Setting the Scene: The Beginning of Balaam’s Story

Q1 - King Balak made a decision without all the facts. How might this story have turned out differently had he known Moab had God’s protection?

A1 - If King Balak had known that Moab had God’s protection, he might not have sent for Balaam to come curse the Israelites. However, the Israelites would still have been exposed to the gods and culture of the Moabites and Midianites who lived on the plains of Moab near where they camped before crossing the Jordan into Canaan. After having lived apart from others in the wilderness for forty years, it would likely still have been a culture shock for the Israelites to be in close proximity of such vastly different people. However, the women of Moab and Midian may not have actively tried to seduce the Israelites as they did after Balaam told King Balak to have them do so.

Q2 - When has fear led you to make an unwise decision? What was the outcome?

A2 - Answers will vary. Acting out of fear can cause us to jump to unwise conclusions, sometimes with disastrous results.

Q3 - What does the term soothsayer mean? Do you think it differs from being a prophet? If so, how?

A3 - It may be helpful to look at how different Bible versions translate the word, soothsayer. For example, in Joshua 13:22 we are told Balaam was killed in battle by the Israelites. In that verse, the King James Version calls Balaam a soothsayer. Other versions say things like—he practiced divination, used magic to tell the future or used black magic, he had been a fortuneteller, or he was an omen reader. (Read the various Bible versions of this scripture at BibleHub.com.) All of these phrases describe someone who is trying to foretell the future or influence happenings in the future.

While prophets of God may have foretold or warned of what would happen in the future, they did so at God’s instruction. Soothsayers and those who practice various divining arts attempt to call upon spirits and forces other than those which are of God. That is why God warned the Israelites in Deuteronomy 18:10–13 that no diviners should be found among them. He also told them in the Ten Commandments they were to have no other gods but Him and that He is a jealous God (see Exodus 20:1–17 for the Ten Commandments). This article provides more information: “What does the Bible say about divination?”.