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Balaam: —

I. BALAAM WAS BLESSED WITH GOD'S ESPECIAL FAVOUR.

1. He had the grant of inspiration.

2. The knowledge of God's will.

3. An insight into the truths of morality, clear and enlarged, such as we Christians even cannot surpass.

4. He was admitted to conscious intercourse with God, such as even Christians have not.

II. BALAAM WAS A VERY CONSCIENTIOUS MAN.

1. When sought by Balak he prayed to God for direction.

2. When forbidden to go, he refused to go.

3. Only when God gave him leave did he go.

4. And when he was come to Balak he strictly adhered to God's orders. Balaam was certainly high-principled, honourable, conscientious. He said, and he did; he professed, and he acted according to his professions.

III. Yet, while in one sense in God's favour, HE WAS IN ANOTHER AND HIGHER SENSE UNDER GOD'S DISPLEASURE. He was displeasing to God amid his many excellences. So that, in Balaam's history, we seem to have the following remarkable case — i.e., remarkable according to our customary judgment of things — a man Divinely favoured, visited, influenced, guided, protected, eminently honoured, illuminated — a man possessed of an enlightened sense of duty, and of moral and religious acquirements, educated, high-minded, conscientious, honourable, firm; and yet on the side of God's enemies, personally under God's displeasure, and in the end (if we go on to that) the direct instrument of Satan, and having his portion with the unbelievers. This surely is most fearful to every one of us — the more fearful the more we are conscious to ourselves in the main of purity of intention in what we do, and conscientious adherence to our sense of duty.

IV. WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS STARTLING EXHIBITION OF GOD'S WAYS?

1. It is possible to be generally conscientious, or what the world calls honourable and high-principled, yet to be destitute of that religious fear and strictness which God calls conscientiousness, but which the world calls superstition or narrowness of mind.

2. God gave Balaam leave to go to Balak, and then was angry with him for going, because his asking twice was tempting God. God is a jealous God. We may not safely intrude upon Him, and make free with Him.Concluding lessons:

1. We see how little we can depend, in judging of right and wrong, on the apparent excellence and high character of individuals.

2. Observe the wonderful secret providence of God, while all things seem to go on according to the course of this world.

3. When we have begun an evil course we cannot retrace our steps.

4. God gives us warnings now and then, but does not repeat them. Balaam's sin consisted in not acting upon what was told him once for all. Beware of trifling with conscience. May He give you grace so to hear as you will wish to have heard when life is over — to hear in a practical way, with a desire to profit — to learn God's will and to do it!

(J. H. Newman, D. D.)

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KJV: And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.

WEB: Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.