And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
In the night God came to Balaam through one of His angels to ask who the men with him were, confronting him over their presence. The men were Balak's messengers, sent to enlist him to curse Israel, the people that had come out of Egypt and seemed to cover the land. Balaam had been a prophet of God and a good man, but he had apostatized through covetousness and love of unrighteous gain, becoming double-minded while still professing to be God's prophet and seeking to gain and keep the favor and honor of God's enemies for rewards.
He already knew he should refuse Balak's offer, but pride, greed, and covetousness stirred by the presents in the messengers' hands led him to entertain the temptation instead of rejecting it. He therefore professed to seek God's counsel, asked the messengers to stay overnight to hear what the Lord would say, and looked for a way to comply, facing a choice between obeying God and pursuing rewards and honor. God forbade him to go with the messengers or to curse Israel, because Israel was blessed.
The next morning Balaam dismissed the messengers by saying only that the Lord would not let him go with them, without honestly repeating God's words or warning them that their efforts against Israel would fail. This questioning begins Balak's repeated effort to use Balaam against Israel, in which Balak led Balaam from one place to another in the vain hope of turning God's blessing of Israel into a curse. That attempt failed because human applause and fear of man are powerless against a man sustained by divine power.
Angels were present to keep Balaam from harming God's people, showing that God's blessing protected Israel and that magic could not defeat God's purpose. His conduct shows that selfishness and covetousness lead people to work against God when they leave God out of their hearts and plans. The episode shows that even powerful officials who oppose God's people remain under the authority of the heavenly Governor.
In the night God came to Balaam through one of His angels to ask who the men with him were, confronting him over their presence. The men were Balak's messengers, sent to enlist him to curse Israel, the people that had come out of Egypt and seemed to cover the land. Balaam had been a prophet of God and a good man, but he had apostatized through covetousness and love of unrighteous gain, becoming double-minded while still professing to be God's prophet and seeking to gain and keep the favor and honor of God's enemies for rewards.
He already knew he should refuse Balak's offer, but pride, greed, and covetousness stirred by the presents in the messengers' hands led him to entertain the temptation instead of rejecting it. He therefore professed to seek God's counsel, asked the messengers to stay overnight to hear what the Lord would say, and looked for a way to comply, facing a choice between obeying God and pursuing rewards and honor. God forbade him to go with the messengers or to curse Israel, because Israel was blessed.
The next morning Balaam dismissed the messengers by saying only that the Lord would not let him go with them, without honestly repeating God's words or warning them that their efforts against Israel would fail. This questioning begins Balak's repeated effort to use Balaam against Israel, in which Balak led Balaam from one place to another in the vain hope of turning God's blessing of Israel into a curse. That attempt failed because human applause and fear of man are powerless against a man sustained by divine power.
Angels were present to keep Balaam from harming God's people, showing that God's blessing protected Israel and that magic could not defeat God's purpose. His conduct shows that selfishness and covetousness lead people to work against God when they leave God out of their hearts and plans. The episode shows that even powerful officials who oppose God's people remain under the authority of the heavenly Governor.