast to these truths. Let us stand firm in the assurance that God’s love and protection are unchanging. Rejoice and be thankful, for no matter the adversities we face, we are safeguarded by the unyielding power of God’s blessing. With God on our side, we are more than conquerors.

If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, now is the time to respond. Turn away from the empty promises of this world and place your trust in Jesus Christ. He invites you to experience the true joy and lasting peace that comes from being part of God’s family.

Closing Prayer

Gracious God, we thank You for the message of Your promises and blessings revealed through the story of Balaam. As we leave this place, help us to hold fast to Your truth and resist the allure of worldly temptations. Strengthen our faith, and let us live confidently in Your love and protection. For those who have yet to accept Jesus as their Savior, may they feel Your call today and respond. For those who follow Christ, may they walk securely in Your grace and peace. In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray. Amen.