Today we will study the story of Balaam, who professed
strict obedience but in his heart desired worldly rewards and honors of
men. This lesson is designed to show the
consequences of stubbornly insisting on our own will to fulfill such desires.
Balaam refused Balak’s offer of rewards in exchange for
cursing Israel (Numbers
22:1-21)
Numbers 22:5-7 – Because he was terrified by the
approach of the Israelites, Balak, king of Moab, dispatched messengers to offer
Balaam rewards if he would journey to Moab and curse Israel so that Balak could
drive them out of the land.
Numbers 22:8-14 tells us that Balaam responded by
refusing to go curse the Israelites because the Lord would not allow him to do
so.
Application: We are
sometimes offered “rewards” to disobey God.
Balaam was tempted by the promised rewards, but we should resolve that
riches and the honors of men will not tempt us.
After Balaam refused to come to Moab, Balak sent a second
group of men, more impressive than the first, to try to persuade him.
Numbers 22:15-19 – Obviously, Balaam was tempted
by this second offer. Balak offered “very great honor”. Being tempted, Balaam wanted to petition the
Lord again. Perhaps he was hoping that the Lord would change his mind and allow
him to accept the rewards offered by Balak, but at this point, he said, “…I cannot go beyond the word
of the Lord my God…” (22:18).
Application: As
Joseph Smith found out centuries later when he asked the Lord about the 116
pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript, there are dangers in persistently
seeking an exception to God’s directions.
As we examine the things we petition the Lord to allow us to do, are we
sometimes persistent in an unworthy cause?
Numbers 22:20-22 - The Lord gave permission for Balaam to go with Balak’s messengers if he so desired, but the Lord was angry with Balaam for going because he knew what was in Balaam’s heart.
2 Peter 2:15; Isaiah 29:13 – Here, we are told that
Balaam “loved
the wages of unrighteousness” and Isaiah reminds us that some, like Balaam, will draw near with
their lips while their hearts are far away.
The Lord showed the danger of Balaam’s stubborn insistence
on his own will (Numbers 22:22-35)
Numbers 22:22-30 – On his way to Moab, Balaam
tried three times to force his donkey forward while the donkey balked because
of the angel who blocked the way.
Demonstrating his stubbornness, Balaam wanted to force his own will on the
donkey and the Lord. Just as the donkey
saw the angel and Balaam did not, the Lord saw many things that Balaam refused
to see.
Application: If we
examine some common situations in our day, we see modern parallels of both
individuals and groups stubbornly trying to do what they want to do rather than
submitting to God’s will or the righteous counsel of parents or leaders. As examples: 1. A child, unhappy with the answer from Mom
goes to Dad seeking a different answer, 2. A member of the Church, unsatisfied
with the counsel of a priesthood leader, seeks out another priesthood leader,
3. A member of the Church rationalizes that a commandment doesn’t apply to him
or her as it does to other members.
Numbers 22:31-35 -The Lord chastened Balaam
through the mouth of the ass and the angel. Balaam decided to return home, but
the angel told him to continue, but to remember that he should only do as
commanded by the Lord.
D&C 95:1 explains why God chastens his
children—because he loves them, will forgive them with chastening, and will
prepare a way out of the temptations.
Application: God’s
chastening can be a blessing to us—if we accept it humbly, seeking forgiveness
and direction on how to turn our lives around and become exacting in our
obedience.
Balaam refused to curse Israel (Numbers
22:36-24:25)
After Balaam arrived in Moab, Balak asked him three times to
curse Israel. Each time the Lord told
Balaam to bless Israel, and Balaam obeyed.
Numbers 22:38; 23:8, 19-20; 24:1, 12-13 – Balaam
continues to tell Balak that he must say what God commands and he will not go
beyond that.
Numbers 22:41; 23:1-3, 13-15, 27-30 - Even
though he had refused to curse Israel as Balak requested, weakness was still
evident in Balaam as he followed Balak from place to place and listened to his
requests even though he knew that they were wrong.
Application: If we
place ourselves in temptation’s path, we will be confronted with unrighteous
suggestions from friends, acquaintances, or the media. Eventually, our
resistance can be worn down and we can succumb to temptations that we otherwise
would not have considered.
The Israelites destroyed the Midianites and slew Balaam (Numbers 31:1-16)
Numbers 31:1-3 – Moses sent forth warriors to
destroy the Midianites because the Lord was angry with them for enticing the children
of Israel to sin as recorded in Numbers 25:1-3. It was Balaam who had counseled
the Midianites to tempt the children of Israel to participate in idol worship
and sexual immorality.
2 Peter 2:15-16; Jude 1:11; Revelation 2:14 – New
Testament writers gave their impressions of Balaam as one who loved
unrighteousness and was rebuked for his iniquity; a greedy seeker of reward;
and one who cast a stumblingblock before Israel, enticing them to commit sin.
Application: Lessons
we can learn from this story include: Members of the Church who seek earthly
rewards and honors, who seek exceptions to God’s counsel and commandments, or
who try to introduce worldly ideas, practices, or standards into the Church are
following Balaam’s unrighteous example.
This is called the “doctrine of Balaam” in Revelation 2:14.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie said: “What a story this is! Here
is a prophet of God who is firmly committed to declare only what the Lord of
heaven directs. There does not seem to
be the slightest doubt in his mind about the course he should pursue. He represents the Lord, and neither a house
full of gold and silver nor the high honors offered by the king can sway him
from his determined course…
“Bur
greed for wealth and lust for honor beckon him. How marvelous it would be [for him] to be rich and powerful…
Perhaps the Lord would let him compromise his standards and have some worldly
prosperity and power. …I wonder how often some of us get our direction from the
Church and then, Balaam-like, plead for some worldly rewards…
“Balaam…inspired
and mighty as he once was, lost his soul in the end because he set his heart on
the things of this world rather than the riches of eternity” (New Era,
Apr. 1972, 7).
Although Balaam pretended to be strictly obedient, the
desires of his heart were to receive earthly rewards and honors. As we consider his example, we need to keep
the desires of our heart pure so that we do not make Balaam’s mistakes.
If Balaam had humbly submitted to God’s will, much sin and
suffering would have been avoided for himself and for Israel. We should be steadfast rather than
stubborn—seeking to follow the Lord’s will without trying to get around it or
change it.
Lessons are
posted on the Internet at http://www.neumanninstitute.org/