Balaam seems to be a great contradiction. On the one hand he speaks with the Lord the true God and on the other he engages in the pagan worship of Balak and the Moabites (v39-41 & 1-3).

We need to examine our own lives for contradictions. We cannot walk in the ways of the Lord and in the ways of the world (1 John 2 v15-17).

God gives Balaam His message (v5). He puts the very words in Balaam’s mouth. Here we see the task of any preacher or teacher in the church. It is to wait upon God, in order for God to put His word into our mouths.

Balak wants the Israelites cursed, but under God, Balaam can only bless (v7-10). The closing words (v10b), speak of Balaam’s envy of the righteous who belong to God. As believers we need to seek for the unsaved to see that we have something in Christ that they will long for.

Balak is not happy (v11-12) as God has turned around his plan to curse God’s people into one that brings blessing. With God in control what have God’s children ever to fear?