The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 310

HOMILETIOS. Vers. 2-40.--The way of Bdaam. In this section we have some of the profoundest and most subtle, as well as some of the most practical, moral and religious teachings of the Old Testament. In order to draw them out fully we may consider-I. The character and position of Balaam with regard to God and man; 11 The policy of Balak in sending far Balaam; III. The conduct of Balaam when asked and urged to come to Balak ; IV. The incidents, natural and supernatural, of Balaam' s coming. I. THE CHA.RA.CTER OF BALAAM, A.ND HIS POSITION WITH REGA.RD TO GOD A.ND MA.N. Consider under this head-I. That Bdaam had a true knowledge of the most high God. He was not in any sense o. heathen as far as his intellectual perception of Divine things went. .A.nd it was not merely Elohim, the God of nature and creation, whom he knew and revered, but distinctly Jehovah, the God of Israel and of grace. Speculatively he knew as much of God as Abraham or Job.. 2.. That Balaam had an unquestioning faith in the one true God. Whatever difficulties it may create, it is obviously true that Balaam walked very much by faith, and not by sight. The invisible God, the will of God, the power of God, the direct concern of God with his doings, were all realities to Balaam, strong realities. God was not a name to him, nor a theological expression, but the daily companion of his daily life. 3. That Bal,aam had an undoubted proplieti.c gift from God. He was not an ordinary servant of the true God ; he held as it were a very high official position in the service of God. He enjoyed frequent and' direct intercourse with hioi; he expected to receive supernatural intimations· of the Divine will ; he profe~sed fo speak, and he did speak, words of inspired prophecy far beyond his OW!), origination. 4. That at the same time Balaam's heart was giv~ not to God, but to covetousneBB. He loved the wages of unrighteousness. Not perhaps in th~ lowest sense .. He may have valued influence, power, consideration even more than mere mopey; but money was necessary to all these. 5. That Bdaam was a soothsayer. _He practised magical arts and sought for auguries. He traded on the superstitions of the heathen, and even sought to prostitute hie prophetic powers to excite astonishment, obtain power, and make money. He hired himself out to curse the enemies of those who employed him. And note that Balaam's fall in this respect was accountable enough; for we may naturally conclude (1) that Balaam had an hereditary position as seer which it was his interest to keep up at any cost; (2) that the ignorant people put strong pressure upon him to play the soothsayer. How easily Samuel might have become the same if he had been covetous I How constant is the temptation to abuse spiritual powers in order at once to gratify others and to exalt oneself I (cf. 1 Sam. ix. 6-8; Jer. v. 31). . • II. TDE POLICY OF BALAK, A.ND BIB ERROR. Consider under this head-1. That Balak was afraid of Iarael, because he was mighty, and had overthrown the Amoritee. Yet he had no cause to fear,·for Israel had not touched him, and did not mean to. Men are afraid of the Church of God because it is a great power in the world, albeit it is a power for good, and not fot evil. 2. That Balak was afraid of the God of Israel. He rightly judged that Israel's success was due to hie God; but he wrongly thought that the Lord was but a national deity who was victorious at present, but might be turned aside or bought off. 3. That Balak put his trust in Balaam became he wa, a prophet of the Lord, and mi,glit be expected to use M,  ml, XXII, 2-40.] THE BOOK OJ!' NUMBERS. 295