Who was Balaam in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2023
- A wicked prophet, a talking donkey, and an angel of the Lord with his sword drawn! The story of Balaam is full of drama and important lessons for us today. In this video, Pastor Nelson answers your question: Who was Balaam in the Bible?
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Angel with sword that’s amazing 😍
I was just thinking about this the other day as I was wondering how Balaam could be a prophet but wicked at the same time, but haven’t found a video quite straight to the point as this. God bless you my brother and thank you for posting this in the name of Jesus! 🤲❤️🔥🙏
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 Why do you keep asking a question you already know the answer to?
I remember being confused about Jonah. How was a he a prophet of God with so much hate in his heart? I assumed prophets were pious people that God chooses to speak through but after Jonah, I realized that sometimes that might not be the case. Plus there are instances in the Old Testament where it seems like God just chooses a person arbitrarily (to us anyway). I guess ultimately they’re regular people who one day are blessed with the privilege and duty to speak on Gods behalf.
@Tay-cg1pt It is interesting some of the people God uses for prophecy. The person I thought of was Caiaphas (John 11:49-53). In his case, it is more understandable God would use him to prophesy since he held the office of High Priest, but I wonder if he knew he was prophesying.
Balaam means - the destroyer of people
Revelations 17vs10-11: 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.
The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
Keep being us the word pastor thank you
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 Why do you keep asking a question you already know the answer to?
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 Sure, right.
God bless you for presenting nothing but the TRUTH.
Excellent presentation!
Thanks Brother Nelson!
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 Why do you keep asking a question you already know the answer to?
Another thing I didn’t get was why was God angry with balaam when He told balaam he could go with them to moab? Well the word says that God said “*if* the men call to you, go with them” but the very morning after balaam woke up, he got on his donkey and left with them… He didn’t wait until they called unto him to go with them, he just went.
Another study also remarked that God was angry because he knew Balaam’s heart. He knew he had bad intentions and it made him angry.
Thank you for the word.
I am studying for street evangelism. My current topic is the messages to the seven churches in revelation.
Reaching out to folks in the Bible belt is Hard! God has taught me that I AM THE CHURCH. Im making my signs to reach "Dear Christian" in that same principle. That each of us is THE CHURCH.
Trying to effect hearts in a personal way! Only with God's blessing will hearts be pricked! Bless Me God, in Jesus name! Amen
Wow! Thank you for this !
Love your works ❤
Praise the Lord for this. Thank you, brother, for explaining this topic, and now I understand.
Very concise and helpful! Thank you Pst Nelson for this, and for many of the other clarities God brings to us through you and indeed the entire "got any questions?" ministry. I would almost always (having search the Bible) check answers with the ministry before checking somewhere else to clarify a lot of my confusions. May God continue to uplift, anoint and strengthen you all, in Jesus Christ's name!
Btw, i am so captivated by how you, Pst Nelson speak as if reading from a screen, spilling the facts clear and straight! No filler words etc. This skill is also a gospel to me, you know!😊😊❤
Blessings dear brother
This is exactly what I was looking for ❤❤❤may the Lord continue to guide you
I was reading this passage this morning but wanted better understanding, thank you!
This came through the perfect time, thank you for posting this!
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 Why do you keep asking a question you already know the answer to?
Thanks you brother God bless you 🙏
Excellent!
Thank you
Thank you for your help. Not the first time I've gone to got questions for help and won't be the last.
God bless you for posting such a good topic and showing tactics of the devil
I’ve been reading The Bible before going to bed and after I wake up and I go to this part and I was a little confused about this character. Great video!
Great video! Thanks :)
Iam from nepal . thank you ao much
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 Why do you keep asking a question you already know the answer to?
May God blessed you
Thank you for your teachings. 🙏🏻🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🙏🏻
Amen GQ 🙂🙏✝️
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 Why do you keep asking a question you already know the answer to?
Hallelujah! "No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them. God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. There is no sorcery against Jacob, no divination against Israel. It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, `See what God has done!'" Numbers 23:21-23
Balaam seemed like a man who loved money more than submitting to God.
Do you believe in a talking donkey?
@@anthany4719 God can make any animal to speak if he wants to.
I like the way you presented that. Thanks. God Bless. *2 Peter 3:18*
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 Why do you keep asking a question you already know the answer to?
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000
The thief on the cross already answered that question. The thief didn't ask, "Lord Jesus, what must I do to be saved?" Instead he said, "Lord Jesus, remember me." Jesus said to him, "See you in paradise." I paraphrased that alittle, but you get the point, I hope. God Bless you *2 Peter 3:18*
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000
I've been water-baptized. I did that sometime after I was saved/baptized in the Holy Spirit. My ladder water baptism was an outward confession to others of what already took place inside me. If I had died in between being baptized in the Holy Spirit and being water baptized I would have met that famous thief in paradise. Be at peace friend. God Bless. *Titus 2 : 11-12*
@benjaminsmith2000 well then what was John's baptism for? It was unnecessary?
No one can know if the thief on the cross wasn't baptized in water. He could have met Jesus before. The fact he knew Jesus was innocent, is for me an indication he knew Jesus already before the crucifixion.
I also see a serious warning for us. It's not only the baptism that saves, we also need to repent.
If your wondering why God was mad that Balaam went with them the key is in the word “with”. There are two different meanings used for the word “with”.
…..and God came into Balaam at night, and said into him, if the men come to call you, rise up, and go “with” (itam) them; but yet the word which I shall say to you, that shall you do.
“itam” By this word God means to physically go with them but stay on my side!
common purpose.
“and Balaam rose up in the morning, saddled his ass, and went “with” (im) the princes of Moab.
“im” : means a shared vision or shared purpose.
….and God’s anger was kindled.
So God intended Balaam to do His purpose and Balaam intended to do Balak’s purpose.
It was always confusing about the Angel blocking his way because God told him to go so why was He trying to stop him? But God knew the intentions of Balaam were not good at this point.
Just as many commentators support the translation to 'since' - 'That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.” '. Why would Balaam have gone with the men, since he clearly just wanted to be left alone. Nothing in the preceding verses provides any indication that Balaam has ulterior motives. Balaam still states that even if Balak gave him all the silver and gold in his palace, he would not disobey the word of the Lord.
It takes some pretty impressive mental gymnastics to arrive at the conclusion that God was mad because Balaam somehow disobeyed him. It takes an equally impressive feat to infer, with no supporting reports, that suddenly Balaam decided that he would betray Israel and plot with Balak. Which is more logical, that Balaam, who we only see as a God-fearing man who blesses Israel, would suddenly turn on them, or that the later reports of Balaam are in fact fabrications to justify another in a long list of Israel's tribe slaughtering shenanigans.
Oh, and you know, the whole talking donkey thing when we never again have another instance of a talking animal. Seems legit.
The word the OP focused on was “with”, not “since” in v. 20. You’re saying Balaam wanted to be left alone? There is no evidence at all that a man who in 22:7 receives a fee of divination, which is denounced as sin in Deut 18:10, and continues to invite the Moabite princes to stay (22:8, 19) is looking to be left alone. Not only this, but he also showed a definitive lack of fear of God. Does a God-fearing become a diviner for hire? The very fact he was able to be employed as an oracle demonstrates that he served other gods if the pay was right. If he feared God why would he allow the princes to stay? Clearly his motives were swayed by some prospect of glory given by Balak, otherwise he’d had turned them away upon their initial arrival. Notice also he changes the verbiage of God’s message in 22:12 (“you must not put a curse on those people”), to “the LORD has refused to let me go with you” in v. 13. If he really didn’t want to curse Israel and thus remain obedient to God, why wouldn’t he just openly declare that through God’s exact words from the *very beginning*, rather than wait until Balak brought him to the *high places of Baal* (Bamoth Baal) and made sacrifices there (22:41, 23:1-2), to *then* say he can’t curse those who God has not cursed (23:8)?
This is all before you find out that he *is* the one who counsels the Moabites to seduce Israel with sexual immorality (Nu 31:16). So no, Balaam is not some God-fearing man that God manipulated to justify genocide. He was wicked from the beginning. As for the talking donkey, Christ’s death and resurrection also only happened once - nothing about the singular nature of an event undermines its veracity.
@@lelandnelson9328 "There is no evidence at all that a man who in 22:7 receives a fee of divination, which is denounced as sin in Deut 18:10, and continues to invite the Moabite princes to stay (22:8, 19) is looking to be left alone."
- well firstly, receiving payment is irrelevant to both my and your assertion. Perhaps I didn't choose the best phrase to indicate Balaam's frustrations by saying 'he just wanted to be left alone', that's a fair point. What I was trying to convey was his initial reluctance (22:18) and that he only relents when God tells him to go.
In terms of the term 'fear', I'm not sure that I agree with your assessment - why would this man that you claim was essentially just in it for the money and served other Gods, be so convinced by the Abrahamic God that he would not accept any amount of payment? Fear is often used in the OT as a term of reverence, which is exactly what Balaam indicates by his actions. " if the pay was right" - except that it wasn't.
"Notice also he changes the verbiage of God’s message in 22:12 (“you must not put a curse on those people”), to “the LORD has refused to let me go with you”"
- God instructs Balaam not to go with them. He doesn't say "tell them this is because I told you not to put a curse on them", so your inference that Balaam is somehow misrepresenting God or keeping certain cards close to his chest, is just factually incorrect. Why would this need to be declared to the Balaam's envoy?
The in terms of your assertion of Numbers 31:16 - drawing conclusions about Balaam's character or motivations solely from Numbers 31:16 would require interpretation and inference, as the text itself does not provide a direct explanation for why Balaam would have advised the Midianites in this manner. Therefore, any claims about Balaam's duplicity based on Numbers 31:16 would be speculative and subjective, lacking direct evidence or context from the narrative in the Book of Numbers where Balaam's story is primarily told.
" As for the talking donkey, Christ’s death and resurrection also only happened once - nothing about the singular nature of an event undermines its veracity."
- since I don't accept Jesus' resurrection as a historical fact, this particular assertion is meaningless. You're basically making a false equivalence fallacy - yes, nothing about the singular nature of the event undermines its veracity, except that we are dealing with a miraculous claim which are subject to a completely separate degree of criteria.
Very good explanation! Thankyou! Godspeed!
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 Why do you keep asking a question you already know the answer to?
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 No, but if you put your faith in Jesus it should be something you do early on.
Jesus got baptised as an example for people to follow (Not for repentance). But some like the thief on the cross for instance had no chance to be baptised and are still saved.
If you truly believe and have the opportunity then you should do it. The pattern is to be baptised before you embark on your spiritual journey. You learn this from the example of Jesus and from the example of the Israelites crossing the red sea, both come before the wilderness that lead to the promised land ie Salvation/Paradise. I hope it helps.
@benjaminsmith2000 if you interpret it incorrectly. In so many other places we are told it is by grace through faith alone so this verse doesn't mean what you think it means.
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 Even in Acts 2:38, repentance comes before baptism. It is worthless to have baptism without salvation.
@benjaminsmith2000 how do you reconcile this with what Paul tells us about works vs. faith? Do you beleive the bible contradicts itself?
I'm kind of surprised you didn't include the archeological evidence demonstrating the historicity of Balaam. In 1967, at Deir Alla, Jordan, archaeologists found an inscription with a story relating visions of the seer Bala'am, son of Be'or. The inscription is thought to date to the 9th century B.C..
I was reading through this section today in the new international version and it makes no mention of balaam giving this information to balak. Earlier in the text, it states that God told Balaam to go back with the princes and when he did, an angel was dispatched with a sword to stop him. It also stated that the Lord was angered by Balaam's departure. It feels like some major information was missing
Numbers 31:16 “Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the LORD.
He couldn't curse what Yahweh Himself had blessed since He is all knowing!
Hello, I Am Curious To Know Where Outside of Balak Does It Say Balaam Was Wicked In The Bible ? I Just Keep Getting The Story With Balak.
Watch Cody Zorn titled Balam here on TH-cam
Id anyone else is looking for more detailed biblical proof of who the wicked Baalam is.
Codys presentation is nothing but the Truth of God.
Why is the "angel of the lord" that stopped Balaam Satan in the Hebrew language, and why was this "translation" not carried over into most bibles?
But then if he was wicked and he showed his true colours he was indeed a false prophet. Not because false prophecies but because wrong motives. What do you think?
If anything he was lost in the sins that nailed the Son of God to the cross and maybe he became a word I have learned of in this century an apostate when he betrayed Israel back then after God gave the law to Moses. After all everybody got affected by the fall that came to pass when Adam and Eve succumbed to that one temptation the book of Genesis tells us of in the Scriptures.
For maybe he was and misused of his power granted to him
How is it possible someone which is non-israelites could worship God(YAHWE) in the old testament ? How can someone be wicked while being God's prophet?
I was so confused at first. I thought Balaam was doing what God told him to do.
No.
Listen to Cody Zorn presentation on Baalam
You will thank me later 😊
Much love my brother in Christ
HE WENT from Balaam to Blame .
👏
Hey , any help finding the scripture in numbers where balam actually teaches how to corrupt Gods people with prostitutes?
Numbers 31:16 “Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the LORD.
@@lailian712 thank you very much. Iam not sure how it all worked out but balaam must have gone home and thought about it , and met back up with the king with a plan. He really wanted man’s reward and he got death for it.
Bible munch hasn't posted any videos for a year
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 Why do you keep asking a question you already know the answer to?
Here’s our answer to that question: www.gotquestions.org/baptism-salvation.html
@@gotquestions that's awesome
This sounds very farfetched. So the donkey saw an angel and spoke?? And the devil tempts people into idolitry? 🤔
This theology is 100% wrong. Num. 22:5 says he came from Pethor, which means he was the chief priest of the Babylonian Mysteries. Verse 7 supports this where it clearly shows Balaam was into divination. This guy's theology proposes that Balaam betrayed Israel because God gave him true prophecies to speak, but it glosses over what Deut. 13 says about how false prophets' predictions can come true.
For I thought it was because prophets get to have some powera of god so for in that shows that for it was more of a perk
Explains alot actually
Balaam was a weirdo.
@@BENJAMINJAMESSMITH2000 He is just the Son.
@benjaminsmith2000 Lookup what homoousios means.
@benjaminsmith2000 Also, lookup modalism.