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<p>We have here an account of the opposition God gave to Balaam in his journey towards Moab; probably the princes had gone before, or gone some other way, and Balaam had pointed out where he would meet them, or where they should stay for him, for we read nothing of them in this part of our narrative, only that Balaam, like a person of some quality, was attended with his two men-honour enough, one would think, for such a man, he needed not be beholden to Balak for promotion.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">I. Here is God’s displeasure against Balaam for undertaking this journey: God’s <i>anger was kindled because he went</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Num.22.22" href="/passage/?search=Num.22.22">Num. 22:22</a>. Note, 1. The sin of sinners is not to be thought the less provoking to God because he permits it. We must not think that, because God does not by his providence restrain men from sin, therefore he approves of it, or that it is therefore not hateful to him; he suffers sin, and yet is angry at it. 2. Nothing is more displeasing to God than malicious designs against his people; he that touches them touches the apple of his eye.</p>
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<p class="tab-1">II. The way God took to let Balaam know his displeasure against him: <i>An angel stood in the way for an adversary</i>. Now God fulfilled his promise to Israel (<a class="bibleref" title="Exod.23.22" href="/passage/?search=Exod.23.22">Exod. 23:22</a>), <i>I will be an enemy to thy enemies</i>. The holy angels are adversaries to sin, and perhaps are employed more than we are aware of in preventing it, particularly in opposing those that have any ill designs against God’s church and people, for whom Michael our prince stands up, <a class="bibleref" title="Dan.12.1,Dan.10.21" href="/passage/?search=Dan.12.1,Dan.10.21"><span class="bibleref" title="Dan.12.1">Dan. 12:1</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="Dan.10.21">Dan. 10:21</span></a>. What a comfort is this to all that wish well to the Israel of God, that he never suffers wicked men to form an attempt against them, without sending his holy angels forth to break the attempt and secure his little ones! When the prophet saw the four horns that scattered Judah, at the same time he saw four carpenters that were to fray those horns, <a class="bibleref" title="Zech.1.18-Zech.1.21" href="/passage/?search=Zech.1.18-Zech.1.21">Zech. 1:18-21</a> When the <i>enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him</i>. This angel was an adversary to Balaam, because Balaam counted him his adversary; otherwise those are really our best friends, and we are so to reckon them, that stop our progress in a sinful way. The angel stood with his sword drawn (<a class="bibleref" title="Num.22.23" href="/passage/?search=Num.22.23">Num. 22:23</a>), <i>a flaming sword</i>, like that in the hands of the cherubim (<a class="bibleref" title="Gen.3.24" href="/passage/?search=Gen.3.24">Gen. 3:24</a>), <i>turning every way</i>. Note, The holy angels are at war with those with whom God is angry, fo 47f5 r they are the ministers of his justice. Observe,</p>
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<p class="tab-1">1. Balaam had notice given him of God’s displeasure, by the ass, and this <i>did not startle him</i>. The <i>ass saw the angel</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Num.22.23" href="/passage/?search=Num.22.23">Num. 22:23</a>. How vainly did Balaam boast that he was a man whose <i>eyes were open</i>, and that he <i>saw the visions of the Almighty</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Num.24.3,Num.24.4" href="/passage/?search=Num.24.3,Num.24.4"><span class="bibleref" title="Num.24.3">Num. 24:3</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="Num.24.4">4</span></a>), when the ass he rode on saw more than he did, his eyes being blinded with covetousness and ambition and dazzled with the rewards of divination! Note, Many have God against them, and his holy angels, but are not aware of it. The <i>ass knows his owner</i>, sees his danger, but Balaam does <i>not know, does not consider</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Isa.1.3" href="/passage/?search=Isa.1.3">Isa. 1:3</a>. <i>Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Isa.26.11" href="/passage/?search=Isa.26.11">Isa. 26:11</a>. Let none be puffed up with a conceit of visions and revelations, when even an ass saw an angel; yet let those be ashamed of their own sottishness, worse than that of the beasts that perish, who, when they are told of the sword of God’s wrath drawn against them, while they persist in wicked ways, yet will go on: the ass understood the law of self-preservation better than so; for, to save both herself and her senseless rider, (1.) She <i>turned aside out of the way</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Num.22.23" href="/passage/?search=Num.22.23">Num. 22:23</a>. Balaam should have taken the hint of this, and considered whether he was not out of the way of his duty; but, instead of this, he <i>beat her into the way again</i>. Thus those who by wilful sin are running headlong into perdition are angry at those that would prevent their ruin. (2.) She had not gone much further before she saw the angel again, and the, to avoid him, <i>ran up to a wall</i>, and <i>crushed her rider’s foot</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Num.22.24,Num.22.25" href="/passage/?search=Num.22.24,Num.22.25"><span class="bibleref" title="Num.22.24">Num. 22:24</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="Num.22.25">25</span></a>. How many ill accidents are we liable to in travelling upon the road, from which if we are preserved we must own our obligations to the divine Providence, which by the ministry of angels <i>keeps us in all our ways, lest we dash our foot against a stone</i>; but, if we at any time meet with a disaster, it should put us upon enquiring whether our way be right in the sight of God or no. The crushing of Balaam’s foot, though it was the saving of his life, provoked him so much that he smote his ass the second time, so angry are we apt to be at that which, though a present uneasiness, yet is a real kindness. (3.) Upon the next encounter with the angel, the ass fell down under Balaam, <a class="bibleref" title="Num.22.26,Num.22.27" href="/passage/?search=Num.22.26,Num.22.27"><span class="bibleref" title="Num.22.26">Num. 22:26</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="Num.22.27">27</span></a>. He ought to have considered that there was certainly something extraordinary in this; for his ass was not restive, nor did she use to serve him thus: but it is common for those whose hearts are <i>fully set in them to do evil</i> to push on violently, and break through all the difficulties which Providence lays in their way to give check to them and to stop them in their career. Balaam the third time smote his ass, though she had now done him the best piece of service that ever she did him, saving him from the sword of the angel, and by her falling down teaching him to do likewise. (4.) When all this would not work upon him, God opened the mouth of the ass, and she spoke to him once and again; and yet neither did this move him: <i>The Lord opened the mouth of the ass</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Num.22.28" href="/passage/?search=Num.22.28">Num. 22:28</a>.
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<p class="tab-1">2. Balaam at length had notice of God’s displeasure by the angel, and this did startle him. When God opened his eyes <i>he saw the angel</i> (<a class="bibleref" title="Num.22.31" href="/passage/?search=Num.22.31">Num. 22:31</a>), and then he himself <i>fell flat upon his face</i>, in reverence of that glorious messenger, and in fear of the sword he saw in his hand. God has many ways of breading and bringing down the hard and unhumbled heart. (1.) The angel reproved him for his outrageousness (<a class="bibleref" title="Num.22.32,Num.22.33" href="/passage/?search=Num.22.32,Num.22.33"><span class="bibleref" title="Num.22.32">Num. 22:32</span>; <span class="bibleref" title="Num.22.33">33</span></a>): <i>Wherefore hast thou smitten thy ass</i>? Whether we consider it or no, it is certain that God will call us to account for the abuses done to his creatures. Nay, he shows him how much more reason he had to smite upon his breast, and to condemn himself, than to fly out thus against his ass (“<i>Thy way is perverse before me</i>, and then how canst thou expect to prosper?”), and how much wiser his ass was than himself, and how much beholden he was to her that she turned aside; it was for his safety, and not for her own, for had she gone on he had been slain, and she had been saved alive. Note, When our eyes are opened we shall see what danger we are in in a sinful way, and how much it was for our advantage to be crossed in it, and what fools we were to quarrel with our crosses which helped to save our lives. (2.) Balaam then seemed to relent (<a class="bibleref" title="Num.22.34" href="/passage/?search=Num.22.34">Num. 22:34</a>): “<i>I have sinned</i>, sinned in undertaking this journey, sinned in pushing on so violently;” but he excused it with this, that he saw not the angel; yet, now that he did see him, he was willing to go back again. That which was displeasing to God was not so much his going as his going with a malicious design against Israel, and a secret hope that notwithstanding the proviso with which his permission was clogged he might prevail to curse them, and so gratify Balak, and get preferment under him. It does not appear that he was sensible of this wickedness of his heart, or willing to own it, but, when he finds he cannot go forward, he will be content (since there is no remedy) to go back. Here is no sign that his heart is turned, but, if his hands are tied, he cannot help it. Thus many leave their sins only because their sins have left them. There seems to be a reformation of the life, but what will this avail if there be no renovation of the heart? (3.) The angel however continued his permission: “<i>Go with the men</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Num.22.35" href="/passage/?search=Num.22.35">Num. 22:35</a>. Go, if thou hast a mind to be made a fool of, and to be shamed before Balak, and all the princes of Moab. <i>Go, only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak</i>, whether thou wilt or no,” for this seems not to be a precept, but a prediction of the event, that he should not only not be able to curse Israel, but should be forced to bless them, which would be more for the glory of God and his own confusion than if he had turned back. Thus God gave him fair warning, but he would not take it; he <i>went with the princes of Balak</i>. For the iniquity of Balaam’s covetousness God was wroth, and smote him, but he <i>went on frowardly</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Isa.57.17" href="/passage/?search=Isa.57.17">Isa. 57:17</a>.</p>
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