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Balak the son of Zippor king of Moab promised to reward Balaam, prophet extraordinaire and a sorcerer of international repute, handsomely if he would but curse the Israelites for him, so that he could defeat them and drive them from the land.
Even the pagan priest and magician Balaam knew that he could not go beyond the command of God, though the king of Moab were to give him his own palace filled with silver and gold. For to do so is death, and whosoever is dead can go no further, either for good or ill.
So he went no further, at least not at the king of Moab's first bidding. For he had God's command. "You shall not go with [the king's emissaries]; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed" (Num 22).
Even the heathen wise man and wizard Balaam knew that he whom God blesses is blessed and he whom God curses is cursed. Even he, enchanting enchanter that he was, couldn't add to or subtract from God's command one iota.
So Balaam rebuffed the king's emissaries and the king himself. "Go to your own land; for the Lord has refused to let me go with you. Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than [the first go-round]. And they said to him, 'Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: Let nothing hinder you from coming to me; for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do; come, curse the people for me.'"
But Balaam said to the envoys of Balak, "Thus saith the Lord: 'You shall not go!' Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the Lord my God, to do less or more."
Nevertheless, Balaam did go, at God's command--neither more nor less. Still, his going was reckless. He must have been tempted to go beyond the Lord's command after all. And the Lord's ire was aroused because he went. If it weren't for Balaam's ass, who kept him from making an ass out of himself three times by not going against the Lord and thereby provoking the Lord's wrath, surely the Lord would have struck Balaam down.
But He would have spared his donkey, who was wiser than his master, master conjurer though Balaam was. When it comes to God's Word, the way is straight not winding and narrow not wide. God stands in the way with sword drawn. The devil help you if you try to go anywhere but straight or by any way but the strait gate. God will turn you every which way but loose and tear you limb from limb.
Don't try to turn aside; you can't. Don't lay down on the job, either. God has prods for that too. The devil take the hindmost if you try to go against the Lord, or if you try to avoid Him, swerving either to the right or to the left. He doesn't bear the sword for nothing. And don't take it out on your beast of burden, like that jackass Balaam.
The Lord is apt to use an ass to make an ass out of an ass, just as he did Balaam. Even the pagan priest and sorcerer Balaam learned the hard way that you cannot go against the command of God and get off scot-free, no matter how richly His foes may reward you. For to do so is death. And whosoever is dead can go no further, for good or ill.
For God stands in the way. And He does not bare the sword for nothing. Yes, to go against God's Word is death, but to hearken to Him is faith and life! And to believe God is to go on and on! Hearken to Him. Heed His Word. Believe and repent. And you too will go on and on and on.
Even a charming charmer like Balaam didn't try to out charm God. Pagan priest and sorcerer though he was, even Balaam hearkened to God and repented. "I have sinned, for I did not know that thou didst stand in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in thy sight, I will go back again."
And the God who is able to put His Word into the mouth of an ass to make an ass out of his would-be wise master, the God who is able to put His Word into the mouth of a pagan priest and sorcerer like Balaam even, that God is fully able to put His Word into your heart and mouth and inspire trust and make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ.
Listen to His inspired Word from the mouth of this pagan priest and sorcerer. "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: a star shall come forth out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel" (Num 24).
What is that star but the Star of Bethlehem pointing the way to the Morning Star, the first Light of Dawn and God's New Day, the Firstfruits from the dead rising in our heart, our Savior Jesus Christ. The scepter shall never depart from Him. For "the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever" (Rev 11:15).
To go against God's Word is death, certain death. But to hearken to Him is faith and life. Hearken to Him. Heed His Word. And go on and on and on. . .and on and on and on and on and on! Amen.
- Pastor Erickson