I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Numbers 22-24.

    There are two theories about where Balaam was from. The first is that he was from somewhere near the Euphrates (the NLT says exactly that, but there is significant ambiguity about the correct translation of the original Hebrew). If that was the case, he would likely have come from the same area as Abraham’s family, which would suggest he was part of the same religious tradition which eventually resulted in Judaism. The problem with Balaam being from near the Euphrates is that it would have taken several days to weeks for Balak’s messengers to get to him and several weeks for him to return with them. The other possibility is that Balaam was from an area a day or two’s journey north of where the Israelites encountered him. There is a certain logic to this closer location. In addition, there was an archaeological discovery of a wall “painted” with sayings from a “Book of Balaam” on a wall of a house in a town which would fit this alternate origin for Balaam. The only problem is that the wall is from several centuries after this story (and thus might have been something created because of this story). In this latter case, we discover one of several biblical indications that some of the people in the area worshiped the same God as the Israelites.

    No matter where Balaam was from there is a theme going throughout the message he gave in response to Balak’s prompting. This theme develops through the messages which Balaam gives to Balak. In the first message Balaam says, “how can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I condemn those whom the Lord has not condemned?” We should give careful thought to these two questions considering that Jesus died to bring redemption to everyone. Let us not curse nor condemn those whom Jesus has called our neighbor. In his second message, Balaam tells us that God does not lie, nor does He change His mind. No curse can touch those whom God has named His own, no magic has any power against them. I could go on and follow how this theme develops in the next two messages, but I need to wrap this up. However, I wanted to remind myself and you that we should live by something Balaam said in this passage: “I can do only what the Lord tells me” That is a basic principle which should guide us day in and day out.