Prophecy of Balaam

This article is about a prophecy Balaam made concerning Israel. Even though Israel had corrupted itself soon after they left Egypt, God was declaring through Balaam that there was no sin in Israel. The prophecy shows how God would go about restoring Israel according to the prophets after their captivity, giving a lesson on what God calls righteousness.

Numbers 23:19-24
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do?   Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?  Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.  “He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, Nor has He seen wickedness in Israel.  The Lord his God is with him, And the shout of a King is among them.   God brings them out of Egypt; He has strength like a wild ox.   “For there is no sorcery against Jacob, Nor any divination against Israel.  It now must be said of Jacob And of Israel, ‘Oh, what God has done!’ Look, a people rises like a lioness, And lifts itself up like a lion; It shall not lie down until it devours the prey, And drinks the blood of the slain.”

The prophecies of Balaam concerning Israel are very interesting considering there was nothing good ever written about Israel. They were a "stiff-necked" people and three times, God wanted to destroy them in the wilderness, yet God saw no sin in them. Once they entered the Promised Land, they completely corrupted themselves. After King Solomon, Israel was divided into two nations: Israel and Judah. Israel entirely rejected God, but Judah did not. However, Judah ultimately proved to be worse than Israel in the end, with their pretence of faith.

When Israel was on the verge of going into captivity for their rebellion, God reminded them of the prophecy of Balaam (Micah 6:5). Even though their situation seemed full of doom and gloom at that time, God reassured Israel that He saw no sin in them.

Micah 6:5
O My people, remember now What Balak king of Moab counseled, And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, From Acacia Grove to Gilgal, That you may know the righteousness of the Lord.”

So how can God say, He has not observed iniquity in Jacob,..." when Israel has been nothing but sinful?

The answer lies in the blood of Jesus Christ. Although Israel rejected God and were removed from the Promised Land, the blood of Christ now makes their restoration possible. It allows for the fulfilment of Balaam's prophecy, the promises to Abraham, and the words of the prophets, as they all describe the same thing.

During the time of Balaam, after coming out of Egypt, Israel was poised to enter the Promised Land. Balak, the King of Moab, opposed the promises God made to Israel by asking Balaam to curse them. If Balak had his way, it would have meant that God was a liar and fallible, as Israel would have failed. In the end, however, Balaam could only bless Israel, for God had spoken the word, and it could not be reversed. Thus, Israel entered the Promised Land under God's blessing, destroying all who stood in their way.

Today, history is repeating itself. Just as Israel came out of Egypt and entered the Promised Land, Israel today has come out of captivity and become the dominant nations of the USA and the British Commonwealth. All opposition is being removed as they head towards the millennium, for "the shout of a King is among them," and God recognises no sin in them.

Jeremiah 23:7-8
“Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ but, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.”

This story of Israel's redemption is a lesson about righteousness.

Micah 6:5
.....That you may know the righteousness of the Lord.”

Righteousness is all about His works, not ours.

Conclusion

The prophecy of Balaam reveals a profound truth about God's unchanging faithfulness and righteousness. Despite Israel's rebellion and corruption, God saw no sin in them because His plans and promises are irrevocable. This righteousness is based not on Israel’s works but on God’s purpose, established through the blood of Jesus Christ, which enables restoration and the fulfilment of God's promises to Abraham.

As history seems to repeat itself, the modern nations of the USA and the British Commonwealth reflect a continuation of Israel’s legacy, moving toward the fulfilment of God’s promises. Ultimately, Balaam’s prophecy reminds us that God's righteousness is rooted in His works, emphasising His faithfulness and mercy in choosing His people despite their shortcomings.

Just as Israel's righteousness is not based on their own works, neither is a Christian's.