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Balaam saw that the Lord was pleased to give his blessing to Israel. So he didn't try to use evil magic as he had done at other times. Instead, he turned and looked towards the desert. 2 He looked out and saw Israel. They had set up their camps tribe by tribe. The Spirit of God came on him. 3 Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said, ‘Here is the message God gave Balaam, the son of Beor.
It's the message God gave to the one who sees clearly.
4 It's the message God gave to the one who hears the words of God.
He sees a vision from the Mighty One.
He falls down flat with his face towards the ground.
His eyes have been opened by the Lord.
5 ‘People of Jacob, your tents are very beautiful.
Israel, the places where you live are very beautiful.
6 ‘They spread out like valleys.
They are like gardens beside a river.
They are like aloes the Lord has planted.
They are like cedar trees beside a stream.
7 Their water buckets will run over.
Their seeds will have plenty of water.
‘Their king will be greater than King Agag.
Their kingdom will be honoured.
8 ‘God brought them out of Egypt.
They are as strong as a wild ox.
They destroy nations at war with them.
They break their bones in pieces.
They wound them with their arrows.
9 Like a male lion they lie down and sleep.
They are like a female lion.
Who dares to wake them up?
‘May those who bless you be blessed!
May those who curse you be cursed!’
10 Then Balak became very angry with Balaam. He slapped his hands together. He said to Balaam, ‘I sent for you to put a curse on my enemies. But you have given them a blessing three times. 11 Get out of here right away! Go home! I said I'd make you very rich. But the Lord has kept you from getting rich.’
12 Balaam answered Balak, ‘Here is what I told the messengers you sent me. 13 I said, “Balak could give me all the silver and gold in his palace. Even if I wanted to, I still couldn't do anything at all that goes beyond what the Lord commands. I must say only what the Lord tells me to say.” 14 Now I'm going back to my people. But come. Let me warn you about what these people will do to your people in days to come.’
15 Then Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said,
‘Here is the message God gave Balaam, the son of Beor.
It's the message God gave to the one who sees clearly.
16 It's the message God gave to the one who hears the words of God.
The Most High God has given him knowledge.
He sees a vision from the Mighty One.
He falls down flat with his face towards the ground.
His eyes have been opened by the Lord.
17 ‘I see him, but I don't see him now.
I view him, but he isn't near.
A star will come from among the people of Jacob.
A king will rise up out of Israel.
He'll crush the foreheads of the people of Moab.
He'll crush the heads of all the people of Sheth.
18 He'll win the battle over Edom.
He'll win the battle over his enemy Seir.
But Israel will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come from among the people of Jacob.
He'll destroy those from the city who are still alive.’
20 Then Balaam saw the Amalekites. He spoke the message he had received from God. He said,
‘Amalek was the first nation to attack Israel.
But their end will be total destruction.’
21 Then Balaam saw the Kenites. He spoke the message he had received from God. He said,
‘The place where you live is safe.
Your nest is on a high cliff.
22 But you Kenites will be destroyed.
Ashur will take you as prisoners.’
23 Then Balaam spoke the message he had received from God. He said,
‘Who can live when God does this?
24 Ships will come from the shores of Cyprus.
They will bring Ashur and Eber under their control.
But they themselves will also be destroyed.’
25 Then Balaam got up and returned home. And Balak went on his way.
20:1–24:25 The people of Israel continued to complain and argue as they wandered in the desert. They said it would have been better to remain slaves or to be dead. That is how unhappy they were. The people needed water. At Meribah Moses and Aaron didn't completely trust God to provide water. They made water come out of the rock by using force. Because of this, Moses and Aaron wouldn't be allowed to enter Canaan. Another time when the people needed water, they once again complained instead of trusting God. So God allowed some of the covenant curses to come upon them. This included sickness that wouldn't heal like Deuteronomy 28:59–60 talked about. The sickness was from poisonous snakes. As a result of this many people died. Yet those who looked at the bronze snake on the pole were saved. God used that snake to provide healing for his people. It was a picture of salvation. Hundreds of years later, Jesus compared himself to the snake that had been lifted up (John 3:14). Even though the Israelites spoke against God, God continued to bless them. He gave them victory over the Canaanites who attacked them. He gave them victory over the kings Sihon and Og. He protected them from Balak the king of Moab. God didn't allow Balaam to put a curse on the Israelites. Instead, Balaam spoke words of blessing. Balaam's prophecy was also about someone called a star, a king and a ruler. Many years later people understood that this was a prophecy about Jesus.