alak's sacrifice, Balaam pronounces a blessing instead of a
curse. (1-10) Balak's disappointment, and second sacrifice,
Balaam again blesses Israel. (11-30)
Verses 1-10: With the camps of Israel full in view, Balaam ordered
seven altars to be built, and a bullock and a ram to be offered
on each. Oh the sottishness of superstition, to imagine that God
will be at man's beck! The curse is turned into a blessing, by
the overruling power of God, in love to Israel. God designed to
serve his own glory by Balaam, and therefore met him. If God put
a word into the mouth of Balaam, who would have defied God and
Israel, surely he will not be wanting to those who desire to
glorify God, and to edify his people; it shall be given what
they should speak. He who opened the mouth of the ass, caused
the mouth of this wicked man to speak words as contrary to the
desire of his heart, as those of the ass were to the powers of
the brute. The miracle was as great in the one case as in the
other. Balaam pronounces Israel safe. He owns he could do no
more than God suffered him to do. He pronounces them happy in
their distinction from the rest of the nations. Happy in their
numbers, which made them both honourable and formidable. Happy
in their last end. Death is the end of all men; even the
righteous must die, and it is good for us to think of this with
regard to ourselves, as Balaam does here, speaking of his own
death. He pronounces the righteous truly blessed, not only while
they live, but when they die; which makes their death even more
desirable than life itself. But there are many who desire to die
the death of the righteous, but do not endeavour to live the
life of the righteous; gladly would they have an end like
theirs, but not a way like theirs. They would be saints in
heaven, but not saints on earth. This saying of Balaam's is only
a wish, not a prayer; it is a vain wish, being only a wish for
the end, without any care for the means. Many seek to quiet
their consciences with the promise of future amendment, or take
up with some false hope, while they neglect the only way of
salvation, by which a sinner can be righteous before God.
Verses 11-30: Balak was angry with Balaam. Thus a confession of God's
overruling power is extorted from a wicked prophet, to the
confusion of a wicked prince. A second time the curse is turned
into a blessing; and this blessing is both larger and stronger
than the former. Men change their minds, and break their words;
but God never changes his mind, and therefore never recalls his
promise. And when in Scripture he is said to repent, it does not
mean any change of his mind; but only a change of his way. There
was sin in Jacob, and God saw it; but there was not such as
might provoke him to give them up to ruin. If the Lord sees that
we trust in his mercy, and accept of his salvation; that we
indulge no secret lust, and continue not in rebellion, but
endeavour to serve and glorify him; we may be sure that he looks
upon us as accepted in Christ, that our sins are all pardoned.
Oh the wonders of providence and grace, the wonders of redeeming
love, of pardoning mercy, of the new-creating Spirit! Balak had
no hope of ruining Israel, and Balaam showed that he had more
reason to fear being ruined by them. Since Balaam cannot say
what he would have him, Balak wished him to say nothing. But
though there are many devices in man's heart, God's counsels
shall stand. Yet they resolve to make another attempt, though
they had no promise on which to build their hopes. Let us, who
have a promise that the vision at the end shall speak and not
lie, continue earnest in prayer, (Lu 18:1).
alak's sacrifice, Balaam pronounces a blessing instead of a
curse. (1-10) Balak's disappointment, and second sacrifice,
Balaam again blesses Israel. (11-30)