24:1 It finally occurs to Balaam, like the sun breaking suddenly from the clouds, that God has no just commanded blessing for His children... it pleases Him to bless us! God's blessings are not formulaic or cemented in stone. Instead, our blessings from Him are cemented in His love for us. They cannot be etched out, carved out, convinced out.
God could go back on His word if He wanted to. He is not forced to keep promises. He could allow Himself to be bribed... but instead He chooses to be pure, honest and committed. Balaam finally realizes that God does not want to go back on His word and that no amount of bribery could convince him otherwise.
It is admitted here: Balaam's intentions have always been to seek his own power; to convince people of an ability for sorcery. But he has none against God.
24:2 Humoring Balak, Balaam looks at the children of Israel camped in the wilderness (organized by tribe) and while he does so, the Spirit of God comes upon him.
24:3-4 Balaam begins to prophesy again: Balaam states who he is and then confesses that in the presence of the Lord, he falls down with eyes wide open.
How many times in your life, in your day, do you fall down with eyes wide open for the Lord? Even this trickster, even his donkey, falls down before Him. Out of awe and reverence. When we come to understand the abundance of His love and the massive, incomparable power behind it, what other reaction could we have? Fall down, humble yourself... and open your eyes wide to receive His love and instruction.
24:5 Balaam's reaction suggests to us that God gives Balaam the perspective to see the children of Israel from His eyes: how lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Balaam observes the complete and all-consuming love of God that even the tents of Israel appear blessed to him. Because they are. God blesses every aspect of our lives when we sync our lives with Him.
We are each so beloved by God. We cannot comprehend the magnitude of His love for us. He loves us as a newly born baby and His protection over us is as fierce as His love. As you develop your relationship with God, He will give you glimpses of yourself from His perspective... and you will be so humbled and astounded. Ironically, humility is the filter through which God is able to show us how grand we each are.
24:6 Balaam continues to perceive from God's perspective: Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens by the riverside, Like aloes planted by the LORD, Like cedars beside the waters. This, we, are a blessed people. Although we may never be able to understand, God loves us and has decided that we a deserving of His perfect love.
24:7 Balaam continues to prophesy: the children of Israel will be a fruitful and abundant people. Blessed with a God who is God of all gods, King of all kings. Ruler over an exalted, highly honorable and regarded, Kingdom.
24:8 The prophesy continues: The children of Israel, brought out of Egypt, will increase in strength against all enemies and nations.
24:9 Balaam finishes the prophesy with this: The children of Israel are reverent of their God, bowing down before Him as a lion. Strong. Capable. Unable to be intimidated by any predator.
God sends this message through Balaam: those who bless the children of Israel become blessed. Those who curse the children of Israel curse themselves. In order for anybody to invoke blessing on their lives, bless humanity. Instead of division, pray for unity.
Balak is intimidated by the children of Israel and therefore wants them to be cursed. Reduced. Instead, we should make our prayers about unification. Had Balak blessed their progress and wished to join, encourage or help them, he would have been blessed by God, rather than cursed.
24:10-11 Balak angrily dismissed Balaam. Balak's ultimate failure is that he is not a reverent or rapt student. Balak did not listen or learn anything.
24:12-14 Balaam tries to explain to Balak again that he is powerless. His only ability is to profess the word and will of God. He cannot change it, or stop it. Balaam readies to leave Moab to return home to his people. Before he goes, he tells Balak about the children of Israel's future in the latter days.
That should perk our ears up because we are... centuries closer to the latter days than Balak and Balaam. This next, fourth, prophecy predicts the Messiah, who has already come... long ago.
24:15-16 Balaam again states his name and that his eyes have been opened by God.
- Brief(ish) digression: this theme of eyes to see is consistently spoken of in the bible and is a central concept. Isaiah 6:10, Jeremiah 5:21, Ezekiel 12:2, Matthew 13:15, Acts 28:27, Romans 11:8 all speak of "eyes to see" and the reason is that spirituality awakens a person to a new and truer perspective. To understand the meaning, order, creation and progress of life is to have ones eyes opened. Balaam (and many other humans, then, now and in between) have had closed eyes. The have neglected, rejected or not realized His presence and plan. To open ones eyes is to perceive and participate in His will. Once Balaam shed his own arrogance, his eyes were opened to see the true authority: God. Life changes in that moment when instead of exalted inwardly, we push that exultation out to the One who deserves it.
24:17 God enables Balaam to prophesy of Jesus, Emmanuel, Son of God whom we met and came to love in the Gospel chapters of the New Testament. Jesus, the Star who came out of Jacob and healed the humanity. Jesus the sovereign King who destroys evil, workers of tumult.
24:18-19 Jesus, to whom God gave the entire earth. Every quarreling king and kingdom is given to Him by God. Friend and foe are His! Israel, under His authority, will reign valiantly in love and life.
24:20-24 Balaam prophesies that each of God's children's enemies will inevitably be reduced, destroyed. For God's way of life is not a constant battle between life. God's will is that all shall live in love and justice and to oppose Him is to be destroyed.
24:25 Balaam completes the prophesy given to him by God and there is nothing left for him to do but return home. Balaam and Balak part ways.
Be a productive and reception child of God. All Him to work His miracles through you continuously so that there is never nothing left for you to do. Balaam and Balak both learned lessons from God but what will they do with them? What will you do with what God teaches you?
