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It is common to speak of Balaam as a wicked man, to censure him as utterly devoid of principle, as completely abandoned to the dominion of evil, especially of avarice. And we have the highest authority for regarding him as a wicked man: he loved the wages of unrighteousness. But when we conceive of Balaam as a wicked man simply, we have by no means a just conception of his real character. He was not under the entire dominion of any evil principle or habit whatever. There is in him a wonderful admixture of good and evil; a combination of elements the most opposite.

I. WE SEE IN BALAAM A MAN OF GREAT MENTAL ENDOWMENTS, OF VARIED SPIRITUAL GIFTS, AND OF EXTRAORDINARY ILLUMINATION.

II. WE SEE IN BALAAM GREAT APPARENT DEFERENCE TO THE DIVINE WILL, AN ANXIOUS SOLICITUDE TO KNOW IT, AND TO ACT ACCORDING TO IT.

III. WE HAVE IN BALAAM A MELANCHOLY INSTANCE OF AN ATTEMPT TO RECONCILE A SENSE OF DUTY TO A VICIOUS INCLINATION — TO CONFORM THE UNYIELDING RULE OF RIGHT TO THE DESIGNS OF AVARICE. This is the instructive peculiarity of his character. He knew what was right, and for many reasons he was anxious to do it. His conscience would not allow him to act in direct opposition to the will of God; but, at the same time, his heart was not wholly in God's service. Covetousness lay deep within him. How obvious the reflection that no man knows what he is until he is tried! During the hard frosts of winter it is impossible to tell what venomous insects, what noxious weeds or beautiful flowers are concealed in the earth; but let the genial showers and sunshine of spring come, and the weeds and the flowers will show themselves, and the venomous insects will come forth out of their hiding-places. So is it with men.

IV. Another remark, suggested by the character and history of Balaam, relates to THE RAPID AND FEARFUL PROGRESS OF SIN. So it was with Judas: he had not the slightest wish to injure his Lord; he wished only to obtain the thirty pieces of silver. So it has been with many ambitious monarchs: they have had no pleasure in the misery of their fellow-creatures; they have thought only of their own fame and power. So it has been with many zealous persecutors: they have no natural thirst for human blood; they have thought only of the establishment of their creed — the extension and honour of their Church. So it is with many in common life: they have no wish to injure others; but they wish to secure their own ends, and they do not hesitate to trample on those who stand in their way.

V. IN THE CHARACTER AND HISTORY OF BALAAM WE HAVE A STRIKING ILLUSTRATION OF THE DECEITFULNESS OF THE HUMAN HEART. Men will neglect the moral, and yet will attend to the ceremonial, and on this ground will think themselves clear; they will commit the greater, and yet will hesitate to commit the less, and on this ground will pronounce themselves pure; they will violate the entire spirit of the Christian law, and yet will scrupulously observe the letter of some precept or precedent, and on this ground will pronounce themselves consistent Christians.

VI. THE HISTORY OF BALAAM ILLUSTRATES SOME VERY IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES OF THE DIVINE GOVERNMENT. The present is a state of probation, but there is in it not a little that is retributive; and though God deals with us as a kited parent, there is often much that is judicial in His proceedings. We have a striking illustration of this in the history of Balaam. In his heart Balaam desired permission to go with the princes of Moab, because he coveted the wages of unrighteousness; and God gave him that permission. This was not an act of mercy, but of judgment. The history of Balaam illustrates another principle of the Divine government — that which is involved in the statement, "The way of transgressors is hard." This is as much in mercy as in judgment. The history of Balaam also illustrates the solemn truth, that the "wages of sin is death." "Balaam also, the son of Beer, they slew with the sword." Whatever may be the result here, the ultimate end of such a course as that which we have endeavoured to describe must be destruction.

(J. J. Davies.)

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KJV: And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

WEB: Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.