Let us notice, then, from the words before us,
I. God's love to his ancient people —
This appeared in bringing them forth out of Egypt, and in preserving them throughout their wanderings in the wilderness ; and especially, also, in the instance that is here specified, the counteracting of the designs of Balaam, and "the turning of his curse into a blessing unto them."
See the account given us by Moses — [To enter fully into this, the whole history of the transac- tion, the 22d, 23d, and 24th chapters of the Book of Numbers should be attentively perused. Instigated by a desire to obtain " the wages of unrighteousness," yet conscious that he was under a restraint from the Most High God, Balaam madly pursued his object, even after he was rebuked for his iniquity by the beast on which he rode, and which was enabled to utter the reproof in language used by mana. He constantly con- fesses his inability to go beyond what Jehovah should see fit to permit; yet as constantly sought to evade or change the divine counsels, and to execute the project for which he was hired. Every distinct prophecy which he utters, rises in force and grandeur : and when complained of by Balak for pouring forth blessings upon them, instead of denouncing curses against them, he confesses, " I have received commandment to bless : and God hath blessed; and I cannot reverse itb." At last, finding how vain it was to seek by enchantments to alter the divine purpose, he forbore to offer any more of his sacrifices, and yielded to the impulse within him to foretell the certain successes of those whom he had sought to destroy0. And, having thus provoked the king of Moab to dismiss him without
a 2 Pet. ii. 15, 16. b Numb, xxiii. 20. c Numb. xxiv. 1 — 9.