patriarchs and prophets-第91部分

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God。　They　would　bring　a　curse　upon　Israel。

The　people　of　Moab　were　closely　connected　with　the　Midianites；　both　by　the
ties　of　nationality　and　religion。　And　Balak；　the　king　of　Moab；　aroused　the
fears　of　the　kindred　people；　and　secured　their　co…operation　in　his　designs
against　Israel　by　the　message；　〃Now　shall　this　company　lick　up　all　that　are
round　about　us；　as　the　ox　licketh　up　the　grass　of　the　field。〃　Balaam；　an
inhabitant　of　Mesopotamia；　was　reported　to　possess　supernatural　powers；　and
his　fame　had　reached　to　the　land　of　Moab。　It　was　determined　to　call　him　to
their　aid。　Accordingly；　messengers　of　〃the　elders　of　Moab　and　the　elders　of
Midian；〃　were　sent　to　secure　his　divinations　and　enchantments　against
Israel。

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The　ambassadors　at　once　set　out　on　their　long　journey　over　the　mountains　and
across　the　deserts　to　Mesopotamia；　and　upon　finding　Balaam；　they　delivered
to　him　the　message　of　their　king：　〃Behold；　there　is　a　people　come　out　from
Egypt：　behold；　they　cover　the　face　of　the　earth；　and　they　abide　over　against
me：　come　now　therefore；　I　pray　thee；　curse　me　this　people；　for　they　are　too
mighty　for　me：　peradventure　I　shall　prevail；　that　we　may　smite　them；　and
that　I　may　drive　them　out　of　the　land：　for　I　wot　that　he　whom　thou　blessest
is　blessed；　and　he　whom　thou　cursest　is　cursed。〃

Balaam　was　once　a　good　man　and　a　prophet　of　God；　but　he　had　apostatized；　and
had　given　up　to　covetousness；　yet　he　still　professed　to　be　a　servant　of　the
Most　High。　He　was　not　ignorant　of　God's　work　in　behalf　of　Israel；　and　when
the　messengers　announced　their　errand；　he　well　knew　that　it　was　his　duty　to
refuse　the　rewards　of　Balak　and　to　dismiss　the　ambassadors。　But　he　ventured
to　dally　with　temptation；　and　urged　the　messengers　to　tarry　with　him　that
night；　declaring　that　he　could　give　no　decided　answer　till　he　had　asked
counsel　of　the　Lord。　Balaam　knew　that　his　curse　could　not　harm　Israel。　God
was　on　their　side；　and　so　long　as　they　were　true　to　Him　no　adverse　power　of
earth　or　hell　could　prevail　against　them。　But　his　pride　was　flattered　by　the
words　of　the　ambassadors；　〃He　whom　thou　blessest　is　blessed；　and　he　whom
thou　cursest　is　cursed。〃　The　bribe　of　costly　gifts　and　prospective
exaltation　excited　his　covetousness。　He　greedily　accepted　the　offered
treasures；　and　then；　while　professing　strict　obedience　to　the　will　of　God；
he　tried　to　comply　with　the　desires　of　Balak。

In　the　night　season　the　angel　of　God　came　to　Balaam　with　the　message；　〃Thou
shalt　not　go　with　them；　thou　shalt　not　curse　the　people：　for　they　are
blessed。〃

In　the　morning　Balaam　reluctantly　dismissed　the　messengers；　but　he　did　not
tell　them　what　the　Lord　had　said。　Angry　that　his　visions　of　gain　and　honor
had　been　suddenly　dispelled；　he　petulantly　exclaimed；　〃Get　you　into　your
land：　for　the　Lord　refuseth　to　give　me　leave　to　go　with　you。〃

Balaam　〃loved　the　wages　of　unrighteousness。〃　2　Peter　2：15。　The　sin　of
covetousness；　which　God　declares　to　be　idolatry；　had　made　him　a　timeserver；
and　through　this　one　fault　Satan　gained

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entire　control　of　him。　It　was　this　that　caused　his　ruin。　The　tempter　is　ever
presenting　worldly　gain　and　honor　to　entice　men　from　the　service　of　God。　He
tells　them　it　is　their　overconscientiousness　that　keeps　them　from
prosperity。　Thus　many　are　induced　to　venture　out　of　the　path　of　strict
integrity。　One　wrong　step　makes　the　next　easier；　and　they　become　more　and
more　presumptuous。　They　will　do　and　dare　most　terrible　things　when　once　they
have　given　themselves　to　the　control　of　avarice　and　a　desire　for　power。　Many
flatter　themselves　that　they　can　depart　from　strict　integrity　for　a　time；
for　the　sake　of　some　worldly　advantage；　and　that　having　gained　their　object；
they　can　change　their　course　when　they　please。　Such　are　entangling
themselves　in　the　snare　of　Satan；　and　it　is　seldom　that　they　escape。

When　the　messengers　reported　to　Balak　the　prophet's　refusal　to　accompany
them；　they　did　not　intimate　that　God　had　forbidden　him。　Supposing　that
Balaam's　delay　was　merely　to　secure　a　richer　reward；　the　king　sent　princes
more　in　number　and　more　honorable　than　the　first；　with　promises　of　higher
honors；　and　with　authority　to　concede　to　any　terms　that　Balaam　might　demand。
Balak's　urgent　message　to　the　prophet　was；　〃Let　nothing；　I　pray　thee；　hinder
thee　from　coming　unto　me：　for　I　will　promote　thee　unto　very　great　honor；　and
I　will　do　whatsoever　thou　sayest　unto　me：　come　therefore；　I　pray　thee；　curse
me　this　people。〃

A　second　time　Balaam　was　tested。　In　response　to　the　solicitations　of　the
ambassadors　he　professed　great　conscientiousness　and　integrity；　assuring
them　that　no　amount　of　gold　and　silver　could　induce　him　to　go　contrary　to
the　will　of　God。　But　he　longed　to　comply　with　the　king's　request；　and
although　the　will　of　God　had　already　been　definitely　made　known　to　him；　he
urged　the　messengers　to　tarry；　that　he　might　further　inquire　of　God；　as
though　the　Infinite　One　were　a　man；　to　be　persuaded。

In　the　night　season　the　Lord　appeared　to　Balaam　and　said；　〃If　the　men　come
to　call　thee；　rise　up；　and　go　with　them；　but　yet　the　word　which　I　shall　say
unto　thee；　that　shalt　thou　do。〃　Thus　far　the　Lord　would　permit　Balaam　to
follow　his　own　will；　because　he　was　determined　upon　it。　He　did　not　seek　to
do　the　will　of　God；　but　chose　his　own　course；　and　then　endeavored　to　secure
the　sanction　of　the　Lord。

There　are　thousands　at　the　present　day　who　are　pursuing　a　similar　course。
They　would　have　no　difficulty　in　understanding

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their　duty　if　it　were　in　harmony　with　their　inclinations。　It　is　plainly　set
before　them　in　the　Bible　or　is　clearly　indicated　by　circumstances　and
reason。　But　because　these　evidences　are　contrary　to　their　desires　and
inclinations　they　frequently　set　them　aside　and　presume　to　go　to　God　to
learn　their　duty。　With　great　apparent　conscientiousness　they　pray　long　and
earnestly　for　light。　But　God　will　not　be　trifled　with。　He　often　permits　such
persons　to　follow　their　own　desires　and　to　suffer　the　result。　〃My　people
would　not　hearken　to　My　voice。　。　。　。　So　I　gave　them　up　unto　their　own
hearts'　lust：　and　they　walked　in　their　own　counsels。〃　Psalm　81：11；　12。　When
one　clearly　sees　a　duty；　let　him　not　presume　to　go　to　God　with　the　prayer
that　he　may　be　excused　from　performing　it。　He　should　rather；　with　a　humble；
submissive　spirit；　ask　for　divine　strength　and　wisdom　to　meet　its　claims。

The　Moabites　were　a　degraded；　idolatrous　people；　yet　according　to　the　light
which　they　had　received　their　guilt　was　not　so　great　in　the　sight　of　Heaven
as　was　that　of　Balaam。　As　he　professed　to　be　God's　prophet；　however；　all　he
should　say　would　be　supposed　to　be　uttered　by　divine　authority。　Hence　he　was
not　to　be　permitted　to　speak　as　he　chose；　but　must　deliver　the　message　which
God　should　give　him。　〃The　word　which　I　shall　say　unto　thee；　that　shalt　thou
do；〃　was　the　divine　command。

Balaam　had　received　permission　to　go　with　the　messengers　from　Moab　if　they
came　in　the　morning　to　call　him。　But；　annoyed　at　his　delay；　and　expecting
another　refusal；　they　set　out　on　their　homeward　journey　without　further
consultation　with　him。　Every　excuse　for　complying　with　the　request　of　Balak
had　now　been　removed。　But　Balaam　was　determined　to　secure　the　reward；　and；
taking　the　beast　upon　which　he　was　accustomed　to　ride；　he　set　out　on　the
journey。　He　feared　that　even　now　the　divine　permission　might　be　withdrawn；
and　he　pressed　eagerly　forward；　impatient　lest　he　should　by　some　means　fail
to　gain　the　coveted　reward。

But　〃the　angel　of　the　Lord　stood　in　the　way　for　an　adversary　against　him。〃
The　animal　saw　the　divine　messenger；　who　was　unperceived　by　the　man；　and
turned　aside　from　the　highway　into　a　field。　With　cruel　blows　Balaam　brought
the　beast　back　into　the　path；　but　again；　in　a　narrow　place　shut　in　by　walls；
the　angel　appeared；　and　the　animal；　trying　to　avoid　the　menacing　figure；
crushed　her　master's　foot　against　the　wall。　Balaam　was　blinded　to　the
heavenly　interposition；　and　knew　not　that　God　was

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obstructing　his　path。　The　man　became　exasperated；　and　beating　the　ass
unmercifully；　forced　it　to　proceed。

Again；　〃in　a　narrow　place；　where　was　no　way　to　turn　either　to　the　right　hand
or　to　the　left；〃　the　angel　appeared；　as　before；　in　a　threatening　attitude；
and　the　poor　beast；　trembling　with　terror；　made　a　full　stop；　and　fell　to　the
earth　under　its　rider。　Balaam's　rage　was　unbounded；　and　with　his　staff　he
smote　the　animal　more　cruelly　than　before。　God　now　opened　its　mouth；　and　by
〃the　dumb　ass　speaking　with　man's　voice；〃　he　〃forbade　the　madness　of　the
prophet。〃　2　Peter　2：16。　〃What　have　I　done　unto　thee；〃　it　said；　〃that　thou
hast　smitten　me　these　three　times？〃

Furious　at　being　thus　hindered　in　his　journey；　Balaam　answered　the　beast　as
he　would　have　addressed　an　intelligent　being〃Because　thou　hast　mocked　me：
I　would　there　were　a　sword　in　mine　hand；　for　now　would　I　kill　thee。〃　Here
was　a　professed　magician；　on　his　way　to　pronounce　a　curse　upon　a　whole
people　with　the　intent　to　paralyze　their　strength；　while　he　had　not　power
even　to　slay　the　animal　upon　which　he　rode！

The　eyes　of　Balaam　were　now　opened；　and　he　beheld　the　angel　of　God　standing
with　drawn　sword　ready　to　slay　him。　In　terror　〃he　bowed　down　his　head；　and
fell　flat　on　his　face。〃　The　angel　said　to　him；　〃Wherefore　hast　thou　smitten
thine　ass　these　three　times？　Behold；　I　went　out　to　withstand　thee；　because
thy　way　is　perverse　before　me：　and　the　ass　saw　me；　and　turned　from　me　these
three　times：　unless　she　had　turned　from　me　surely　now　also　I　had　slain　thee；
and　saved　her　alive。〃

Balaam　owed　the　preservation　of　his　life　to　the　poor　animal　that　he　had
treated　so　cruelly。　The　man　who　claimed　to　be　a　prophet　of　the　Lord；　who
declared　that　his　eyes　were　open；　and　he　saw　the　〃vision　of　the　Almighty；〃
was　so　blinded　by　covetousness　and　ambition　that　he　could　not　discern　the
angel　of　God　visible　to　his　beast。　〃The　god　of　this　world　hath　blinded　the
minds　of　them　which　believe　not。〃　2　Corinthians　4：4。　How　many　are　thus
blinded！　They　rush　on　in　forbidden　paths；　transgressin