Numbers Balak Sends for Balaam Read Numbers 22:1-21

Transcription

1 Numbers Balak Sends for Balaam Read Numbers 22: The children of Israel moved from the land of the Amorites and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan River across from the city of Jericho (see v. 1). The king of Moab had heard reports of what they had done to the Amorites; what was his and the entire nation of Moab s emotional response to them camping in their plains (see vv. 2-3)? 2. Knowing what the children of Israel did to Og, king of Bashan, and to Sihon, king of the Amorites, what did the king of Moab think they would do to his nation (see v. 4)? 3. Although the king of Moab wasn t aware of what the Lord had told Moses about the king's nation, were his fears of the children of Israel justified? (See Deuteronomy 2:9.) 4. Because of his dreadful fear, the king of Moab devised a plan to deal with the children of Israel. Describe his strategy (see vv. 5-6). 5. Balak commissioned the elders of Moab and Midian to hire Balaam. What did the elders bring with them to Balaam (see v. 7)? What was Balaam s initial response to them (see v. 8)? Numbers Page 1

2 6. God came to Balaam and spoke to him. What did God ask Balaam (see v. 9)? What was Balaam s response to God (see vv )? What was God s answer to this response (see v. 12)? 7. What was God s description of the children of Israel (see v. 12)? Why did God describe them this way? (See Genesis 12:3 and Psalm 32:1-2.) 8. What was Balaam s response to the princes of Moab (see v. 13)? What did the princes of Moab do with Balaam s response (see v.14)? 9. What did Balak attempt to do when Balaam refused to come and curse the children of Israel (see vv )? 10. Although Balaam s response to the more numerous and more honorable servants of Balak seems upright, this prophet saw a potential profit and wanted to inquire of God again to see if He had changed His mind. What was his response to this second attempt to hire him (see vv )? 11. God came to Balaam at night and gave him further instructions that contained a conditional statement. What was that conditional statement (see v. 20)? Did Balaam heed the conditional statement (see v. 21)? (See also Proverbs 14:12.) Numbers Page 2

3 Balaam, the Donkey, and the Angel Read Numbers 22: What was God s response to Balaam departing with the princes of Moab (see v. 22)? Why (see v. 12)? 13. Who was with Balaam when the Angel of the Lord stood in the way (see v. 22)? 14. Of all those who were with Balaam, who saw the Angel of the Lord? How did they respond (see v. 23)? 15. The Angel of the Lord stood in opposition against Balaam once again. Where did the Angel of the Lord stand this time? What happened to Balaam (see vv )? 16. The Angel of the Lord stood in opposition against Balaam a third time. What was different about this place the Angel of the Lord appeared (see v. 26)? Unaware of the Angel of the Lord, what did Balaam do (see v. 27)? Numbers Page 3

4 17. Balaam struck his donkey three separate times for her actions because he was unaware of the presence and opposition of the Angel of the Lord. The Lord opened the mouth of the donkey and she argued with Balaam. What was the argument about (see vv )? How is Balaam s argument ironic (see v. 29)? 18. In the same way the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, He opened the eyes of Balaam. What did Balaam see? What was his response (see v. 31)? 19. The Angel of the Lord defended the actions of Balaam s donkey (see v. 33). What did He say about Balaam s actions (see v. 32)? What would He have done to Balaam if it had not been for the actions of his donkey (see v. 33)? 20. Once aware of the presence of the Angel of the Lord, what did Balaam do and commit to doing (see v. 34)? 21. What did the Angel of the Lord remind Balaam to do (see v. 35)? (See also v. 20.) 22. Balak, king of Moab, was informed that Balaam was on his way to meet Balak (see v. 36). What did Balak ask Balaam (see v. 37)? Why? What did he hope to get from Balaam? Numbers Page 4

5 23. What was Balaam s response to his meeting with Balak (see v. 38)? 24. Balak offered a pagan sacrifice, not a Levitical sacrifice. What did he sacrifice? What did he do with this sacrifice (see vv )? Balaam s First Prophecy Read Numbers 22:41-23: Balak took Balaam to the high places of Baal, where they could see the camp of the children of Israel in the plains of Moab (see v. 41). This location s association with Baal suggests that it was a high place where Canaanite cultic functions were carried out. What did Balaam ask Balak to construct for him there? Why (see vv. 1-3)? 26. There is no biblical instruction or precedent for Balaam s offering; presumably the sacrifices were part of a pagan ritual. However, God still met Balaam on the desolate height (see v. 4). What did God put in Balaam s mouth (see v. 5)? 27. In Balaam's first oracle, he mentioned where he is, what he sees, and why he is there (see vv. 7, 9). He also asks a question (see v. 8). What was the answer to his question? (See Numbers 22:12.) Numbers Page 5

6 Balaam s Second Prophecy Read Numbers 23: Balak took Balaam to another place the top of Pisgah in the field of Zophim. What was Balak s motive in taking Balaam here (see vv )? 29. Once again, Balak and Balaam made a pagan sacrifice, and Balaam went off to a solitary place to hear from the Lord. Balaam returned with a word from the Lord to Balak. What was the premise of the Lord s statement to Balak (see vv )? 30. Despite all the grumbling, complaining, murmuring, and rising up against the Lord s anointed leaders, what did Balaam s second oracle reveal about the Lord s view of His children (see v. 21)? 31. How does the Lord see us as believers in Christ? (See Ephesians 1:4; 5:27, Colossians 1:22, and 2 Peter 3:14.) 32. Balaam s second oracle made it clear that God s protecting grace shielded the children of Israel from what types of evil (see v. 23)? 33. Balaam s second oracle also made it clear that rather than being overcome, the nation of Israel would do what to its enemies (see v. 24)? Numbers Page 6

7 Balaam s Third Prophecy Read Numbers 23:27-24: Yet again, Balak took Balaam to a different location in an effort to get him to curse the children of Israel (see v. 27). What did this location overlook (see v. 28)? 35. Balaam was aware that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel (see v. 1). Before giving his third oracle, what did Balaam do the same as before (see vv. 23:29-24:1)? 36. What did Balaam do differently from before (see vv. 1-2)? 37. The Spirit of God came upon Balaam (see v. 2). However, this coming of the Spirit did not prove Balaam to be a true prophet, for the Spirit of the Lord had come upon others and enabled them to prophesy (see Numbers 11:25 and 1 Samuel 10:6, 10-11). What is the difference between the Spirit coming upon a person to enable them to be used by God and the Spirit coming into a person to abide with them? (See John 7:38-39 and 14:16-17.) 38. Balaam s third oracle began with testimony that his eyes and ears had been opened to see the children of Israel from God s perspective. How did Balaam describe the children of Israel as he saw them encamped according to their tribes in the plain of Moab (see vv. 5-9)? Numbers Page 7

8 39. Balak, king of Moab, become furious with Balaam for continuing to bless the children of Israel. What did Balak blame the Lord for doing to Balaam (see v. 11)? 40. Where did Balak tell Balaam to go (see v. 11)? Who else went to this same place? (See Acts 1:25.) 41. Despite Balak's anger, Balaam told him that he would advise him about what (see v. 14)? Balaam s Fourth Prophecy Read Numbers 24: Balaam s fourth oracle began as his third one did with a recognition that true knowledge comes only from God. Who do you think Balaam is referring to in this oracle (see v. 17)? (See also Matthew 2:2 and Genesis 49:10.) 43. Balaam prophesied against Moab, Edom, Amalek, and the Kenites. What did Balaam say would happen to these nations (see vv )? Numbers Page 8

9 Israel s Harlotry in Moab Read Numbers 25: As the children of Israel remained in the acacia grove on the plains of Moab (see Numbers 33:49), what did they begin to do (see vv. 1-2)? (See also Psalm 106:28.) Who was responsible for this? (See Numbers 31:16.) 45. What was the Lord's response when the children of Israel joined themselves with Baal of Peor (see v. 3)? 46. What did the Lord instruct Moses to have the leaders do to those who joined with Baal of Peor (see vv. 4-5)? 47. One Israelite man had the audacity to bring a Midianite woman to the very door of the tabernacle, flaunting her in front of Moses. He then took her to his tent to commit sexual immorality with her. What did Phinehas do to this man and woman (see vv. 7-8)? 48. When the anger of the Lord was roused because of the sexual immorality of the children of Israel and the women of Moab, a plague arose. Phinehas actions stopped the plague (see Psalm 106:30). How many were affected by this plague (see v. 9)? Numbers Page 9

10 49. What did the Lord indicate might have happened if Phinehas had not stopped the plague by his zealous actions (see vv )? 50. What did the Lord establish with Phinehas because of his zealous actions (see vv )? 51. The name and lineage of the Israelite man and Midianite woman were recorded. Who were they (see vv )? 52. It is likely that these names were recorded to explain the great reduction of the tribe of Simeon from 59,300 (see Numbers 1:23) to 22,200 (see Numbers 26:14). If mainly Simeonites had been involved in the immorality and idolatry of Baal, it would account for much of the difference in the totals. Additionally, the woman being the daughter of a Midianite leader would account for the Lord's instructions to do what to the Midianites (see vv )? Numbers Page 10

11 53. The plague that killed a large number of Israelites (see v. 9) was a result of the counsel of Balaam (see Numbers 31:16), even though it seemed as though Balaam desired to be a part of the children of Israel. He stated that it would be a blessing to be a part of their numbering in life or death (see Numbers 23:10). How did Balaam die? (See Numbers 31:7-8.) 54. As the children of Israel camped in the plains of Moab, they likely were unaware of what was happening between Balak and Balaam. Balaam is mentioned three times in the New Testament as an example of what not to do. What is the way of Balaam? (See 2 Peter 2:15-16.) 55. What is the error of Balaam? (See Jude 11.) 56. What is the doctrine of Balaam? (See Revelation 2:14.) Numbers Page 11