Numbers - A Journey Through the Wilderness , Sarah Barry
BALAAM'S BEAUTIFUL VISION (3rd oracle)
Passage: Numbers 23:27~24:11  
Key verse: 24:5
Balaam’s Third Message
27 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place.(A) Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me(B) from there.” 28 And Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor,(C) overlooking the wasteland.
29 Balaam said, “Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” 30 Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.(D)
24 Now when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel,(E) he did not resort to divination(F) as at other times, but turned his face toward the wilderness.(G) 2 When Balaam looked out and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him(H) 3 and he spoke his message:
“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,(I)
4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,(J)
who sees a vision from the Almighty,[a](K)
who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:
5 “How beautiful are your tents,(L) Jacob,
your dwelling places, Israel!
6 “Like valleys they spread out,
like gardens beside a river,(M)
like aloes(N) planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.(O)
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their seed will have abundant water.
8 “God brought them out of Egypt;
they have the strength of a wild ox.
They devour hostile nations
and break their bones in pieces;(R)
with their arrows they pierce them.(S)
9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down,
like a lioness(T)—who dares to rouse them?
10 Then Balak’s anger burned(W) against Balaam. He struck his hands together(X) and said to him, “I summoned you to curse my enemies,(Y) but you have blessed them(Z) these three times.(AA) 11 Now leave at once and go home!(AB) I said I would reward you handsomely,(AC) but the Lord has kept you from being rewarded.”
Footnotes
- Numbers 24:4 Hebrew Shaddai; also in verse 16
Cross references
- Numbers 23:27 : ver 13
- Numbers 23:27 : Nu 24:10
- Numbers 23:28 : Nu 25:3, 18; 31:16; Dt 3:29; 4:3; Jos 22:17; Ps 106:28; Hos 9:10
- Numbers 23:30 : S ver 2
- Numbers 24:1 : S Nu 23:20
- Numbers 24:1 : S Nu 23:23
- Numbers 24:1 : Nu 23:28
- Numbers 24:2 : S Nu 11:25, 26
- Numbers 24:3 : ver 15
- Numbers 24:4 : S Nu 22:9
- Numbers 24:4 : S Ge 15:1
- Numbers 24:5 : Jer 4:20; 30:18; Mal 2:12
- Numbers 24:6 : S Ge 2:10
- Numbers 24:6 : Ps 45:8; SS 4:14
- Numbers 24:6 : Job 29:19; Ps 1:3; 104:16; Eze 31:5
- Numbers 24:7 : S Ex 17:8-16
- Numbers 24:7 : Dt 28:1; 2Sa 5:12; 1Ch 14:2; Ps 89:27; 145:11-13
- Numbers 24:8 : S Ex 15:6; Jer 50: 17
- Numbers 24:8 : 2Sa 18:14; Ps 45:5
- Numbers 24:9 : S Nu 23:24
- Numbers 24:9 : S Ge 12:2
- Numbers 24:9 : S Ge 12:3
- Numbers 24:10 : S Ex 4:14
- Numbers 24:10 : Job 27:23; 34:37; La 2:15; Eze 21:14; 22:13; 25:6
- Numbers 24:10 : S Nu 22:6
- Numbers 24:10 : S Nu 23:11; S Dt 23:5
- Numbers 24:10 : ver 3-9; Nu 23:7-10, 18-24
- Numbers 24:11 : ver 14, 25
- Numbers 24:11 : S Nu 22:17
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. A vision from the Almighty (23:27-24:7)
This time Balaam gave up trying to use sorcery. He looked and saw Israel encamped in the plains below him and the Spirit of God came upon him. He saw the beauty of the people whom God had blessed. They bore the marks of 40 years of desert life--they were travel-worn, dusty and full of problems--but Balaam saw them with God's eyes. He saw beauty and hope and abundance. God's people are beautiful when we see them with God's eyes.
2. God brought them out of Egypt (24:8-11)
The theme of Balaam's prophecy is found in verses 23:22 & 24:8. God's grace had been poured out on Israel. So they became a special people to him. They would surely defeat their enemies. And God would bless those who blessed them and curse those who cursed them. Balak was angry at these words, and he sent Balaam home with no reward.
Prayer: Lord, give me spiritual eyes to see your people. Thank you for the grace of redemption which makes your people beautiful.
One Word: How beautiful are God's people!