Thy Strong Word – Numbers 23: Balaam’s First Oracle

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Rev. John Lukomski, retired pastor, joins host Rev. AJ Espinosa to study Numbers 23.

Shrouded in religious mystery—a sevenfold sacrifice, a mountaintop encounter beyond the timberline—the pagan prophet Balaam performs a divination for his royal patron. In Numbers 23, Balaam then pronounces this divine wisdom-oracle, a message of timeless truth and God’s unalterable will. He does this not once, but twice, reaffirming that God’s mind will not be changed, and His blessings cannot be overridden.

Not even Balaam understands the full import of his words. On the one hand, he simply refers to the blessings of Israel enjoyed in this natural life: military success, prosperity, and long life. On the other hand, his words hint toward the true “lion” who is to come from Judah. By the “death of the upright,” all who die in Christ indeed die well, prepared for the resurrection to eternal life. In God’s great mercy, He even allows pagan prophets to occasionally give clearer testimony to the eternal Word of God.

Thy Strong Word is a daily in-depth study of the books of the Bible with host Rev. AJ Espinosa and guest pastors from across the country. Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation and produced by the LCMS Office of National Mission.

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Numbers 23

Balaam’s First Oracle

23 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” ² Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram.³ And Balaam said to Balak, “Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” And he went to a bare height, ⁴ and God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, “I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.” ⁵ And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”⁶ And he returned to him, and behold, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering. ⁷ And Balaam took up his discourse and said,

¹¹ And Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them.”¹² And he answered and said, “Must I not take care to speak what the Lord puts in my mouth?”

Balaam’s Second Oracle

¹³ And Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, from which you may see them. You shall see only a fraction of them and shall not see them all. Then curse them for me from there.” ¹⁴ And he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. ¹⁵ Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the Lord over there.” ¹⁶ And the Lord met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak.” ¹⁷ And he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, “What has the Lordspoken?” ¹⁸ And Balaam took up his discourse and said,

²⁵ And Balak said to Balaam, “Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all.” ²⁶ But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘All that the Lord says, that I must do’?” ²⁷ And Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.” ²⁸ So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the desert.^[b] 29 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.” ³⁰ And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.