Numbers 22:12 “And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.”
Balaam was a prophet of God from a nation other than Israel. He had been preaching and prophesying for some time and was well-known in the region. A king from another land – Balak of Moab – had apparently known of him for some time and knew that Balaam got answers from God. During the whole event, we see God and Balaam having several conversations – as though it was not unusual for them to converse.
The prophet Balaam started out good. He readily stated – and seemed to be determined – to let Balak’s representatives know that he could only say what God wanted him to say. He even stated it several more times that he was limited to saying only what God wanted him to say.
When God first came to Balaam about Balak’s visitors, God made His will clear: “And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed” (Numbers 22:12).
Somewhere during the process of talking with Balak’s messengers and later Balak himself, Balaam began to compromise. He compromised a few times during the whole incident.
Balaam’s first compromise was when he told the messengers of Balak: “Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more” (vs. 19). He told them this, even though God had already told him that he was not to go with these men to the king. He is acting (hoping) as though God might change His mind (he was already thinking about how to get the riches that they promised) and that perhaps God did not really mean what He said – even though the words are quite clear.
How about you, dear Christian friend? Do you find that you may also be unwilling to accept God’s plain words about some issues? Could it be because the world seems to offer more immediate wealth? God’s words are incredibly clear on many issues – do you accept them or brush them aside for your own preferences and personal gain?