Speak Boldly as God Gives the Words

Numbers 24:1-25 

    1 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times, to seek to use sorcery, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.  3 Then he took up his oracle and said:

    “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor,
    The utterance of the man whose eyes are opened,
    4 The utterance of him who hears the words of God,
    Who sees the vision of the Almighty,
    Who falls down, with eyes wide open:

    5 “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob!
    Your dwellings, O Israel!
    6 Like valleys that stretch out,
    Like gardens by the riverside,
    Like aloes planted by the LORD,
    Like cedars beside the waters.

    7 He shall pour water from his buckets,
    And his seed shall be in many waters.
    “His king shall be higher than Agag,
    And his kingdom shall be exalted.

    8 “God brings him out of Egypt;
    He has strength like a wild ox;
    He shall consume the nations, his enemies;
    He shall break their bones
    And pierce them with his arrows.

    9 ‘He bows down, he lies down as a lion;
    And as a lion, who shall rouse him?’
    “Blessed is he who blesses you,
    And cursed is he who curses you.”

    10 Then Balak's anger was aroused against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have bountifully blessed them these three times! 11 Now therefore, flee to your place. I said I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the LORD has kept you back from honor.”   12 So Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also speak to your messengers whom you sent to me, saying, 13 ‘If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD, to do good or bad of my own will. What the LORD says, that I must speak’? 14 And now, indeed, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”  15 So he took up his oracle and said:

    “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor,
    And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened;
    16 The utterance of him who hears the words of God,
    And has the knowledge of the Most High,
    Who sees the vision of the Almighty,
    Who falls down, with eyes wide open:

17 “I see Him, but not now;
    I behold Him, but not near;
    A Star shall come out of Jacob;
    A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,
    And batter the brow of Moab,
    And destroy all the sons of tumult.

    18 “And Edom shall be a possession;
    Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession,
    While Israel does valiantly.
    19 Out of Jacob One shall have dominion,
    And destroy the remains of the city.”

    20 Then he looked on Amalek, and he took up his oracle and said:
    “Amalek was first among the nations,
    But shall be last until he perishes.”

    21 Then he looked on the Kenites, and he took up his oracle and said:
    “Firm is your dwelling place,
    And your nest is set in the rock;
    22 Nevertheless Kain shall be burned.
    How long until Asshur carries you away captive?”

23 Then he took up his oracle and said:
    “Alas! Who shall live when God does this?
    24 But ships shall come from the coasts of Cyprus,
    And they shall afflict Asshur and afflict Eber,
    And so shall Amalek, until he perishes.”

25 So Balaam rose and departed and returned to his place; Balak also went his way.

Balaam now speaks God’s words and will as pleasing Him to obey, and then His Spirit filled him to speak with prophetic force for the LORD’s people and for His work, for the present and future.  His eyes were opened, he heard God’s word, he was given eyes to see, and he fell in worship as he saw clearly what was revealed to him.  Balaam then blessed the people of God and the God who delivered them, reinforcing the promises of blessing and cursing to those who bless or curse His people (Genesis 12:3).  Balak did not get this man to curse and overthrow God’s chosen ones (as if one could demand such a thing), and so brashly said that God would not honor Balaam for not speaking curses on God’s people!  Balaam wisely replied that he had to speak only what God told him to say, not according to his or another’s will in opposition to God’s words and will.  He then prophesied with opened eyes of the Messiah’s Coming as evidenced with a star of His imminent arrival to bring victory for His people.  Little did he know the extent of the words given to him, that he would be predicting Christ’s arrival on the earth in bodily form (Matthew 2:1-2).  He then spoke of the imminent destruction of God’s enemies by name and then left Balak’s presence for home.  We see the revelation of God through unlikely lips of unwilling men, and often see ourselves in them, holding back on proclaiming the word of the Lord which is the good news of God’s deliverance in Christ alone by grace alone for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28-30).  We should likewise be living sacrifices with Spirit-led speech, holding nothing back, as the example here of Balaam when others try to move us against God’s will and word (Isaiah 50:4, Jeremiah 23:28-29, 1 Peter 4:11).  It is His word which works, not our effort or wisdom, and so we speak.