"I have sinned," Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home." “I have sinned,”Balaam's admission of sin is significant as it reflects a moment of recognition and repentance. In the biblical context, acknowledging sin is a crucial step towards reconciliation with God. This phrase echoes other instances in Scripture where individuals confess their wrongdoing, such as David in Psalm 51:4. It highlights the importance of humility and the acknowledgment of one's faults before God. Balaam said to the angel of the LORD,
The "angel of the LORD" is often understood as a theophany, a manifestation of God Himself. This encounter emphasizes the seriousness of Balaam's actions and the divine intervention in his journey. The angel of the LORD appears in other significant biblical narratives, such as with Hagar in Genesis 16:7-13 and Gideon in Judges 6:11-24, often bringing messages of great importance. “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me.
Balaam's lack of awareness of the angel's presence underscores the spiritual blindness that can accompany disobedience. This moment serves as a reminder of the need for spiritual discernment and attentiveness to God's guidance. The road symbolizes Balaam's journey, both physically and spiritually, and the confrontation indicates a divine correction of his path. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight,
Balaam's conditional statement reveals his uncertainty and desire to align his actions with God's will. It reflects a willingness to submit to divine authority, a theme prevalent throughout Scripture. This phrase can be compared to the attitude of submission seen in Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39), where He seeks to do the Father's will above His own. I will go back home.”
Balaam's offer to return home signifies a readiness to abandon his mission if it contradicts God's desires. This willingness to change direction is a crucial aspect of repentance. The concept of returning or turning back is a recurring theme in the Bible, often associated with repentance and restoration, as seen in the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). Persons / Places / Events 1. BalaamA non-Israelite prophet or diviner who is summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites. Balaam is known for his interactions with God and his eventual blessing of Israel instead of cursing them. 2. BalakThe king of Moab who fears the Israelites due to their numbers and seeks Balaam's help to curse them, hoping to weaken them. 3. Angel of the LORDA divine messenger who stands in Balaam's path as he travels to meet Balak, initially unseen by Balaam but visible to his donkey. 4. DonkeyBalaam's donkey, which sees the Angel of the LORD and turns aside, eventually speaking to Balaam after being struck by him. 5. Path to MoabThe journey Balaam takes to meet Balak, during which the Angel of the LORD confronts him, leading to Balaam's realization of his wrongdoing. Teaching Points Recognition of SinBalaam's acknowledgment of his sin ("I have sinned") is a crucial step in repentance. We must be willing to recognize and confess our wrongdoings to align ourselves with God's will. Divine InterventionGod's intervention in Balaam's journey through the Angel of the LORD serves as a reminder that God actively guides and corrects His people. We should remain attentive to God's direction in our lives. Obedience Over Personal GainBalaam's account warns against prioritizing personal gain over obedience to God. Our decisions should reflect our commitment to God's commands rather than our desires for wealth or status. Spiritual AwarenessBalaam's initial inability to see the Angel of the LORD contrasts with his donkey's spiritual awareness. This teaches us the importance of spiritual sensitivity and discernment in our walk with God. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Balaam's acknowledgment of his sin in Numbers 22:34 serve as a model for repentance in our own lives? 2. In what ways can we ensure that we are spiritually aware and sensitive to God's guidance, as opposed to being spiritually blind like Balaam initially was? 3. How does the account of Balaam and the Angel of the LORD illustrate the importance of divine intervention in our decision-making processes? 4. What lessons can we learn from Balaam's experience about the dangers of prioritizing personal gain over obedience to God? 5. How do the New Testament references to Balaam (2 Peter 2:15-16 and Revelation 2:14) expand our understanding of his account and its implications for Christian living today? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 22The account of Abraham and Isaac, where God tests Abraham's faith. Both accounts involve divine intervention and a test of obedience. 2 Peter 2:15-16References Balaam's error and his love for gain, warning against following in his footsteps. This New Testament passage highlights the moral and spiritual lessons from Balaam's account. Revelation 2:14Mentions Balaam's teaching as a stumbling block, connecting his actions to broader themes of temptation and idolatry. | A Rotting Conscience | H. W. Beecher. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam | C. Kingsley, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam Rebuked, But not Checked | T. T. Munger. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam Stopped by an Angel | J. Parker, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam the Man of Double Mind | C. Ness. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam, an Instance of Moral Perversion | W. M. Taylor, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam; Or, Spiritual Influence, Human and Divine | Homilist | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam's Ass | W. Jones. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam's Ass, or Cruelty Rebuked | J. W. Hardman, LL. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam's I have Sinned | James Vaughan, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam's Protest | W. Roberts. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balaam's Vision | J. P. Smith, LL. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Balak's Second Application to Balaam | W. Jones. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Dallying with Temptation | T. T. Munger. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | God Answers Men as They Wish | Isaac Williams, B. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | God Permits Balaam to Go, and Yet is Angry | F. D. Maurice, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | God Withstanding Sinners | J. J. Van Oosterzee, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | God's Opposition to Balaam | Henry, Matthew | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Gold an Ignoble Motive for Service | C. Kingsley. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | No Contradiction Between God's Two Answers to Balaam | T. T. Manger. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | No Without Any Yes in It | S. S. Chronicle | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Obedience Without Love, as Instanced in the Character Of | J. H. Newman, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Obstacles to Vision | J. Halsey. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Obstructive Providences | T. G. Horton. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | On Tampering with Conscience | A. Jessopp, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Parallels to the Case of Balaam | American S. S. Times | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Perversion as Shown in the Character of Balaam | F. W. Robertson, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Restraints from Sin | D. G. Watt, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Sin Perverse | Bp. Babington. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Something Wrong with Conscience | Christian Age | Numbers 22:15-35 | | The Cause of God's Anger with Balaam | S. Cox, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | The Character of Balaam | G. Wagner. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | The Divine Permission of Self-Will | S. Cox, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | The Opposition of God's Angel | W. Roberts. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | The Talking Ass, and What it Taught Balaam | S. Cox, D. D. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | The Way of the Perverse | T. De Witt Talmage. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Trifling with Conscience | J. E. C. Welldon, M. A. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | Withstanding Temptation | Juvenile Templar. | Numbers 22:15-35 | | The Angel, the Prophet, and the Ass | D. Young | Numbers 22:22-35 | | Balaam - the Arrest | J. Waite | Numbers 22:31-35 |
People Amorites, Balaam, Balak, Beor, Israelites, Moabites, Moses, ZipporPlaces Amaw, Arnon, Bamoth-baal, Egypt, Euphrates River, Jericho, Jordan River, Kiriath-huzoth, Midian, Moab, PethorTopics Angel, Balaam, Didn't, Displease, Displeased, Displeases, Displeaseth, Displeasing, Evil, Meet, Messenger, Myself, Oppose, Realize, Return, Road, Sight, Sinned, Stand, Standing, Stood, Stoodest, Turn, WrongDictionary of Bible Themes Numbers 22:34 5480 protection
6632 conviction
6740 returning to God Numbers 22:21-35 4111 angels, servants Numbers 22:31-34 8319 perception, spiritual Numbers 22:31-35 6735 repentance, examples Library Balaam
He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me.'--NUM. xxii. 6. Give a general outline of the history. See Bishop Butler's great sermon. I. How much knowledge and love of good there may be in a bad man. Balaam was a prophet: (a) He knew something of the divine character, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureConfession of Sin --A Sermon with Seven Texts
The Hardened Sinner. PHARAOH--"I have sinned."--Exodus 9:27. I. The first case I shall bring before you is that of the HARDENED SINNER, who, when under terror, says, "I have sinned." And you will find the text in the book of Exodus, the 9th chap. and 27th verse: "And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked." But why this confession from the lips of the haughty tyrant? He was not often wont to …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857 The Assyrian Revival and the Struggle for Syria
Assur-nazir-pal (885-860) and Shalmaneser III. (860-825)--The kingdom of Urartu and its conquering princes: Menuas and Argistis. Assyria was the first to reappear on the scene of action. Less hampered by an ancient past than Egypt and Chaldaea, she was the sooner able to recover her strength after any disastrous crisis, and to assume again the offensive along the whole of her frontier line. Image Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a bas-relief at Koyunjik of the time of Sennacherib. The initial cut, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7 Sovereignty and Human Responsibility
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom. 14:12). In our last chapter we considered at some length the much debated and difficult question of the human will. We have shown that the will of the natural man is neither Sovereign nor free but, instead, a servant and slave. We have argued that a right conception of the sinner's will-its servitude-is essential to a just estimate of his depravity and ruin. The utter corruption and degradation of human nature is something which …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God How the Whole and the Sick are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 13.) Differently to be admonished are the whole and the sick. For the whole are to be admonished that they employ the health of the body to the health of the soul: lest, if they turn the grace of granted soundness to the use of iniquity, they be made worse by the gift, and afterwards merit the severer punishments, in that they fear not now to use amiss the more bountiful gifts of God. The whole are to be admonished that they despise not the opportunity of winning health for ever. …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Numbers 22:34 NIVNumbers 22:34 NLTNumbers 22:34 ESVNumbers 22:34 NASBNumbers 22:34 KJV
Numbers 22:34 Commentaries
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