7 Altars
March 13, 2023
“7 Altars”
Blessings folk!
Here we go!
God told Balaam not to go.
Balaam inquires again.
God says go, but speak only My Word.
Balaam has an encounter with the Angel of the Lord.
Balaam says he will turn back if needed.
The Angel says go, but speak only My Word.
(This tells us the Angel of the Lord is the Most High God.)
Balak and Balaam meet.
Balak offers a sacrifice…presumably to his gods…how has that worked out so far?
The next day Balak took Balaam to see a fraction of the people that he desired cursed.
What now?
Num 23:1-6
And Balaam said to Balak,
“Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.”
Balak did as Balaam had said.
And Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram.
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,
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.”
And the LORD put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said,
“Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”
And he returned to him, and behold,
he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering.
Balaam tells Balak to prepare altars and a sacrifice.
He does.
Balaam and Balak both offer on each altar.
To whom?
What is the basis of this offering?
Many are the opinions.
We simply do not know.
Perhaps a religious show for the benefit of Balak?
Balaam then tells Balak to wait.
Balaam would see if the Lord would speak.
Balaam separated himself.
God met him.
God seems unimpressed with Balaam’s childish proclamation of his sacrifice.
God puts a Word in Balaam’s mouth.
God tells Balaam to return to Balak and speak the Word.
He returns…