Was Balaam A "Good Guy" Or Taking Advantage Of The Situation?

But I have against thee a few things;

 because thou hast there those holding 

the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak 

to cast a snare before the sons of Israel, 

to eat things sacrificed to idols and 

to commit fornication.

Revelation 2:14

      Yep! We are still on this verse. We must not just pass over this as just another narrative about some historical event. In this book, Revelation, Jesus is speaking to us things we must know and this doctrine of Balaam must be known for if one just reads the narrative in Deuteronomy he/she might not understand what actually occurred. Critical thinking is a must here and not be led astray that Balaam was a "good" guy." Remember: Balaam was not an Israelite. Balaam came from Mesopotamia and was associated with the cult Mithra. In fact for Balak to seek him out he had to have had a reputation as a great seer. We have further learned that Moab, and Ammon, were relatives of Israel for they were descendants of Lot. This is the narrative about this fact: "And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not what shy lay down, nor when she arose. Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day. And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day" (Genesis 19:35-38). Furthermore, we know that the Moabites were fearful of the Israelites. Israel defeated the Ammonites their neigbor and relative, but also the Moabites were economically fearful that they Israelites would eat the fruit of the land leaving little for the Moabites. So Balak sent for Balaam to curse Israel.

     We can confidently conclude that Balaam was not a true prophet of Jehovah and in fact was not a believer in Jehovah. Why did God forbid Balaam to cast a curse on Israel? Knowing that Balaam's curse would be in vain why forbid him, was it not due to the fact that Balaam's powers came from Satan and not from Jehovah? Yes! The city of Pethor is possibly the modern city Pitu and Pethor is the city of Balaam and is found by an Assyrian table to be associated with that of Carchemish. It was a Hittite city where there was "the tower of Balaam" in Asher Dan 1160 B.C. When one studies about Asher Dan he/she will find about the cult of Dan and of Baalbek, and come to know that in this area much paganism was the religion. 

     The knowledge about Israel, was it known by Balaam? He must have known something for he uses the name Jehovah. Furthermore, he was give information about Israel without using the name Israel but about the people that came out of Egypt. The exodus of the Hebrews out of Egypt was apparently known all over for this was a large event where the Pharaoah and his army was defeated at the Red River. Again, if Balaam knew about Jehovah and about how the Israelites were under His protection how could he have ever entertained the idea of cursing Israel?

     The plot thickens! The men from Balak who had traveled some 370+ miles to see Balaam were asked by Balaam to stay the night with him. God asked the question: "And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee" (Numbers 22:9)? Does God know who they are? Yes and He does not need Balaam to inform Him about them. Why then does God ask this question? God not only knows the answer He is seeing how forthright Balaam is with his answer. Balaam gives the answer about these men: "And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, the king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people  come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out" (Numbers 22:10-11). What were those men doing in Balaam's house if Balaam knew about Israel and about Jehovah God? It is never good to invite those who oppose you and your religion into your house or to have anything to do with them outside of work. Balaam was not to show them hospitality, nor we, so why did Balaam invite them in? Was there a deeper and darker reason?

     God came to Balaam, apparently in a dream and rebuked Balaam and said: "And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed" (Numbers 22:12). Balaam did not go and heeded Jehovah. This did not deter Balak for he sent more men to encourage Balaam to come and curse Israel and even offered promotion and even more, but Balaam said: "And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD (Jehovah) my God, to do less or more" (Numbers 22:18). Balaam invite them once again to stay the night and to give Balaam time to call upon the LORD for more direction. God said to him that if they wanted him to go with them that he was to go but should only do what He would say for him to do. 

     So far it sounds as if Balaam was a "good" guy doing all that God had asked him to do. So why was the "Doctrine of Balaam not to be followed? Well there is more to this story that we must come to know and by good critical thinking and allowing Scripture to speak to us we will find out the why.

Fret not thyself because of evildoers, 

     neither be thou envious against

the worker of iniquity. For they shall

    soon be cut down like the grass,

and wither as the green herb.

                Psalm 37:1-2

Learning is a step-by-step process: be patient

Richard L. Crumb