Balaam is finally overcome by the Spirit of God and prophesies all that God has planned for Israel, ending with those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will themselves be cursed. Balak is naturally irritated because his whole plan has backfired and he is now the one receiving the curse he planned for Israel.
Oh, me. How often do we wish for someone to get what we think they deserve, neglecting to contemplate what we deserve? We complain that God's justice seems far off from someone who has wronged us, but ignore that His mercy is withholding the justice we deserve as well.
Balaam describes his prophecy as "the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly, the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened." In fact, he uses this description of his prophecy twice - once in blessing Israel and again as he proclaims God's coming judgment through Israel on the surrounding nations.
I love that description. When we hear the words of God and understand them, when God opens our eyes, we have no other option but to fall prostrate before Him. When we understand the magnitude of who God is and how infinitesimal we are, and yet how great His love for us is, it brings us to our knees. It brings to mind Psalm 8 that says,
"When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?"
Oh, me. How often do we wish for someone to get what we think they deserve, neglecting to contemplate what we deserve? We complain that God's justice seems far off from someone who has wronged us, but ignore that His mercy is withholding the justice we deserve as well.
Balaam describes his prophecy as "the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly, the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened." In fact, he uses this description of his prophecy twice - once in blessing Israel and again as he proclaims God's coming judgment through Israel on the surrounding nations.
I love that description. When we hear the words of God and understand them, when God opens our eyes, we have no other option but to fall prostrate before Him. When we understand the magnitude of who God is and how infinitesimal we are, and yet how great His love for us is, it brings us to our knees. It brings to mind Psalm 8 that says,
"When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?"
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