Numbers 23:1 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.

Now yesterday I mentioned that Balaam did not curse Israel. He was hired by Balak to curse Israel but Balaam remained good at his word, that he said nothing except as the Lord had revealed. This he did. Learned scholars have had many negative things to say about Balaam’s character, but none of them actually stated what it was that Balaam did wrong. They only labeled Balaam.

Examining Balaam’s behavior I see a few things that should be considered. First, Balaam was not a Jew. The issue of building alters and offering up sacrifices could be seen as a copycat sacrifice, even a pagan offering if you would like, but not to a pagan god. The issue for me is not in who made sacrifice or what they sacrifice or even where they sacrifice.

The sacrifices where not a sacrifice of worship. All the sacrifices prescribed within scriptures were given of God with purpose and were solemn in design and execution. They were given as a form of worship. Here Balak and Balaam made sacrifices unto God to solicit a favorable answer to Balak’s request. It could be seen as a bribe or worse tempting God.

It is not in doubt that God spoke to Balaam. Balaam’s reputation of one who could bless and curse might very well have been in connection with his talent for hearing God. But I do not see Balaam’s action or behavior to be so profound so as to be compared to Judas in betrayal. But I do see something in the New Testament that I feel comfortable comparing it with.

Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Like Balaam, they were not family.

Deuteronomy 32:27 Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the Lord hath not done all this.

This morning I was doing a severe self-examination. I turned to Numbers and the telling tale of Balaam whom some have labeled the mercenary prophet. His reputation was one who could bless and curse. In that capacity and that capacity alone did King Balak seek to hire Balaam. Yet in all that Balaam did in Numbers 22 thru 25, Balaam did not curse Israel according to Balak’s wishes.

Balaam’s Character:

This may furnish us a clue to his character. It, indeed, remains “instructively composite.” A soothsayer who might have become a prophet of the Lord; a man who loved the wages of unrighteousness, and yet a man who in one supreme moment of his life surrendered himself to God’s holy Spirit; a person cumbered with superstition, covetousness and even wickedness, and yet capable of performing the highest service in the kingdom of God: such is the character of Balaam, the remarkable Old Testament type and, in a sense, the prototype of Judas Iscariot. (Quote from William Baur)

That is a pretty harsh comparison to say Balaam betrayed the Lord like Judas did. I found no link between Balaam’s actions and betrayal. He did not disobey God in his service to Balak. So why did the children of Israel kill Balaam with the sword? I could only find one line that hinted why.

Numbers 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.

They blamed Balaam for their own behavior. We cannot find personal accountability to the Lord in the behavior of others.