Hate Sin Prophets part 1

Introduction

Good evening everyone, turn with me to Numbers chapter 22: 1-41.

Icebreaker:

What is your biggest pet peeve or thing that you really dislike?

So I didn’t realize I was going to being moving on so quickly but we are actually moving to another series going over many of the prophets of the Israel. There are so many rich and interesting accounts that we will be covering in the next upcoming weeks. Today I’m actually kinda cheating a little bit because the prophet Balaam that we are covering today is actually not a prophet for Israel but more like a prophet for higher. Like a mercenary prophet. Which is definitely interesting. But you see Christians are often so out of sync when it comes to seeing things God’s way. We don’t always love what He loves. And we don’t always Hate what He Hates. and you might be like well what do you mean what God hates. He hates sin. And as Christians we should hate it too and be running from it and getting away from it in any way that we can. But not only that but we should want to. And that’s where people get tripped up. It’s one thing to not do something because God told you to. It’s another to not even desire it because God despises it. So if you will look down with me starting in verse 1 and are going to read up to verse 12.

I. Why Are You Asking For Evil? Vs. 1-13

1 Then the sons of Israel journeyed, and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan opposite Jericho. 2 Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 So Moab was in great fear because of the people, for they were numerous; and Moab was in dread of the sons of Israel. 4 Moab said to the elders of Midian, “Now this horde will lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me. 6 “Now, therefore, please come, curse this people for me since 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 he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.” 7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak’s words to him. 8 He said to them, “Spend the night here, and I will bring word back to you as the Lord may speak to me.” And the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam. 9 Then God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?” 10 Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent word to me, 11 ‘Behold, there is a people who came out of Egypt and they cover the surface of the land; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I may be able to fight against them and drive them out.’ ”

a. So I we read here we are given some information of what’s going on with the people of Israel. See they are close to the Jordan River across from the city of Jericho. Israel had recently defeated the Amorites. So to put you in the shoes of Balak here, Israel was in the early stages of making a name for itself. They had fled Egypt, and the Israelites defeating the Amorites. This showed Israel as being quite the force and because there were so many of them and there was worry of what if Israel comes after our nation next, Balak knew He needed to do something. I mean so far just military efforts alone did nothing against Israel. so Balak best plan is to seek out the prophet known as Balaam who had been well known. I mean Balak asked for him because whom Balaam blessed was blessed, and who was cursed was curse.

So as far as he was concerned he needed Balaam on his side because of physical battles couldn’t defeat Israel, let’s try a spiritual one. And so He sends messengers to Balaam. Now I mentioned previously that Balaam was an interesting prophet. What does verse 7 say? 7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam and repeated Balak’s words to him.

So they brought money for Balaam’s divination. He was not a standard prophet of God. He dealt with God-forbidden forms of sorcery. So basically this guy was into fortune telling and different things like that. And yet when he is asked about helping Balaak with defeating Israel he was like let me talk to God about it first. And we see that God actually came to Him. So even though Balaam was into unholy things God still decided to speak to him for His purpose.

Look at what God asks Balaam? He says who are these men with you? Balaam was going to God asking if it would be okay to curse God’s chosen people and He’s in essence telling Balaam who even are these guys? They are not my people and yet you want me to curse my people.

b. How often do you ask God for an answer that you should already know the answer to? Do you ask God to bless you with something that you know is a sin and is clearly layed out in his word? Do you cry out to God asking if it would be the right thing to do to cheat on your partner. Oh God please help me know if I should not forgive this person. God please help me know if I should cuss out my boss. Like what are you doing? Why are you asking God to bless and be in favor of your sin. Do you think that you can change His mind? Maybe if you just show God that you want it enough he’ll give it to you? If it’s in the Word why are you hoping for a different answer? And to know the word what do you go to do? You gotta read it!

Stop praying for God to give you more money to support your gambling addiction. Stop begging God to give you a better spouse that “fulfills’ your desires better so you can divorce your current one. Why are you asking God if it’s okay for you to skip your Bible reading because you know enough now. Stop begging God for things that you very well know are wrong. Why do you even desire those things? It’s not that you can’t ask God for things don’t get me wrong. But it’s when you pray for sin to blessed that it becomes a problem.

II. Don’t be Reluctant

But as we continue on in verse 12 we read God’s clear response to Balaam’s request. verse 12.

12 God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” 13 So Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak’s leaders, “Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” 14 The leaders of Moab arose and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.” 15 Then Balak again sent leaders, more numerous and more distinguished than the former. 16 They came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor, ‘Let nothing, I beg you, hinder you from coming to me; 17 for I will indeed honor you richly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Please come then, curse this people for me.’ ” 18 Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God. 19 “Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the Lord will speak to me.” 20 God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do.” 21 So Balaam arose in the morning, and saddled his donkey and went with the leaders of Moab.

God gave a clear no you shall not curse the people, because they are blessed. And so The thing I really want to get at is what Balaam told Balak’s leaders. So Balaam rises up in the morning maybe grabs a cup of coffee haha and then he goes out and tells the guys, The Lord has refused to let me go with you. in other words sorry guys I wish I could but God said no.

III.

22 But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand, the donkey turned off from the way and went into the field; but Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back into the way. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path of the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she pressed herself to the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall, so he struck her again. 26 The angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn to the right hand or the left. 27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam was angry and struck the donkey with his stick. 28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” 29 Then Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a mockery of me! If there had been a sword in my hand, I would have killed you by now.” 30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I ever been accustomed to do so to you?” And he said, “No.” 31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed all the way to the ground. 32 The angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me. 33 “But the donkey saw me and turned aside from me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, I would surely have killed you just now, and let her live.” 34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.” 35 But the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you.” So Balaam went along with the leaders of Balak. 36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, which is on the Arnon border, at the extreme end of the border. 37 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not urgently send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I really unable to honor you?” 38 So Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come now to you! Am I able to speak anything at all? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I shall speak.” 39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth. 40 Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent some to Balaam and the leaders who were with him. 41 Then it came about in the morning that Balak took Balaam and brought him up to the high places of Baal, and he saw from there a portion of the people.

Conclusion