My current Old Testament progress:
Numbers 32
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The story of Balaam is a fun one for children. The whole "talking donkey" tends to spark their interest.
However, as I read the story, then continued to read about how the Israelites slew this prophet (wouldn't they want to spare a prophet's life?), my curiosity and desire to know more was piqued. Moses alludes to something in Numbers 31:16, but it didn't answer my questions. How did a prophet, who refused to go against the will of the Lord, end up causing Israel to sin?
I did an extensive search on LDS.org, and 22 documents resulted.
After reading each and every one of them (minus the pop-up note), I learned that although Balaam did obey the Lord and only spoke righteous thoughts, his heart actually sought after the things of man. He was told he could go to Balak if he chose to, but he had to only speak the word of the Lord.
On the surface, he did.
But digging deeper, there's much more to the story.
"Anxious to gain the riches they offered him, Balaam invited them to lodge with him that night while he inquired of the Lord and sought permission to curse Israel."
Hmmmm. That was with the first visitors. What happened when Balak sent more honorable and noble princes than the first?
"And yet, still anxious to receive the riches and honors offered by the king, Balaam lodged his visitors and importuned the Lord for permission to go with them and curse Israel.
"'And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.'
"After gaining this permission Balaam 'saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.'"
Okay, so the Lord gave his permission. Why, then was "God's anger ... kindled because he went"? After all, God gave him permission! Yet the angel had his sword drawn and would have slain him if the ass hadn't stopped. This predicament seems odd. There had to be more to the story--I initially missed something somewhere.
Well, for a prophet, why couldn't Balaam see the angel? We read in Ether that because of the faith of the Brother of Jared, the Lord could not keep Himself from him. Yet here is Balaam, a prophet of the Lord, and he can't see the angel that his beast of burden can see. In my interpretation, this shows that he wasn't spiritually in tune.
So Balaam finally arrives at his destination, and:
"Balak then offered sacrifices, and at the visiting prophet's request built seven altars upon which Balaam also sacrificed, obviously pleading with the Lord for permission to curse Israel and receive the honors offered by the king of the Moabites. But with it all Balaam promised that if 'the Lord will come to meet me,' then 'whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee.'"
Although he angered Balak, Balaam was true to the word of the Lord and blessed Israel. This was repeated, and again, Balaam blessed Israel. Balak tried yet again:
Further sacrifices were offered; again pleading entreaties ascended to the Lord; and again the answer was the same.
So at this point, it appears that Balaam did as the Lord commanded. He had offered up sacrifices, he heard the word of the Lord, he shunned the honor and acclaim of man, and blessed Israel three times.
"In spite of all this, the record recites that Balaam 'taught' Balak 'to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication,' and shortly thereafter, while aligned against Israel in the camps of the Midianites, he was 'slain with the sword.'"
So what went wrong? Bruce R. McConkie shares:
"What a story this is! Here is a prophet of God who is firmly committed to declare only what the Lord of heaven directs. There does not seem to be the slightest doubt in his mind about the course he should pursue. He represents the Lord, and neither a house full of gold and silver nor high honors offered by the king can sway him from his determined course, which has been charted for him by that God whom he serves.
"But greed for wealth and lust for honor beckon him. How marvelous it would be to be rich and powerful--as well as having the prophetic powers that already are his.
"Perhaps the Lord would let him compromise his standards and have some worldly prosperity and power as well as a testimony of the gospel. Of course he knew the gospel was true, as it were, but why should he be denied the things his political file leader could confer?"
Could Balak's comment have turned Balaam to find a way around the word of the Lord? He was a prophet. He communed with the Lord. Yet:
"Balaam, the prophet, inspired and mighty as he once was, lost his soul in the end because he set his heart on the things of this world rather than the riches of eternity."
There are so many temptations that currently pull at us--they tempt us to forsake the Lord and follow after man. As the Gospel Doctrine teacher's manual teaches us:
"Members of the Church who seek earthly rewards and honors, who seek exceptions to God's counsel and commandments, or who try to introduce worldly ideas, practices, or standards into the Church are following Balaam's unrighteous example. This is called the 'doctrine of Balaam' in Revelation 2:14."
How do we battle these temptations? What can we do to ensure we follow the examples of good, righteous prophets and individuals? We need to keep and eternal perspective. We need to remember what the Lord promises us in return:
"And if thou art faithful unto the end thou shalt have a crown of immortality, and eternal life in the mansions which I have prepared in the house of my Father."
