03.01.2015 Old Testament: Num 24.3–4

To read the Bible in a year, read Numbers 24–26 on March 1, In the year of our Lord 2015

By Don Ruhl

Balaam the prophet would not go against the Lord’s word or attempt to change it in anyway, although Balaam hoped that the Lord would change His mind and curse Israel that Balak of Moab might reward Balaam.

When Balaam realized that the Lord just would not change His mind, Balaam no longer consulted the Lord, but saw what the Lord desired. Balaam then said,

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,
The utterance of him who hears the words of God,
Who sees the vision of the Almighty,
Who falls down, with eyes wide open…”
(Num 24.3–4) 

When you see what the word of the Lord says, do not change it, and do not do what Balaam did later when he told Balak how he could get the Lord to curse Israel. 

Balaam here acknowledged that he finally had his eyes wide open, and unfortunately he did not keep them wide open to follow the Lord.