Read Numbers 22:41-23:12
Balaam boldly proclaimed the LORD’s message, and Balak, the Moabite king was not pleased. I was impressed that Balaam did not cower and cave in under pressure knowing his words from God would not be popular. After all, in our last reading we’re told he refused to help the king, but here we see both men’s true colors.
I wonder what was going through Balaam’s mind when he saw the hoards of Israelites camped out below? Did he marvel at the sheer number of God’s people he’d been asked by Balak to curse? Was he afraid for his own life? Was he thinking of the riches he would receive in return for cursing these people? Whatever was happening from that high place, likely a shrine to the pagan god, Baal, Balaam chose to pay his respects to God with sacrifices as he waited for God’s response. Continue reading “Numbers 22:41-23:12 – Balaam’s First Oracle”