You Never Know What is In A Man's Heart

Numbers 22:20–22 (HCSB)

“God came to Balaam at night and said to him, ‘Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.’ When he got up in the morning, Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the officials of Moab. But God was incensed that Balaam was going….”

Balak king of Moab hired Balaam the prophet to curse the Israelites.

This really confused me. God told Balaam to go, and then was angry with him for going. That is confusing. Is God fickle?

First—in the category of things that make you go “Hmmm”—what was a prophet doing living outside the camp of God’s people? Answer: he was a different kind of prophet. He was a hired gun. His business card should have read: “Balaam: Prophet for Profit.”

Second, you cannot know what is in a man’s heart when he appears to obey God. Here again Scripture is the best commentary on Scripture.

Peter, talking about false prophets, wrote:

"By abandoning the straight path, they have gone astray and have followed the path of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but received a rebuke for his transgression: a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness” (2 Peter 2:15–16, HCSB).

Jude writing also of false prophets says: “Woe to them! For they have traveled in the way of Cain, have abandoned themselves to the error of Balaam for profit, and have perished in Korah’s rebellion” (1:11, HCSB).

Jesus, dictating to the church in Pergamum, said:

“But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the sons of Israel: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:14, HCSB).

Now go back to the book of Numbers chapter 25:

“While Israel was staying in Acacia Grove, the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab.The women invited them to the sacrifices for their gods, and the people ate and bowed in worship to their gods.

So Israel aligned itself with Baal of Peor, and the LORD’s anger burned against Israel” (1–3, HCSB).

We can put the picture together. Balaam was not able to curse Isreal, but he gave Balak some advice. “I cannot curse them, but if you can get them to sin against the LORD, they will bring a curse on themselves..”

The Acacia Grove was nearby. Part of their pagan worship involved having sex with the priestesses under the trees. Israelite men, curious about what was doing on, checked it out. They accepted an invitation to participate and defiled themselves. Balaam could not curse them, but his plan worked to perfection!

You never know what is in a man’s heart when he appears to be following the Lord. Balaam is an example. He was headed for trouble, and his donkey had better sense than him!