Balaam, a Prophet Gone Wrong

God came to Balaam in the night, through one of His angels, and inquired of him, What men are these with thee? And Balaam said unto God, Balak the “son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt.... Come, now, curse me them.... And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them. Thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.” The angel tells Balaam that the children of Israel are conducted under the banner of the God of heaven; and no curse from man could retard their progress.TA 105.4

In the morning he [Balaam] arose, and reluctantly told the men to return to Balak, for the Lord would not suffer him to go with them. Then Balak sent other princes, ... occupying a more exalted position than the former messengers; and this time Balak's call was more urgent. “Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee coming unto me, for I will promote thee unto very great honor.... And Balaam answered and said, ... If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.”—Spiritual Gifts 4a:44.TA 106.1

A second time Balaam was tested.... He longed to comply with the king's request; and although the will of God had already been definitely made known to him, he urged the messengers to tarry, that he might further inquire of God; as though the Infinite One were a man, to be persuaded.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 440.TA 106.2

An angel was sent to Balaam to say unto him, “If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.”—The Spirit of Prophecy 1:321.TA 106.3

Balaam had received permission to go with the messengers from Moab, if they came in the morning to call him. But annoyed at his delay, and expecting another refusal, they set out their homeward journey without further consultation with him. Every excuse for complying with the request of Balak had now been removed. But Balaam was determined to secure the reward; and taking the beast upon which he was accustomed to ride, he set out on the journey. He feared that even now the divine permission might be withdrawn, and he pressed eagerly forward, impatient lest he should by some means fail to gain the coveted reward.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 441.TA 107.1

God's anger was kindled against Balaam for his Heaven-daring folly, and “an angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him.” The animal, seeing the divine messenger, who was, however, invisible to the master, turned aside from the highway into a field. With cruel blows, Balaam brought the beast back into the path; but again, in a narrow place hemmed in by walls, the angel appeared, and the animal, trying to avoid the menacing figure, crushed the rider's foot against the wall.—The Signs of the Times, November 25, 1880.TA 107.2

Balaam's rage was unbounded, and with his staff he smote the animal more cruelly than before. God now opened its mouth, and by “the dumb ass speaking with man's voice,” He “forbade the madness of the prophet.” 2 Peter 2:16. “What have I done unto thee,” it said, “that thou hast smitten me these three times?”TA 107.3

Furious at being thus hindered in his journey, Balaam answered the beast as he would have addressed an intelligent being—“Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.” ...TA 107.4

The eyes of Balaam were now opened, and he beheld the angel of God standing with drawn sword ready to slay him. In terror “he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.” The angel said to him, “Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: and the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee.” ...TA 108.1

When he beheld the messenger of God, Balaam exclaimed in terror, “I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, 442, 443.TA 108.2

After the angel had impressively warned Balaam against gratifying the Moabites, he gave him permission to pursue his journey....TA 108.3

Balak met Balaam, and inquired of him why he thus delayed to come when he sent for him; ... Balaam answered, Lo, I am come unto thee. He then told him that he had no power to say anything. The word that God should give him, that could he speak, and could go no further. Balaam ordered the sacrifices according to the religious rites. God sent His angel to meet with Balaam, to give him words of utterance, as He had done on occasions when Balaam was wholly devoted to the service of God. “And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth, and ... he took up his parable, and said, Balak, the king of Moab, hath brought me from Aram, ... saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel. How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the Lord hath not defied?” ...TA 108.4

Balak was disappointed and angry. He exclaims, “What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.” Balak thinks it is the grand appearance of the Israelites in their tents ... that keeps him from cursing them. He thinks if he takes him to ... where Israel will not appear to such advantage, he can obtain a curse from Balaam. Again, at Zophim ... Balaam offered burnt offerings, and then went by himself to commune with the angel of God. And the angel told Balaam what to say.—The Spirit of Prophecy 1:322-324.TA 109.1