Numbers 22:15-21 – A Second Attempt
Balak tries even harder to get Balaam to come. Sinners stick at no pains, spare no cost, and care not how low they stoop, for the gratifying either of their desires or of their hatred. Balaam seems to resist but actually yields to this temptation. His convictions tell him to stick to the command of God, and he replies as if he’s doing that. It is an easy thing for bad men to speak very good words, and with their mouth to make a show of godliness. You cannot judge men by their words. God knows the heart. Balaam’s corruptions at the same time strongly incline him to go contrary to the command. He seems to refuse the temptation. But even then he expresses no horror of it. It appears that he has a strong inclination to accept the offer; for he waits to see what God will say to him, hoping that He might change His mind and give him permission to go. This shows how poorly he thinks of God Almighty, as if He can change His mind, and allow those to be cursed whom He has pronounced blessed, and as if He will allow what He has already declared to be evil. Balaam thinks God is just like him. He has already been told what the will of God is, to which he ought to have submitted, and not to have desired a re-hearing of what God has already said. It is a very great insult to God, and evidence of the dominion of sin in the heart, to beg permission to sin.
God gives Balaam up to his own heart’s lust and tells him to go with the messengers. God is sovereign even over wicked men; they may go no farther than He allows them. As God sometimes denies the prayers of His people in love, so sometimes He grants the desires of the wicked in wrath.
Question
- How does Balaam give in to temptation?
- What does God tell Balaam to do?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the preaching and hearing of God’s Word tomorrow.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.