Balaam could not see the angel and he struck his donkey thrice


Sometimes we too face those issues, when we are supposed to do what God says we get angry and lose self-control and patience, but God is always there. Balaam is a special man. He can bless or curse anyone. He can call out stuff and it would happen. He was very blessed and gifted and he did not waste his gifts.

First time, he did not go.
Second time, when the higher officials came with the rewards, God himself said, “Go but do only what I tell you.” 22:20
Angel also reminded in verse 35.

I personally think it was a reminder because Balaam probably forgot in between and became greedy for the rewards. I don’t know if it right or wrong but it is my opinion.

When he came to Balak, Balak showed him three places. Balak told him to curse Israel at three border/fronts/camps of Israel.

The comparison is that the devil or Satan who leads the world astray and to sin also did this to Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11.

He tempted Jesus three times.
First one was in the desert to turn the stones into bread.

Second one, devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple and told him to jump from there and angels will catch him.
That time, he quoted the Bible verse from Psalm 91:11-12 to add onto his temptation.

There is a Bible-Bible attack. We know that Satan does know the Scriptures very well.

Third, he took him to a very high mountain and showed him all kingdoms of the world and their splendor and told him to bow down and worship, and these will be yours.

We can do some comparisons as King Balak also tempted Balaam to curse. When Jesus replied to Satan, He quoted scriptures. Here we do not have scripture, but he talked with God and God gave him His Words. Each time he responded; he spoke only what God wanted him to speak.

Are we going to do that when Satan or somebody tempts us?

Are we going to use God’s Word? I think we probably should. We can see that there are 3-3 comparisons, 3 temptations with Jesus and Balaam are similar.

In Balaam’s time each place he went he put 7 alters for sacrifice, that means 7 times 3, that is 21 alters which is pretty much a lot of stuff with 21 bullocks and 21 rams!

Balaam could have chosen to disobey God but he did not. He could have translated God’s Word into his own way and could have said, “Okay, as long as you give me all the talents of gold in your kingdom and of the Israelites, I will curse them so that you will be able to destroy them. He could just have said that from God’s point of view but he directly said what God wanted him to say. I think that was because of the restraint on the way to them because of the donkey and the angel had said, “I would have killed you” in verse 33.

That is a big big thing which restrained him and told him not to do this.

One more point to note here is that God himself came to Balaam directly. I don’t know how Balaam was not killed as in previous portions of the Bible we see that if anyone who even comes near God will be killed. He will die. If they come near the Ark of the Covenant, they will die. I don’t know how God appeared to him.
Balaam gives prophesies and blesses Jacob.

Israel is blessed by God, got proud and sin against God and indulge in idolatry. God had to punish them.

We shouldn’t be that case, when we sin, we have to stop sinning. We can only do this by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour in our hearts.

Prateek Emmanuel, Grade 5
Hyderabad, English Group# 7050
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Joshua lived courageously Num 27:12-23

Joshua was known as Moses chief aide “since youth’ Num 11:28. He led a famous battle where God’s people gained victory over the Amalekites only as long as Moses kept his hands lifted in prayer. Ex 17_8_15. When Moses ascended Mount Sinai to receive the ten commandments, Joshua walked part of the distance with Moses Ex 24:13. Whenever Lord paused to speak to Moses, Joshua worshipped nearby.Ex33:11

Joshua had seen God’ s power closely, he refused to tremble like the spies who were afraid to take the land. When the Lord said that all the people would die without entering the land because of their lack of trust in Him, He made an exception for Joshua and Caleb of that entire generation, these two men were the only ones who would enter the land.Num 14:30

God told Moses to appoint Joshua, a man in whom is the spirit vs 27:18 as the next leader of Israel.And Moses did that immediately. Joshua assumed leadership of the Israelites, when Moses died joshua moved ahead with the Lord’s promise Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, donot be discouraged, for the lord your God will be with you wherever you go Jos 1:9

Cynthia Sathiaraj
Chennai