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After their exodus from Egypt, the children of Israel were formed into an army to fight for God on their journey. This fighting army journeyed so that God would gain the ground on earth to build up His kingdom and His house. Before entering the good land, the children of Israel defeated the kings of Arad, of the Amorites, and of Bashan on the east of the Jordan, destroying their cities and taking over their land (Num. 21:1-3, 21-35). After the children of Israel defeated these three kings, they were ready to cross the Jordan and enter into the good land. Being unable to defeat the children of Israel politically or militarily, the enemy changed his mode of fighting against them and decided to take the religious way to defeat God’s people. Hence, Balak, the king of Moab, joined with Midian and sent elders to induce Balaam to come and curse the children of Israel for them (chs. 22—25).
God deterred Balaam, but Balaam insisted on going. Then God allowed him to go but charged him to speak only what the Angel of Jehovah would speak to him. Balaam had the desire and intention in his heart to curse Israel so that he might please Balak and receive money. As the One who was watching and ruling, however, Jehovah put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and Balaam had no choice but to speak God’s word. Hence, Balaam did not speak curses; instead, he spoke four parables concerning Israel. In Balaam’s parables there are many prophecies concerning the house of Israel, the nations, and the Messiah. In this lesson we will consider these marvelous prophecies.
Balaam’s first parable is in Numbers 22:41 through 23:12. “In the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the Bamoth-baal, and he saw from there the edge of the people” (v. 41). Bamoth-baal means “the high places of Baal.” In the Old Testament the high places were places where people worshipped idols. Baal was the name of an idol. Therefore, Bamoth-baal was the place where people worshipped the idol of Baal. “Balaam said to Balak, Build me seven altars here, and have seven bulls and seven rams ready for me here. And Balak did just as Balaam had spoken” (23:1-2). While Balak and all the rulers of Moab stood beside Balaam’s burnt offering (vv. 3, 6), Jehovah put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and Balaam prophesied in a parable (vv. 4-5, 7-10). Balaam’s words were inspired by God. The human mind is not able to compose such a parable. Let us now consider certain aspects of Balaam’s first parable.
Balak said to Balaam, “Come, curse Jacob for me; / And come, denounce Israel!” (v. 7). However, this was impossible because Balaam said, “How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? / And how can I denounce whom Jehovah has not denounced? / For from the top of the rocks I see him, / And from the hills I behold him. / Here is a people who live alone / And do not reckon themselves among the nations” (vv. 8-9). This word about the children of Israel’s living alone and not reckoning themselves among the nations indicates that they were a holy, sanctified people, a people set apart from the nations unto God.
In God’s eyes Israel lives alone. According to God’s view, even today Israel is still not reckoned among the nations. If we have God’s view, we will see that Israel is a particular, separate people, a holy nation.
In verse 10 Balaam went on to say, “Who can count the dust of Jacob, / Or number the fourth part of Israel? / Let me die the death of the upright, / And let my latter end be like theirs!” This verse contains the blessing of increase. Jacob will be innumerable, uncountable, like the dust. No one will be able to count even the fourth part of Israel.
The first parable is a blessing upon the children of Israel as a separate people, a particular and special class of people who live alone and who are not reckoned among the nations. Because this people will be blessed with abundant increase, no one will be able to count them. Balaam’s word of blessing and appreciation concerning Israel offended Balak. For this reason, Balak said to him, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, but now you have altogether blessed them” (v. 11). Balaam replied, “Shall I not take care to speak what Jehovah puts in my mouth?” (v. 12).
In verses 13 through 26 we see Balaam’s second parable. Balak said to Balaam, “Come now with me to another place from which you may see them. You will see only the outside edge of them and not see them all; then curse them for me from there. So he took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered up a bull and a ram on each altar” (vv. 13-14). Balak and all the rulers of Moab stood beside Balaam’s burnt offering while Jehovah put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and Balaam prophesied in a second parable (vv. 15-24).
One of the most striking lines in this parable is in verse 21: “He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob, / Nor has He seen trouble in Israel.” Balaam’s word was spoken not according to the human view but according to the divine view. God’s view is different from man’s view. It is obvious that the children of Israel had many iniquities, but God does not look at what His redeemed people are in themselves. God’s redeemed people have a twofold status: their status in themselves and their status in God’s redemption. Balaam’s prophecy indicates that God cares for His people’s status in His redemption.
The word trouble means “hard things, evil things.” Trouble is even worse than iniquity. In the sight of God there was neither iniquity nor trouble in His people Israel.
God surely had the standing to say that He did not behold iniquity in Jacob nor see trouble in Israel. His people had been redeemed and forgiven; therefore, God could say that they were without iniquity. Balaam, under the control and inspiration of God, had no choice but to declare that God did not behold iniquity or see trouble in the children of Israel.
In verse 21 Balaam also said, “Jehovah their God is with them, / And the shout of a king is among them.” Ultimately, this king refers to Christ. Thus, the shout of a king among them means that the shout of Christ is among them.
Verse 22 speaks of God bringing His people out of Egypt. This verse also says that Israel has “the horns of the wild ox.” Verse 23 says that there is neither enchantment nor divination against Israel, for “now it shall be said of Jacob / And of Israel, What has God wrought!” The second parable concludes in verse 24, saying, “See, a people rises up like a lioness, / And like a lion they lift themselves up. / They shall not lie down until they eat the prey / And drink the blood of the slain.” The lioness, the lion, and the horns of the wild ox all refer to the fighting power of the people of Israel.
After the second parable, Balak said, “Come now, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.” (v. 27). Then Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor (v. 28). “Balaam said to Balak, Build me seven altars here, and have seven bulls and seven rams ready for me here. And Balak did just as Balaam had said, and he offered up a bull and a ram on each altar” (vv. 29-30). “When Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he did not go as at the other times to meet with enchantments” (24:1). Rather, Balaam “set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes, and the Spirit of God came upon him. And he took up his parable and said, Balaam the son of Beor declares, / And the man whose eye is opened declares; / He declares, he who hears the words of God, / Who sees the vision of the All-sufficient One, / Falling down, but having his eyes uncovered” (vv. 1-4). Falling down, but having his eyes uncovered indicates that he cooperated with God in the third parable.
In verse 5 Balaam said, “How fair are your tents, O Jacob, / Your tabernacles, O Israel!” According to the third parable, Israel is beautiful. Israel’s beauty is indicated by the word fair. In the first parable Israel is holy, in the second parable she is sinless, and in the third she is beautiful. Hence, in the sight of God Israel is holy, sinless, and beautiful. In standing she is holy, in kind she is perfect, and in appearance she is beautiful. This reveals that God has chosen, redeemed, saved, separated, uplifted, perfected, and beautified this people.
According to the Bible, this will be the actual situation of Israel during the millennium. In this age the Jews are not welcomed by the nations, but they will be welcomed by the nations after the Lord Jesus comes back. God promised that the descendants of Abraham would be a blessing to all the nations (Gen. 12:2-3). Eventually the Jews will be fully blessed by God, and they will be a blessing to the entire human race.
In Numbers 24:6 Balaam continued his description of Israel: “Like valleys they are spread forth, / Like gardens beside a river, / Like aloes which Jehovah has planted, / Like cedars beside water.” In this verse Israel is likened to valleys, which usually are green, and to gardens beside a river. Aloe is a plant known for its healing effect; the Lord Jesus was buried in linen with a mixture of myrrh and aloes (John 19:39). Hence, Numbers 24:6 is a prophecy. After the coming back of the Lord Jesus, Israel will be a healing to the nations, and that healing will be a great blessing. Numbers 24:7 says, “Water shall flow from his buckets, / And his seed shall be in many waters.” This indicates that Israel will have an abundant supply of water. The water of a country is related to the riches of that country. Without water, land becomes a desert. The more water a nation has, the richer it is.
In verse 7 Balaam went on to say, “His king shall be higher than Agag, / And his kingdom shall be exalted.” Agag was the king of the Amalekites. Balaam’s word is a prophecy that eventually has its fulfillment in Christ.
In verse 9 Balaam ended his third parable with a word concerning blessing and cursing: “Blessed is everyone who blesses you, / And cursed is everyone who curses you.” This bothered Balak. Verse 10 says, “Then Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, I called you to curse my enemies, but now you have altogether blessed them these three times.” In verses 12 and 13 Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, Even if Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad from my own heart? What Jehovah speaks, that I will speak.”
In 24:14-25 Balaam spoke a fourth parable. In verse 14 Balaam said to Balak, “Now therefore, I am going to my people. Come, let me give you counsel as to what this people will do to your people in the last days.” Balaam not only blessed Israel but also prophesied that Israel would be blessed further and that Israel’s blessing would be a damage to Balak and his people.
In verse 17 Balaam said, “I see Him, but not now; / I behold Him, but not near. / There shall come forth a Star out of Jacob, / And a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, / And He shall crush the corners of Moab / And break down all the sons of Sheth.” Both Star and Scepter refer to Christ. The Scepter is Christ as the One with power and authority. The greatest blessing to the children of Israel is Christ. As the Star and the Scepter, Christ will be the almighty One with all-inclusive power and authority. Christ will crush the corners of Moab, Balak’s country and break down all the sons of Sheth.
In verses 18 and 19 Balaam continued, saying, “Edom shall be dispossessed— / Seir, His enemies, shall also be dispossessed— / While Israel does valiantly. / And One from Jacob shall have dominion / And destroy the remnant from the city.” The enemies in verse 18 are Christ’s enemies. These enemies will be destroyed, but Israel will remain because of Christ. After the nations have been destroyed, Israel will remain with Christ. Christ will surely be Israel’s greatest blessing. As the New Testament indicates, this prophecy will be fully fulfilled in the coming days, that is, in the millennium.
In Numbers 24:20-25, Balaam prophesied in a parable concerning other nations. These verses help us to realize that God is over all. All the nations are under His control and His reign for the fulfillment of His purpose. He rules over the nations so that His economy may be accomplished among the nations through Israel.
Balaam spoke four parables to Israel in which there are many prophecies concerning the house of Israel, the nations, and the Messiah. The first parable speaks of the children of Israel being a people who live alone and who do not reckon themselves among the nations. They are a holy people, a people separated from among the nations unto God. Because they are blessed, they received abundant increase. They are as numberless as dust. No one will be able to count even the fourth part of Israel. In the second parable Balaam said that God did not behold iniquity in Jacob, nor did He see trouble in Israel. It is obvious that the children of Israel had many iniquities, but God does not look at what His redeemed people are in themselves. In God’s eyes His people have been redeemed and forgiven; therefore, God can say that they are without iniquity. God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them. They are full of fighting power, having the horns of the wild ox, and nothing is against them. They rise up like a lioness and lift themselves up like a lion. In the third parable Balaam said that the tents of Jacob are fair, and the tabernacles of Israel are beautiful. In the sight of God Israel is holy, sinless, and beautiful. God has chosen, redeemed, saved, separated, uplifted, perfected, and beautified His people. Israel will be like valleys that spread forth, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by Jehovah, and like cedars beside water. The king of Israel will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. Everyone who blesses Israel will be blessed, and everyone who curses Israel will be cursed. The fourth parable speaks of a Star coming forth out of Jacob and a Scepter rising out of Israel. Both the Star and the Scepter refer to Christ. He is the almighty One with all-inclusive power and authority. He will crush the corners of Moab, Balak’s country, and break down all the sons of Sheth. Then the nations will be destroyed, and Jacob will have dominion. This proves that God is over all; all the nations are under His control and His reign for the fulfillment of His purpose. He rules over the nations so that His economy may be accomplished among the nations through Israel.
