March 6: Numbers 22:1 – Numbers 24:25

Balak Summons Balaam – Numbers 24

• Israel camps in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho.
• Balak, the king of Moab, sends messengers (elders from Moab and Midian) to Balaam, summoning him to come help drive away the people who have come out of Egypt. Balaam tells the messengers to stay for the night, and during the night, God appears to Balaam. He asks Balaam who the people with him are, and Balaam tells Him why the messengers are there. God tells him that he is not to go with Balak against Israel, because they are blessed. The next morning, Balaam sends word back to Balak that he refuses to go against the Hebrew people.
• Balak again sends messengers, this time princes, but Balaam still refuses the invitation to join forces (depite offers of money). During the night, God tells Balaam to return to Balak with the princes, but to do as He tells him to do.

Balaam's Donkey and the Angel 

• God's anger is kindled because Balak, though saying he will not fight, wants the money and honor that Balak offers. As Balaam is riding his donkey along with two of his servants, and angel of the Lord with a sword drawn appears to the donkey. The donkey goes into the field, and Balaam strikes her. The angel then appears to the donkey in a narrow path between the walls of two vineyards, and the donkey presses Balaam's foot against the wall. He strikes her again. The angel then appears to the donkey in a narrow place, and she lies down. Balaam strikes her a third time, and this time she asks him why he has struck her three times. He tells her because she has made a fool of him, and if he had a sword, he would kill her. She points out that he has ridden her all his life and questions if it is her habit to treat him that way. Balaam admits it is not.
• God opens Balaam's eyes, and he sees the angel and falls on his face before the Lord. God asks him why he has struck his donkey and points out that if she had not turned aside before him those three times, He would have killed Balaam and let the donkey live. Balaam admits his sin, and tells God he will turn back. God instructs him to go with the men, but to speak as He tells him to do.
• Balak comes out to meet Balaam at the city of Moab. Balaam tells him that God puts the words in his mouth for him to speak. They travel to Kiriath-huzuoth together.

Balaam's First Oracle – Numbers 23

• Balaam tells Balak to build for him seven altars and prepare seven bulls and seven rams. Balaam offers a bull and a ram on each altar, then tells Balak to stand beside his burnt offering, and he go and try to meet with the Lord.
• God meets Balaam, and tells him what to tell Balak. Balaam return to Balak and tells him he cannot curse Israel because God has blessed them. Balak points out that he has brought him here to curse his enemies, but Balaam has blessed them. Balaam responds that he must speak what the Lord puts in his mouth.

Balaam's Second Oracle

• Balak takes Balaam to another place where they can overlook Israel. There he builds seven more altars and offers a bull and ram on each altar. Again, Balaam goes off and meets the Lord, then returns to Balak and blesses Israel. Balak takes him to another place where he can overlook Israel, and there Balaam tells him to again build seven altars and sacrifice seven rams and oxen on them.

Balaam's Third Oracle – Numbers 24

• Balaam sees that it pleases the Lord to bless Israel, so he does not go to look for omens this time. He sets his face toward the wilderness and sees Israel camped tribe by tribe. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon him, and he again blesses Israel.
• Balak is angered and he tells Balaam to return to his own place, refusing to honor him. Balaam points out that he had already told Balak's messengers that he would not curse Israel even for all of Balak's gold and silver. He then tells Balak what Israel will do to Balak's people in the latter days.

Balaam's Final Oracle

• Balaam gives his final oracle, speaking of prophecies about Israel overtaking Edom, Amalek, and the Kenite (the rise of the Davidic dynasty). He then goes on his way, and Balak returns home.