The first and most general account of Balaam would be this: that he was a very eminent person in his age and country, that he was courted and gained by the enemies of Israel, that he promoted a wicked cause in a very wicked way, that he counselled the Moabites to employ their women as a means of seducing the chosen people into idolatry, and that he fell in battle in the war which ensued. Yet when we look into Balaam's history closely, we shall find points of character which may well interest those who do not consider his beginning and his end.
I. He was blessed with God's especial favour. Not only had he the grant of inspiration and the knowledge of God's will, an insight into the truths of morality clear and enlarged, such as we Christians cannot surpass, but he was even admitted to conscious intercourse with God, such as we Christians have not.
II. Balaam was, in the ordinary sense of the word, a very conscientious man. He prayed before taking a new step. He strictly obeyed the commands of God. He said and he did; he acted according to his professions. He showed no inconsistency in word or deed.
III. The strange thing is that while he so spoke and acted, he seemed as in one sense to be in God's favour, so in another and higher to be under His displeasure. Balaam obeyed God from a sense of its being right to do so, but not from a desire to please Him, not from fear and love. His endeavour was, not to please God, but to please self without displeasing God, to pursue his own ends as far as was consistent with his duty. Hence he was not content with ascertaining God's will; he attempted to change it. His asking twice was tempting God. As a punishment God gave him leave to ally himself with His enemies and take part against His people.
IV. The following reflections are suggested by the history of Balaam: (1) We see how little we can depend in judging of right and wrong on the apparent excellence and high character of individuals. (2) We sin without being aware of it, yet wrath is abroad and in our paths. (3) When we have begun an evil course, we cannot retrace our steps. (4) God gives us warnings now and then, but does not repeat them. Balaam's sin consisted in not acting on what was told him once for all.
J. H. Newman, Parochial and Plain Sermons,vol. iv., p. 18; also Selection from the same,p. 319.
References: Numbers 22 Parker, vol. iii., p. 303. Num 22-24. Preacher's Monthly, vol. i., p. 353; Parker, vol. iii., pp. 322,331. Num 22-25. W. M. Taylor, Moses the Lawgiver,p. 388; J. Monro Gibson, The Mosaic Era,p. 295.Numbers 23:1-26. Expositor,2nd series, vol. v., p. 199.