Blessings and Prophecy of Balaam

“As the Israelites move into the land east of the Jordan River, the inhabitants of Moab are naturally apprehensive of their presence.  King Balak decides to summon a soothsayer by the name of Balaam to curse the invaders.  Balaam is a diviner and uses pagan ritual to search for omens. On this occasion, however, God allows Balaam to speak on behalf of the Almighty.

After receiving God’s direction not to curse the Israelites, Balaam at first refuses to help King Balak.  Balaam obviously knows God’s will, but is so intrigued by the possibility of wealth that he hopes God will change his mind.  To Balaam’s surprise and delight, God permits him to go Balak.  But it is soon clear that God has allowed Balaam to go for the sole purpose of teaching Balak how wrong it is to put God’s will to the test in hope of personal gain.

The final prophecy which Balaam is given concerning Israel’s eventual conquests contains a secondary prophecy about the Messiah and offspring of Jacob.”

Read Numbers chapters 22, 23, 24

All quotations taken from The Daily Bible.