patriarchs and prophets-第116章
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Awed by these revelations； Balaam exclaimed； 〃Surely there is no enchantment
against Jacob； neither is there any divination against Israel。〃 The great
magician had tried his power of enchantment； in accordance with the desire
of the Moabites； but concerning this very occasion it should be said of
Israel； 〃What hath God wrought！〃 While they were under the divine
protection； no people or nation； though aided by all the power of Satan；
should be able to prevail against them。 All the world should wonder at the
marvelous work of God in behalf of His people that a man determined to
pursue a sinful course should be so controlled by divine power as to utter；
instead of imprecations； the richest and most precious promises； in the
language of sublime and impassioned poetry。 And the favor of God at this
time manifested toward Israel was to be an assurance of His protecting care
for His obedient； faithful children in all ages。 When Satan should inspire
evil men to misrepresent； harass； and destroy God's people； this very
occurrence would be brought to their remembrance； and would strengthen their
courage and their faith in God。
The king of Moab； disheartened and distressed； exclaimed； 〃Neither curse
them at all； nor bless them at all。〃 Yet a faint hope still lingered in his
heart； and he determined to make another trial。 He now conducted Balaam to
Mount Peor； where was a temple devoted to the licentious worship of Baal；
their god。 Here the same number of altars were erected as before； and the
same number of sacrifices were offered； but Balaam went not alone； as at
other times； to learn God's will。 He made no pretense of sorcery； but
standing beside the altars； he looked abroad upon the tents of Israel。 Again
the Spirit of God rested upon him； and the divine message came from his
lips：
〃How goodly are thy tents； O Jacob； And thy tabernacles； O Israel！ As the
valleys are they spread forth； as gardens by the river's side； As the trees
of lignaloes which the Lord hath planted； and as cedar
trees beside the waters。 He shall pour the water out of his buckets； and his
seed shall be in
many waters； And his King shall be higher than Agag； and his kingdom shall
be
exalted。 。 。 。 He couched； he lay down as a lion； and as a great lion： who
shall
stir him up？ Blessed is he that blesseth thee； and cursed is he that curseth
thee。〃
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The prosperity of God's people is here represented by some of the most
beautiful figures to be found in nature。 The prophet likens Israel to
fertile valleys covered with abundant harvests； to flourishing gardens
watered by never…failing springs； to the fragrant sandal tree and the
stately cedar。 The figure last mentioned is one of the most strikingly
beautiful and appropriate to be found in the inspired word。 The cedar of
Lebanon was honored by all the people of the East。 The class of trees to
which it belongs is found wherever man has gone throughout the earth。 From
the arctic regions to the tropic zone they flourish； rejoicing in the heat；
yet braving the cold； springing in rich luxuriance by the riverside； yet
towering aloft upon the parched and thirsty waste。 They plant their roots
deep among the rocks of the mountains and boldly stand in defiance of the
tempest。 Their leaves are fresh and green when all else has perished at the
breath of winter。 Above all other trees the cedar of Lebanon is
distinguished for its strength； its firmness； its undecaying vigor； and this
is used as a symbol of those whose life is 〃hid with Christ in God。〃
Colossians 3：3。 Says the Scripture； 〃The righteous 。 。 。 shall grow like a
cedar。〃 Psalm 92：12。 The divine hand has exalted the cedar as king over the
forest。 〃The fir trees were not like his boughs； and the chestnut trees were
not like his branches〃 （Ezekiel 31：8）； nor any tree in the garden of God。
The cedar is repeatedly employed as an emblem of royalty； and its use in
Scripture to represent the righteous shows how Heaven regards those who do
the will of God。
Balaam prophesied that Israel's King would be greater and more powerful than
Agag。 This was the name given to the kings of the Amalekites； who were at
this time a very powerful nation； but Israel； if true to God； would subdue
all her enemies。 The King of Israel was the Son of God； and His throne was
one day to be established in the earth； and His power to be exalted above
all earthly kingdoms。
As he listened to the prophet's words Balak was overwhelmed with
disappointed hope； with fear and rage。 He was indignant that Balaam could
have given him the least encouragement of a favorable response； when
everything was determined against him。 He regarded with scorn the prophet's
compromising； deceptive course。 The king exclaimed fiercely； 〃Therefore now
flee thou to thy place： I thought to promote thee unto great honor； but； lo；
the Lord hath kept thee back from honor。〃 The answer was
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that the king had been forewarned that Balaam could speak only the message
given him from God。
Before returning to his people； Balaam uttered a most beautiful and sublime
prophecy of the world's Redeemer and the final destruction of the enemies of
God： 〃I shall see Him； but not now： I shall behold Him； but not nigh： There
shall come a Star out of Jacob； and a Scepter shall rise out of
Israel；
And shall smite the corners of Moab； and destroy all the children of
Sheth。〃
And he closed by predicting the complete destruction of Moab and Edom； of
Amalek and the Kenites； thus leaving to the Moabitish king no ray of hope。
Disappointed in his hopes of wealth and promotion； in disfavor with the
king； and conscious that he had incurred the displeasure of God； Balaam
returned from his self…chosen mission。 After he had reached his home the
controlling power of the Spirit of God left him； and his covetousness； which
had been merely held in check； prevailed。 He was ready to resort to any
means to gain the reward promised by Balak。 Balaam knew that the prosperity
of Israel depended upon their obedience to God； and that there was no way to
cause their overthrow but by seducing them into sin。 He now decided to
secure Balak's favor by advising the Moabites of the course to be pursued to
bring a curse upon Israel。
He immediately returned to the land of Moab and laid his plans before the
king。 The Moabites themselves were convinced that so long as Israel remained
true to God； He would be their shield。 The plan proposed by Balaam was to
separate them from God by enticing them into idolatry。 If they could be led
to engage in the licentious worship of Baal and Ashtaroth； their omnipotent
Protector would become their enemy； and they would soon fall a prey to the
fierce； warlike nations around them。 This plan was readily accepted by the
king； and Balaam himself remained to assist in carrying it into effect。
Balaam witnessed the success of his diabolical scheme。 He saw the curse of
God visited upon His people； and thousands falling under His judgments； but
the divine justice that punished sin in Israel did not permit the tempters
to escape。 In the war of Israel against the Midianites； Balaam was slain。 He
had felt a presentiment that his own end was near when he exclaimed；
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〃Let me die the death of the righteous； and let my last end be like his！〃
But he had not chosen to live the life of the righteous； and his destiny was
fixed with the enemies of God。
The fate of Balaam was similar to that of Judas； and their characters bear a
marked resemblance to each other。 Both these men tried to unite the service
of God and mammon； and met with signal failure。 Balaam acknowledged the true
God； and professed to serve Him； Judas believed in Jesus as the Messiah； and
united with His followers。 But Balaam hoped to make the service of Jehovah
the steppingstone to the acquirement of riches and worldly honor； and
failing in this he stumbled and fell and was broken。 Judas expected by his
connection with Christ to secure wealth and promotion in that worldly
kingdom which； as he believed；
