Balaam and Balak were two Old Testament figures who bargained with Satan and lost. Balak was king of the Moab when Moses led the children of Israel up the eastern side of the Jordan after their 40 years in the wilderness. Balak was worried about the children of Israel conquering Moab, so Balak sought Balaam’s services; he sought to hire him to curse Israel so he might defeat them and drive them from the land (Numbers 22:1ff).
Balaam’s initial reaction was to consult the Lord about this matter. God instructed him not to go so Balaam sent the Moabite delegation away. Balak sent back men of greater stature and more money. Numbers 22:18-21 records what happened:
And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, 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. Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more. And God came unto Balaam at night, and said 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. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.
Three attempts were made to curse Israel, three times Balaam blessed them and Balak ran him out of town. Then Balaam struck his bargain with Satan. Balaam then returned and counseled Balak to cause Israel to destroy themselves. Numbers 25:1- describes the plan.
And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.
We know Balaam was responsible for this action because it is recorded in Numbers 31:16. Balaam’s bargain involved the perverting of God’s will for reward. He is an example of the false teacher who does what is necessary to achieve the desired goal. For Balaam, it was as Jude put it, "the error of Balaam for reward" (Jude 11). He put the money Balak offered above the will of God. Balak’s bargain involved trying to overturn the will of God. He did not understand the nature of God, and thus thought he could alter what God decreed. He thought all he needed was a man viewed as a prophet with the ability to bless and curse. He failed to understand God was behind the blessing and cursing and only what He chose to happen would happen. He and the nation should have served God rather that fight against Him. This is a lesson many today need to learn and heed.
More to follow, Denny.