SERVE THE LORD WITH PURE MOTIVES
Key verse: 22:12
NIV
Balak Summons Balaam
22 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab(A) and camped along the Jordan(B) across from Jericho.(C)
2 Now Balak son of Zippor(D) saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread(E) because of the Israelites.
4 The Moabites(F) said to the elders of Midian,(G) “This horde is going to lick up everything(H) around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.(I)”
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor,(J) who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River,(K) in his native land. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt;(L) they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6 Now come and put a curse(M) on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land.(N) For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
7 The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination.(O) When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
8 “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.(P)” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.
9 God came to Balaam(Q) and asked,(R) “Who are these men with you?”
10 Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11 ‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’”
12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.(S)”
13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
14 So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
15 Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16 They came to Balaam and said:
“This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, 17 because I will reward you handsomely(T) and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse(U) on these people for me.”
18 But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God.(V) 19 Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.(W)”
20 That night God came to Balaam(X) and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”(Y)
Cross references
- Numbers 22:1 : S Nu 21:11
- Numbers 22:1 : S Nu 13:29; S Jos 2:7
- Numbers 22:1 : Nu 31:12; 33:48; Dt 32:49; Jos 2:1
- Numbers 22:2 : Nu 23:1-3; Jos 24:9; Jdg 11:25; Mic 6:5; Rev 2:14
- Numbers 22:3 : S Ex 15:15
- Numbers 22:4 : S Ge 19:37
- Numbers 22:4 : S Ge 25:2
- Numbers 22:4 : Nu 32:17, 18, 29
- Numbers 22:4 : Job 5:25; Ps 72:16
- Numbers 22:5 : ver 7; Nu 24:25; 31:8, 16; Dt 23:4; Jos 13:22; Ne 13:2; Mic 6:5; S 2Pe 2:15
- Numbers 22:5 : S Ge 2:14
- Numbers 22:5 : S Ex 13:3
- Numbers 22:6 : ver 12, 17; Nu 23:7, 11, 13; 24:9, 10
- Numbers 22:6 : ver 11
- Numbers 22:7 : S Ge 30:27
- Numbers 22:8 : ver 19
- Numbers 22:9 : S Ge 20:3
- Numbers 22:9 : ver 20; Nu 23:5; 24:4, 16
- Numbers 22:12 : S Ge 12:2
- Numbers 22:17 : ver 37; Nu 24:11
- Numbers 22:17 : S ver 6
- Numbers 22:18 : ver 38; Nu 23:12, 26; 24:13; 1Ki 22:14; 2Ch 18:13; Jer 42:4
- Numbers 22:19 : ver 8
- Numbers 22:20 : S Ge 20:3
- Numbers 22:20 : ver 35, 38; Nu 23:5, 12, 16, 26; 24:13; 2Ch 18:13
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Balak Summons Balaam
22 Then (A)the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And (B)Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And (C)Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. 4 And Moab said to (D)the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 (E)sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor (F)at Pethor, which is near the River[a] in the land of the people of Amaw,[b] to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 (G)Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
7 So the elders of Moab and (H)the elders of Midian departed with (I)the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message. 8 And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the Lord speaks to me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 (J)And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying, 11 ‘Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.’” 12 God said to Balaam, “You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for (K)they are blessed.” 13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your own land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” 14 So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these. 16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 (L)for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. (M)Come, curse this people for me.’” 18 But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, (N)“Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, (O)I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God to do less or more. 19 So you, too, (P)please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.” 20 (Q)And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; (R)but only do what I tell you.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 22:5 That is, the Euphrates
- Numbers 22:5 Or the people of his kindred
Cross references
- Numbers 22:1 : ch. 26:3, 63; 31:12; 33:48, 50; 35:1; 36:13
- Numbers 22:2 : Judg. 11:25
- Numbers 22:3 : Ex. 15:15
- Numbers 22:4 : ch. 31:8; Josh. 13:21
- Numbers 22:5 : Deut. 23:4; Josh. 24:9; Neh. 13:2; Mic. 6:5; 2 Pet. 2:15; Jude 11; Rev. 2:14
- Numbers 22:5 : Deut. 23:4; [ch. 23:7]
- Numbers 22:6 : ch. 23:7
- Numbers 22:7 : [See ver. 4 above]; ch. 31:8; Josh. 13:21
- Numbers 22:7 : [1 Sam. 9:7, 8; Mic. 3:11]
- Numbers 22:9 : [Gen. 20:3; Job 33:15, 16]
- Numbers 22:12 : See ch. 23:20
- Numbers 22:17 : ver. 37; ch. 24:11
- Numbers 22:17 : ver. 11
- Numbers 22:18 : ch. 24:13
- Numbers 22:18 : ver. 38; ch. 23:26; [1 Kgs. 22:14; 2 Chr. 18:13]
- Numbers 22:19 : ver. 8
- Numbers 22:20 : [See ver. 9 above]; [Gen. 20:3; Job 33:15, 16]
- Numbers 22:20 : ver. 35; ch. 23:12, 26; 24:13
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
First, never exploit a relationship with God for profit (1-13). God struck fear into the hearts of the Moabites. King Balak tried to hire Balaam, a sorcerer, to curse Israel, by sending delegates with a fee for divination. They were invited into his home while Balaam inquired of God. He should have sent the delegates away immediately. But Balaam was hoping for God to say 'yes' so he could get paid. God told him clearly not to go and not to put a curse on God's blessed people. Balaam sent the men home. His problem was that he was willing to utilize his relationship with God to make money. Second, think twice when God allows our choices (14-20). The delegates reported Balaam's refusal and were sent back with riches. Balaam invited them to stay while he inquired of God. He wanted the riches and flattery from a king. He was hoping for God to say 'yes', though it was wrong. God was done contending with Balaam. If he really wanted to go then God would conditionally let him go. God may allow things without agreeing.
Prayer: Lord, help me to serve you with a pure motive to glorify your name among the nations.
One Word: Serve God with pure motives
