As we get into the oracles/burdens/prophecies/blessings of Balaam, King Balak continually seeks to curse Israel based on place. As we will see with the first three oracles, Balak thinks the problem is the place or perspective from whence Balaam is prophesying. Of course it isn’t about place, it is about the Lord’s heart for His people.
So Balak takes Balaam up to the “high places of Baal” (a pagan god and idol) that “from there he might observe the extent of the people.”
“From there” is an important phrase for these first three oracles.
So at this high place, Balaam has Balak build altars and stuff and begins the first oracle.
First, Balaam states that he cannot curse “whom God has not cursed” or “denounce whom the Lord has not denounced.” The New Covenant promises to overcome the curse of sin and the Law in Christ should encourage us. If God is for us, who can be against us? He will not curse nor denounce, nor truly allow a curse upon, what He has chosen to bless.
And interestingly enough, Balaam also deals with the perspective given by Balak to “observe the extent of the people.” Balaam sees Israel and says, “Who can count the dust of Jacob or number one fourth of Israel?”
In other words, Balak thought to show Balaam the extent, the limits, of Israel, and Balaam’s blessing was that there is no end to them.
As we’ll see with the next two, God’s view of His people is different than the worldly view of them. He sees as a father to a son or a husband to his bride. He looks on in love and will not bear that others seek to curse them. It is a good way to piss Him off.
Balaam’s second oracle up next.
Peace.