Torah: Numbers 19:1 - 25:9
Reading #5 - Numbers 22:13-38
My Thoughts:
Did Hashem change His mind? He told Balaam not to go. But, King Balak wants something different. So, he sends more princes and more gifts. Then Balaam tells them to wait overnight to see if Hashem is something else to say (verse 19). Haven’t you done the very same thing? Clearly Hashem is telling you not to do something but you come back to Him to reason, to ask Him to clarify His decision. We know that Hashem is full of mercy and grace, and just like a parent, maybe He wants to give us what we want -- beyond reason. And of course, a lesson will be learned when this happens. Just like Balaam. We will read on and see what happens.
Challenge:
Balaam is “challenging” Hashem in a sense, when he decides to see if Hashem will have anything more to say. Clearly Hashem said not to go with these men. Not to curse Israel. But, Balaam “challenge” Him. The challenge today is for you to look at your life. What has Hashem clearly told you “no” on, and yet you wait for Him to change His mind? Listen to what He says and obey, even if you don’t like it! If not, you will suffer consequences. Amen.
Reading #5 - Numbers 22:13-38
13 Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land; for Hashem refuses to permit me to go with you.”
14 The princes of Moab rose up, and they went to Balak, and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”
15 Balak again sent princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16 They came to Balaam, and said to him, “Balak the son of Zippor says, ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me, 17 for I will promote you to very great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Please come therefore, and curse this people for me.’”
18 Balaam answered the servants of Balak, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond the word of Hashem my Elohim, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore please stay here tonight as well, that I may know what else Hashem will speak to me.”
20 Elohim came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to you, that you shall do.”
21 Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 Elohim’s anger burned because he went; and Hashem’s angel placed himself in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 The donkey saw Hashem’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the donkey turned out of the path, and went into the field. Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the path. 24 Then Hashem’s angel stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 The donkey saw Hashem’s angel, and she thrust herself to the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. He struck her again.
26 Hashem’s angel went further, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 The donkey saw Hashem’s angel, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam’s anger burned, and he struck the donkey with his staff.
28 Hashem opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
29 Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have mocked me, I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would have killed you.”
30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long until today? Was I ever in the habit of doing so to you?”
He said, “No.”
31 Then Hashem opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw Hashem’s angel standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. 32 Hashems angel said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me. 33 The donkey saw me, and turned away before me these three times. Unless she had turned away from me, surely now I would have killed you, and saved her alive.”
34 Balaam said to Hashem’s angel, “I have sinned; for I didn’t know that you stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases you, I will go back again.”
35 Hashem’s angel said to Balaam, “Go with the men; but you shall only speak the word that I shall speak to you.”
So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him to the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Didn’t I earnestly send for you to summon you? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I not able indeed to promote you to honor?”
38 Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? I will speak the word that Elohim puts in my mouth.”
