expr:class='"loading" + data:blog.mobileClass'>

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Balaam - From a Prophet to a Soothsayer, Intermediate - I, Lesson - 11

INTERMEDIATE

AGE: 12 - 13 YEARS

STANDARD/GRADE: VII & VIII

Permission is granted only for free distribution among Sunday School children.

No part of this document can be modified, sold or used for any commercial purpose.

Click this link and visit devotions blog to read Christian articles

LESSON – 11

BALAAM – FROM A PROPHET TO A SOOTHSAYER

In the previous lessons we saw the forty-year desert sojourn of the Israelites. They were finally prepared to enter the promised land, Canan. Prior to entering the Promised Land, the Israelites travelled to the plains of Moab and camped across the Jordan River. When Balak, king of Moab, saw the Israelite camp he panicked and sent for a Prophet named Balaam to come and curse the Israelites. The King of Moab believed that pronouncing a curse on the Israelites would weaken them and he could easily defeat them.

Balaam, the Prophet

Balaam the Prophet lived in a land called Pethor near the Euphrates River. King Balak sent messengers to Balaam and told him to curse the Israelites in exchange for a reward. Balaam was not sure what to do. He told them that he needed God’s permission and asked them to wait. When Balaam enquired of the Lord, God told him not to go with them and also not to curse the Israelites. So, the officials returned to Balak. King Balak, then sent his royal officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. He also promised to give a huge reward to Balaam.

Balaam travels to Moab

Balaam was lured by the riches and the reward and wanted to go to Moab. So, he decided to approach God once again for permission. This time, God let him go. But God instructed him not to say anything apart from what God asks him to say. The next morning, Balaam saddled his donkey and got ready to go along with Balak’s officials.

Balaam’s Donkey Talks

God was not happy with Balaam going to Moab. God sent an angel against Balaam on the way. Balaam could not see the angel but the donkey Balaam was riding could see the angel standing on the way with a drawn sword. The donkey moved from the way three times to avoid Balaam being killed by the angel. But Balaam could not understand it, so he got angry and beat the animal. God opened the donkey’s mouth and it rebuked the prophet for beating him. Then God opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing on the road with his sword drawn. The angel once again instructed Balaam to speak only what God told him to speak about the Israelites.

Balaam and his donkey painting done in 1626 by the renowned Dutch artist Rembrandt, 
Public Domain

Balaam Pronounces Blessings

When Balaam arrived in Moab, he was greeted by King Balak. Together, they offered sacrifices of bulls and rams. Balak took Balaam to strategic places where he could see the Israelites and utter a curse on them. However, the Lord intervened and each time Balaam prophesied, he pronounced a blessing on Israel instead of a curse. After three attempts from three different locations, Balaam was able only to pronounce blessing on Israel and not a curse.  Balak was upset, and Balaam was prevented from earning his handsome fee for divination.

Balaam causes Israel to stumble

Balaam somehow wanted to earn his wages even if it was through ungodly means. Balaam could not curse Israel directly, so he came up with a plan for Israel to bring a curse upon themselves. He revealed the secret of Israel’s strength and success to Moab. The Israelites are separated unto God and do not imitate the ways of other nations. If Balak could mingle Israelites with the Moabites it would lead to their downfall. Balak followed Balaam’s advice, and Israel fell into sin. When the Israelites were at Shittim, they began to commit sin with the Moabite women. The women of Moab invited the people of Israel to the sacrifices of their gods and the Israelites started worshipping Baal of Peor. God was displeased and angry with the Israelites and they were punished with a plague. 24,000 Israelites lost their lives in the plague because of Balaam’s wicked counsel (Deuteronomy Revelation 2:14).

Balaam - From Prophet to Soothsayer

Up to the time of Numbers 24, Balaam was considered a prophet of God and spoke what God told him. But he did not walk in the right way till the end. He eventually forsook it and went astray, because he loved the wages of unrighteousness (II Peter 2:15). Balaam was finally killed by the Israelites when they took over Midian. In the record of his death (Joshua 13:22), he is no longer called as a “prophet of God” but as a “soothsayer”. He started as a prophet, a spokesman of God but ended as soothsayer. He turned into God’s enemy that made God’s people stumble (Revelation 2:14). This is the reason he is mentioned by different writers in the New Testament as an example to be avoided.

Inscription mentioning Balaam son of Beor from Tell Deir Alla, 9th or 8th century B.C.E.
Amman Archaeological Museum, Amman, Jordan, Public Domain.

Test the spirits

The Holy Bible has repeatedly warned us that there will be false prophets and false teachers in the last days. They are guided by the evil spirits that operate in them. We have to be careful not to follow their lead. Some prophets and teachers who start their ministry as true men of God, slowly deviate from the path of God and end up being false prophets just like Balaam because of lust of the flesh, money, position and power. The Bible tells us to test the spirits to see whether they are from God (I John 4: 1). We should be careful about any prophet or teacher who prophesizes or speaks in contradiction to the written word of God, the Holy Bible, even if they perform mighty wonders or miracles, since satan can also perform wonders as is warned in the Holy Bible. We should also be weary of any prophet or teacher who focuses more on fulfilling the carnal desires of people than on the spiritual blessings. We also have to watch out whether the will of God is fulfilled through these prophecies.

Holy Bible Reference: Numbers 22- 25

Memory Verse: Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Matthew 7:15,16 (NIV)

ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY 


I.  Give one word answers:

1. The donkey moved from the way …………….. times to avoid Balaam being killed by the angel.

2. The ................................. invited the people of Israel to the sacrifices of their gods.

3. The wicked counsel to make Israel sin against God was given by ........................

4. Balaam started as a Prophet of God but ended as a .................................

5. We should be careful about any prophet who prophesizes in contradiction to the written word of God, ...................................

 

II.  Give short answers:

1. Why did King Balak send for Balaam?

 

 

2. Why did Balaam’s donkey talk?

 

 

3. Why was Balaam not able to pronounce a curse on Israel?

 

 

4. Did Balaam receive his divination fee from Balak? Why? 

 

 

III. Give brief answers:

 

1. How did Balaam cause Israel to stumble?






No comments:

Post a Comment