In the person of Balaam, we really encounter a strange phenomenon.
We have God carefully guiding his chosen people Israel, but then turning around and speaking through a gentile prophet.
And we’re not talking about a gentile who was grafted into Israel.
Balaam was NOT a part of Israel.
Because of this, we should not jump to the conclusion that the Lord considered Balaam righteous or that He in someway found special favor with him.
We should also not jump to the conclusion that Balaam’s allegiance was to the God of Israel.
At this point in Torah, all we can really say is that Balaam was a gentile who heard directly from God.
So what can we glean from all this?
The answer to that question is simple.
We learn that EVEN A FALSE OR PAGAN PROPHET CAN BE USED OF GOD.
And in Balaam’s case, we learn that even a gentile prophet can be used to make accurate predictions in order for HASHEM’s divine will to unfold.
Here’s the big lesson we can learn from Balaam’s interactions with the Lord.
Just because one has a genuine interaction with the Lord does NOT necessarily mean that person is in a right relationship with the Lord.
Did you get that?
Let me take that thought a step further.
Just because one demonstrates supernatural spiritual gifts that are both legitimate and very real is also NOT an indication that one is in a right relationship with the Lord.
Check out these verses from Deuteronomy.
“If a prophet or someone who gets messages while dreaming arises among you and he gives you a sign or wonder, and the sign or wonder comes about as he predicted when he said, ‘Let’s follow other gods, which you have not known; and let us serve them,’ you are not to listen to what that prophet or dreamer says. For Adonai your God is testing you, in order to find out whether you really do love Adonai your God with all your heart and being.”-Deuteronomy 13: 1-13
These verses absolutely testify to the reality that a false prophet or even someone who is not in a right relationship with God (whether Jew or Gentile) can absolutely prophesy accurate predictions and perform miracles.
Heck, even King Saul, after he was condemned by God and told he would lose his kingdom to a righteous person continued to accurately prophesy.
Pontius Pilate accurately predicted that Yeshua would be crucified.
In the Book of Acts, we have Jewish magicians casting out demons by exercising the authority of Yeshua’s name, but they didn’t accept Yeshua as their God-sent Messiah.
Or how about the gentile church talked about in the Book of Corinthians?
We’re told they experienced many signs and wonders of the Spirit.
Yet when it came to the more the important things like living sexually pure lives or having brotherly love for each other, it appears they had a lot of growing up to do.
Yeshua even warned us that many would come and try to deceive using signs and wonders.
He also warned us to not interpret those signs and wonders as valid proof that such folks were properly representing the Lord.
Yeshua said there was only ONE WAY to know really if one was of the Lord.
Did they do the WILL OF THE FATHER?
In other words, did they cling closely to the Words of this Torah?
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Not everyone who says to me,
‘Lord, Lord!’
will enter the Kingdom of Heaven,
only those who do what my Father in heaven wants.
On that Day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord!
Didn’t we prophesy in your name?
Didn’t we expel demons in your name?
Didn’t we perform many miracles in your name?’
Then I will tell them to their faces,
‘I never knew you!
Get away from me,
you workers of lawlessness!”
-Matthew 7:21-23
“A certain ruler asked him,
“Good teacher,
what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Yeshua answered.
“No one is good—except God alone.
You know the commandments:
‘You shall not commit adultery,
you shall not murder,
you shall not steal,
you shall not give false testimony,
honor your father and mother.’”
-Luke 18:18-19
The bible never called Balaam a gentile, your adding to the word, but only referred to him as Balaam, who was very familiar with YHWah voice and works, becaaue neither did YHWAH voice scare him like it did Moses the first time at the burning bush, nor did the talking donkey or angle standing in front of the donkey startled him one bit, and let see way not.
You had both the elders of Moab, ( who descended from Lot, Abraham nephew) and the Midian who (descended from Abraham and 2nd wife Keturah) who was a descended from Ham. “Genesis 25:1-4
So we all know Abraham and Lot were both faithful to the Lord and taught their descendants the way of YHWH. So from scripture we know Balaam was familiar with Yahweh’s voice, because most likely he walked with the way of YHWH at one time, no different than the true Hebrew’s before working away from YHWH. So what does that mean? It means Balaam was either a descended of Abraham or Lot, either way he knew YHWH, and was not a gentile from the seed of (Japath) but from Shem if from Lot or Shem/Ham if from Abraham and his second Wife Keturah!
Number 22:7
7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
Genesis 25:1-4 Abraham took another wife, whose name was Ketu’rah. 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Mid’ian, Ishbak, and Shuah. 3Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshu’rim, Letu’shim, and Le-um’mim. 4The sons of Mid’ian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abi’da, and Elda’ah. All these were the children of Ketu’rah. (RSV)
Genesis 18:36
36 Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day.
I’ve already replied to your other comment. But here we go again:
In calling Abraham a gentile before HASHEM called him, I’m basically saying the following:
FIRST PREMISE:
God has divided the world into two groups: Hebrews and non-Hebrews or gentiles.
SECOND PREMISE:
When God first called Abraham, there was no Hebrew nation in existence.
CONCLUSION:
At the time, Abraham was a non-Hebrew or gentile.
Also, consider Esau. He had the EXACT SAME FATHER AND MOTHER as Jacob, yet is he considered a Hebrew?
No, right? Hence, even though Esau has the exact same father and mother as Jacob, he is also considered
a gentile. It’s all about a declaration from God.
And of course, I totally disagree with your statement that Balaam was a prophet before God.
No he wasn’t. He was diviner or sorcerer selling his services for cash.
He was a pagan prophet out for profit.
Shalom.
Again you completely over looked the word gentile, which I explained using the bible, but hear we go again!
The first time the word gentile is ever used is when YHWah describes the Geniolgy of Japath the father to the Gentiles.when describing the sons of Shem or Ham the word is never used.
I’ve had a chance to research this information for the past 6 years. anytime the words Gentile is used in the old and new testiment,pick any person you like and trace their geniolgy and you will see it will always lead the a descendent of Japath.
What’s the odds. Of Paul calling himself a apostle to the Gentiles, and just so happen only preached to the same people YHWAH called Gentiles . When Philip saw the Ethiopian Enoch on the side of the road trying to understand the book of Isaiah, no where was he ever called an Gentile but a cushite (Ethiopian). This is not hard to find in the bible. No where in the word did YHWah ever call and descendants of Ham or Shem Gentiles your adding to the word!
Its very important to know who these Gentiles are because it allows us to recognize the signs in these last days.
I clearly stated that Balaam was not a gentile because the bible never called him a gentile. I also stated from the start of leaving Egypt the true Hebrew people always worshiped YHWH along with pagan Gods, so why is it so surprising that Balaam could have been a profit of the Lord at one time, from scripture they surly knew one another well. Which just a theroy, but what a fact is Balaam was never called a gentile, just Balaam and where he is from.
All.im Asking is if Im wrong, prove me wrong using the bible alone, and no other outside source,! And I can do the same!
Got it. It seems to make sense. I have filed away your comment for further research and contemplation.
Bro, this is what Scripture study is all about. Discussing these things and sharing with an open mind.
Later.
God even uses Satan. God can use anyone for his purpose but don’t confuse being used BY God with working WITH God!!!
Yup!