Jo’s Place

Balaam’s Final Messages This is the (final)    message Balaam delivered:  “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, the message of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge, from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:  I see Him, but not here and now.  I perceive Him, but far in the distant future.  A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel.  It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.  Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel marches on, in triumph.  A ruler will rise, in Jacob, who will destroy the survivors of Ir.”  Then, Balaam looked over, toward the people of Amalek …and delivered this message:  “Amalek was the greatest of nations, but its destiny is destruction!”  Then, Balaam    looked over toward the Kenites...

Balaam’s Third Message King Balak said to Balaam,  “Come, I will take you, to one more place.  Perhaps it will please God, to let you curse  (these Israelites) , from there.”  So, Balak took Balaam, to the top of Mount Peor, overlooking the wasteland.  Balaam again, told Balak,  “Build me seven altars, and prepare seven young bulls …and seven rams, for me to sacrifice.”  So, Balak did, as Balaam ordered, and offered a young bull …and a ram, on each altar.  By now, Balaam realized, that the Lord was determined, to bless Israel, so he did not resort, to divination, as before.  Instead, he turned and looked out, toward the wilderness, where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe.  Then, the Spirit of God came upon him, and this is the message, which he delivered:  “This is the message, of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man, whose eyes see clearly, the message of one, who hears the words of God, who sees a visio...

​ Balaam’s Second Message Then l, King Balak told him,  “Come with me to another place.  There you will see another part, of the nation of Israel, but not all of them.  Curse, at least that many!”  So, Balak took Balaam, to the plateau, of Zophim, on Pisgah Peak.  He built seven altars there and offered a young bull and a ram, on each altar.  Then, Balaam said to the king,  “Stand here, by your burnt offerings, while I go over there, to meet the Lord.”  There, the Lord met Balaam …and gave him a message.  He said, “Go back to Balak …and give him My message.”  So, Balaam returned …and found the king …standing beside his burnt offerings, with all the officials of Moab.  “What did the Lord say?” Balak asked eagerly.  This was the message Balaam delivered:  “Rise up, Balak, and listen!  Hear me, son of Zippor.  God is not a man,  …so He does not lie. He is not human,  so He does not change His mind.  H...

​ Balaam Blesses Israel When King Balak heard, that Balaam was on the way, he went out to meet him, at a Moabite town, on the Arnon River, at the farthest border, of his land.  “Didn’t I send you an urgent invitation?  Why didn’t you come right away?” Balak asked Balaam.  “Didn’t you believe me, when I said, that I would reward you richly?”  Balaam replied, “Look, now I have come, but I have no power, to say whatever I want.  I will speak only the message, that God puts, in my mouth.”  Then, Balaam accompanied Balak to Kiriath-huzoth, where the king sacrificed cattle and sheep.  He sent portions, of the meat, to Balaam …and the officials, who were with him.  The next morning, Balak took Balaam, up to Bamoth-baal.  From there, he could see …some of the people, of Israel, spread out below him.  Then, Balaam said to King Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven young bulls …and seven rams, for me to sacrifice.”  Balak foll...

​ Balaam and His Donkey …Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials  (just as the Lord had instructed him).   But, God was angry that Balaam was going …so,    He sent the angel of the Lord, to stand in the road, to block his way.  As Balaam and two servants …were riding along, Balaam’s donkey, saw the angel of the Lord, standing in the road, with a drawn sword, in his hand.  The donkey bolted off the road, into a field, but Balaam beat it, and turned it back onto the road.  Then, the angel of the Lord stood, at a place, where the road narrowed, between two vineyard walls.  When the donkey saw, the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by …and crushed Balaam’s foot, against the wall.  So, Balaam beat the donkey again.  Then, the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road …and stood, in a place …too narrow, for the donkey, to get by, at all.  This time, when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down ...

Balak Sends for Balaam Then, the people of Israel… traveled to the plains of Moab, and camped …east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho.  Balak son of Zippor, the Moabite king, had seen everything, that the Israelites did, to the Amorites.  And, when the people, of Moab, saw how many Israelites there were, they were terrified.  The king, of Moab, said, to the elders, of Midian,  “This mob will devour everything in sight, like an ox devours grass, in the field!”  So Balak, king of Moab, sent messengers, to call Balaam, son of Beor, who was living, in his native land, of Pethor, near the Euphrates River.  His message said:  “Look, a vast horde of people… has arrived from Egypt.  They cover the face of the earth… and are threatening me.  Please come …and curse these people for me, because they are too powerful for me.  Then, perhaps I will be able to conquer them …and drive them from the land.  I know, that blessings fall, on any ...

​ Balaam’s Final Messages This is the message Balaam delivered:  “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, the message of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:  I see Him, but not here and now.  I perceive Him, but far in the distant future.  A Star will rise from Jacob; a Scepter will emerge from Israel.  It will crush the heads of Moab’s people, cracking the skulls of the people of Sheth.  Edom will be taken over, and Seir, its enemy, will be conquered, while Israel marches on in triumph.  A Ruler will rise in Jacob who will destroy the survivors of Ir.”  Then Balaam looked over toward the people of Amalek an delivered this message:  “Amalek was the greatest of nations, but its destiny is destruction!”  Then he looked over toward the Kenites and delivered this message:  “Your home...

Balaam’s Third Message Then King Balak said to Balaam, “Come, I will take you to one more place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them from there.”  So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, overlooking the wasteland.  Balaam again told Balak, “Build me seven altars, and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.”  So Balak did as Balaam ordered and offered a young bull and a ram on each altar.  By now Balaam realized that the Lord was determined to bless Israel, so he did not resort to divination as before.  Instead, he turned and looked out toward the wilderness, where he saw the people of Israel camped, tribe by tribe.  Then the Spirit of God came upon him, and this is the message he delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor,  the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, the message of one who hears the words of God,  who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open:  H...

​ Balaam’s Second Message Then King Balak told Balaam, “Come with me to another place. There you will see another part of the nation of Israel, but not all of them. Curse at least that many!”  So Balak took Balaam to the plateau of Zophim on Pisgah Peak.  He built seven altars there and offered a young bull and a ram on each altar.  Then Balaam said to the king, “Stand here by your burnt offerings while I go over there to meet the Lord.”  And the Lord met Balaam and gave him a message.  Then He said, “Go back to Balak and give him My message.”  So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab. “What did the Lord say?” Balak asked eagerly.  This was the message Balaam delivered: “Rise up, Balak, and listen!  Hear me, son of Zippor. God is not a man, so He does not lie.  He is not human, so He does not change His mind.  Has He ever spoken and failed to act?  Has He ever promised ...

​ Balaam Blesses Israel Then Balaam said to King Balak, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven young bulls and seven rams for me to sacrifice.”  Balak followed his instructions, and the two of them sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar.  Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offerings, and I will go to see if the Lord will respond to me. Then I will tell you whatever He reveals to me.”  So Balaam went alone to the top of a bare hill, and God met him there.  Balaam said to Him, “I have prepared seven altars and have sacrificed a young bull and a ram on each altar.”  The Lord gave Balaam a message for King Balak.  Then He said, “Go back to Balak and give him My message.”  So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab.  This was the message Balaam delivered: “Balak summoned me to come from Aram; the king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills.  ‘Come,’...