5 Smooth Stones

Benson Commentary of Numbers 22:20-21 states, “If the men come to call thee, rise up and go with them — He had no leave to go at all unless the messengers came again in the morning to him. And, perhaps, if he had not gone to them, after having promised them an answer, they might have thought their master’s great o ff ers neglected, and have gone away without him. But his head and heart were too full of expectations from the journey, to run the hazard of not being further invited into it. And so he rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, or commanded it to be saddled, for he had servants to wait upon him; and went to them, directly contrary to God’s express order, and was opposed by the angel for the breach of his duty.” God allowed Balaam to go on his way, again admonishing him not to speak anything that was not given to him from the Lord. Psalms 81:11 “ But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me. 12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, To walk in their own counsels. 13 "Oh, that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn My hand against their adversaries.” I think it is interesting that there are three examples of prophets riding on donkeys in judgment. The young man of God was immature, although anointed, and he died as he rode his donkey toward his destination. Balaam, the great prophet who rode toward earthly glory, was rebuked by his donkey, and was then saved from earthly judgment by the angel of the Lord that he could not, at fi rst, even discern. And lastly was Jesus Christ, who rode an unbroken donkey into Jerusalem amidst glory and hosanna, only to exchange the earthly glory for a heavenly and eternal glory. When Balak heard that Balaam was coming he went out to meet him. This alone was an extreme honor, for the king to personally greet him. The payment he o ff ered to Balaam was truly extravagant, basically a king’s ransom. He took Balaam up to the high places of Baal where he could see some of the Israelites and there gave sacri fi ce to the false gods and he expected Balaam to curse the people. Rather than curse them, Balaam blessed them, as he knew his power was from speaking the truth from Jehovah, and also there is a principle that a curse causeless cannot come to rest (Proverbs 26:2), so if he were to send a curse and there was no sin allowing entry, then the curse would return to him (Numbers 23:21-23). He did not want this. Three di ff erent times Balak took Balaam to a high place of idol worship and o ff ers extravagant sacri fi ce, but each time Balaam’s prophecies bless Israel. Balaam even goes so far as to ask that he receive the blessings of Israel as he saw they were great and good, Numbers 23:10 “Let me die the death of the righteous, And let my end be like his!”

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