The Downfall of Balaam

Choice 5: Numbers 22-24. Balak and Balaam

1. Read Numbers 22:2-14 and the Institute Student Manual commentary for Numbers22-24, “The Story of Balaam” (pgs. 209-10). Describe in writing what Balak wanted Balaam to do and how Balaam felt about it. Include in your paragraph a note about how the enticements of the world sometimes tempt people today.

Balak wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites.  Balak was afraid of them because the Israelites had become so powerful.  Balak needed them to be curse in order for him to overcome them if needed.  Balak sent for Balaam, who appeared to be someone with the ability to commune with God.  Balak used much flattery, gifts and the idea of prominence to seduce Balaam into doing what he wanted.

Balaam seemed to not really have a personal opinion.  I wonder if he just understood that the task at hand was bigger than his personal judgement.  Balaam completely relied on the Lord for what he should do.  I thought it was interesting that Balaam allowed himself to ask the Lord three times.  Why did he not tell to go away after the first time?  It must have been the enticements, flattery, and bribery of Balak that kept him asking.  Funny how when Joseph Smith went to the Lord three times about a question, the Lord eventually told him to do what he wanted the third time after denying him twice.  The Lord did not do that in this instance.  

We learn in the student manual that Balaam eventually succumbed to Balak’s enticements and he instructed Balak in what he needed to do to defeat the Israelites, which was to get them to commit sin so that they could not be worthy of God’s assistance.

We see in our world how luring the things of the world are.  People will sacrifice/ compromise their integrity and the principles of the gospel to get gain.  Gain comes in the form of flattery, money, position, celebrity status and so forth.  

1. Whose company was Balaam still keeping in Numbers 23:1-3, 25-30; 24:12? Make a list from these verses of the ways that Balak tried to influence Balaam. Why do you think Balaam continued to entertain Balak and his officers?

Balaam continued to entertain Balak, Balak’s messengers, and the Princes of Moab.  Balak influenced Balaam through gifts, flattery, promises of promotion, bringing him to high places and being willing to do all that Balaam required (sacrificing seven oxen and seven rams three different times).  I think Balaam really wanted what Balak was offering him.  I think he was seduced by the gifts and honors that Balak wanted to give him.  He went to the Lord three times, obviously hoping the Lord would change his mind.  

1. Write a summary paragraph about what these verses teach about the power of temptation if we allow ourselves to be continually exposed to it. Read Numbers 31:7-8; 2 Peter 2:14-15; Revelation 2:14. Identify who Israel destroyed and write the name of the man who was living with them at the time. Write a sentence or two describing what sins Balaam was eventually guilty of.

We can only fall to temptation when we allow ourselves to entertain it.  The Lord has promised that he will not allow us to be tempted by more than we can bear. He has even said he will “make a way to escape” the temptation. (1 Corinthians 10:13) The devil will use many methods to entice us to do his bidding.  More often than not, the devil uses small and simple steps to bring about our great destruction (Alma 37:6)  Continuing to entertain Balak is what was driving Balaam further downward.  I believe you will eventually succumb to what you surround yourself with.

The Israelites eventually destroyed the Midianites along with Balaam, who was living with the Midianites.  Balaam was guilty of loving the wages of unrighteousness and misusing his power to get gain.