The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 325

way of ,mrighteoueneee, which you have been so clearly shown is also the way of destruction ? " IV. THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROCESS IS SUCCESSFUL. 1. Balaam is enlightened at last, tut after all only partially enlightened. At last, and only when forced to it, does he become aware of the angel's presence. And now he is quick enough and humble enough to recognise that presence, but not with the quickness and humility of a full repentance. The Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, ever, as he opened the eyes of the ass, but the opening left his disposition and wishes unchanged, even as it left the ass-nature unchanged. He saw the angel, the drawn sword, his danger at the moment, and the danger he had been in before; but his folly, his duplicity, his covetousness, his spiritual danger he did not see. Then when his eyes were opened, and at the same time his ears unstopped, the angel goes on to speak to him such words as might bring him to a right state of mind. Nothing was left undone that could be done. The angel shows him plainly in what danger he had been from the first swerving of the ass, and how the ass was perhaps more aware of the master's danger and solicitous for his safety than was the master himself. Nothing. but tho sagacity and fidelity of the ass had saved his life. The ass was more faithful to its master than the master had been to God. 2. Hence, the enlightenment being partial, the confession is inadequate, indeed worthless. "I have sinned." There are no more complaints against tlie ass ; there is no extenuation with the lip ; so far all is satisfllctory. What is said is all right so far as it goes. The mischief is in what is left unsa.id, because unthought. Balaam should have asked himself, "How ia it that though my a.as saw the angel, I did not? " His confession wa.s lacking in tha.t he did not say, "I have sinned becanse my heart has not been right. I have sinned in going on an expedition to glorify and enrich myself. I will turn back at once." The only thing of real use and worth in God's sight is a voluntary turning from the ways of sin. When the younger son came to himself, he did not say, "I will go back to my father if he wishes me to go, if he will not let me stop where I am," but definitely, "I will arise and go," &c. Therefore, in spite of the ang·el's presence, the drawn sword, the thrice intimation through the ass, in spite of all the words to make all plain, Balaam goes on. He may indeed plead God's permission, but this plea will avail him nothing. For himself it matters little now, seeing he is not one whit changed in heart, whether he goes forward or backward ; any path that he takes is duumward. If he returns to Pethor, it will not be to a life of true repentance. He is the same low-minded man wherever he is, and it matters little to himself whether he is destroyed in Pethor or in Moab. Let him then go forward into Moab, so that in his further descent and ultimate destruction he may at the same time be used for the glory of God. Even if he refUBes a willing obedience, God may get gain out of him by an unwilling one.-Y.