This saying of Balaam's is only a wish, not a prayer; it is a vain wish, being only a wish for the end, without any care for the means. Many seek to quiet their consciences with the promise of future amendment, or take up with some false hope, while they neglect the only way of salvation, by which a sinner can be righteous before God. Verses Balak was angry with Balaam.
Thus a confession of God's overruling power is extorted from a wicked prophet, to the confusion of a wicked prince. A second time the curse is turned into a blessing; and this blessing is both larger and stronger than the former. Men change their minds, and break their words; but God never changes his mind, and therefore never recalls his promise.
And when in Scripture he is said to repent, it does not mean any change of his mind; but only a change of his way.
There was sin in Jacob, and God saw it; but there was not such as might provoke him to give them up to ruin. If the Lord sees that we trust in his mercy, and accept of his salvation; that we indulge no secret lust, and continue not in rebellion, but endeavour to serve and glorify him; we may be sure that he looks upon us as accepted in Christ, that our sins are all pardoned.
Oh the wonders of providence and grace, the wonders of redeeming love, of pardoning mercy, of the new-creating Spirit! Balak had no hope of ruining Israel, and Balaam showed that he had more reason to fear being ruined by them. Since Balaam cannot say what he would have him, Balak wished him to say nothing. But though there are many devices in man's heart, God's counsels shall stand. Yet they resolve to make another attempt, though they had no promise on which to build their hopes. Let us, who have a promise that the vision at the end shall speak and not lie, continue earnest in prayer, Luke Numbers Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars --Balak, being a heathen, would naturally suppose these altars were erected in honor of Baal, the patron deity of his country.
It is evident, from Numbers that they were prepared for the worship of the true God; although in choosing the high places of Baal as their site and rearing a number of altars 2 Kings , Isaiah , Jeremiah , Hosea , , instead of one only, as God had appointed, Balaam blended his own superstitions with the divine worship. The heathen, both in ancient and modern times, attached a mysterious virtue to the number seven; and Balaam, in ordering the preparation of so many altars, designed to mystify and delude the king.
Stand by thy burnt offering --as one in expectation of an important favor. God met Balaam --not in compliance with his incantations, but to frustrate his wicked designs and compel him, contrary to his desires and interests, to pronounce the following benediction Numbers The East enjoyed an infamous notoriety for magicians and soothsayers Isaiah How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed?
But that commanding prospect could contribute nothing to the accomplishment of the king's object, for the destiny of Israel was to be a distinct, peculiar people, separated from the rest of the nations in government, religion, customs, and divine protection Deuteronomy So that although I might be able to gratify your wishes against other people, I can do nothing against them Exodus , Leviticus Who can count the dust of Jacob?
Let me die the death of the righteous -- Hebrew, "of Jeshurun"; or, the Israelites. The meaning is: they are a people happy, above all others, not only in life, but at death, from their knowledge of the true God, and their hope through His grace. Balaam is a representative of a large class in the world, who express a wish for the blessedness which Christ has promised to His people but are averse to imitate the mind that was in Him. Rise up --As Balak was already standing Numbers , this expression is equivalent to "now attend to me.
He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob --Many sins were observed and punished in this people. But no such universal and hopeless apostasy had as yet appeared, to induce God to abandon or destroy them.
Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob --No art can ever prevail against a people who are under the shield of Omnipotence, and for whom miracles have been and yet shall be performed, which will be a theme of admiration in succeeding ages.
All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do --a remarkable confession that he was divinely constrained to give utterances different from what it was his purpose and inclination to do. Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor --or, Beth-peor Deuteronomy , the eminence on which a temple of Baal stood. Share Print. Behold, I have received commandment to bless; and He hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
Behold, I have received commandment to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it. He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. You see, I have received His command to bless Israel. He has blessed, and I cannot reverse or qualify it. Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it. I have indeed received a command to bless; since he has blessed, I cannot change it. I received a blessing, and he blessed. Behold, I have received [mission] to bless; and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.
I was brought to bless, the blessing I am not able to hinder. He told me to bless them. He blessed them, so I cannot change that. Look, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I cannot change that.
Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it. Behold, I have received commandment to bless: for he hath blessed, and I cannot alter it. I have received a command to bless. I have been instructed to bless, And when God blesses, I cannot call it back.
I have indeed received a command to bless; since He has blessed, I cannot change it. Behold, I have received blessing; and he has blessed; and I cannot reverse it.
Behold, I have received a command to bless; when he has blessed, I cannot cause it to return. Has he ever promised, Without doing what he said? I have received a command to bless them, For God has blessed them, And I cannot reverse it!
And what -- am I indignant? Additional Translations Numbers So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me.
Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.
You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed. Parallel Commentaries Behold, a people dwelling apart, not reckoning themselves among the nations.
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