< Numbers 22 >

When Israel defeated the Amorites they took possession of land called “the plain of Moab” which had once belonged to the Moabites.v.1Numbers 22:1XWaiting for response This lay to the north of the country of Moab and later became the territory of Reuben. Israel did not intend to attack Moab, and were forbidden from doing so by God because these were also their relatives, being the descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew.

The king of Moab, Balak, was afraid of Israel when he saw them defeat Sihon and Og, the powerful kings of the Amorites. Therefore he sent for a renowned prophet by the name of Balaam to curse Israel. But God intervened and prevented Balaam from accepting Balak’s commission.

It is not apparent in the translation but the word “adversary” in verse 22 is “Satan” in the original Hebrew. This shows that “Satan” is not an evil supernatural being, as is generally believed, but is anyone who secretly opposes another. Thus even an angel doing God’s will may be a “satan”, as the original of verse 32 expresses the words of the angel: “I went out to be a satan to thee”.

Balaam was rebuked by a “dumb ass speaking” and this is a difficulty for some people, but there is no difficulty if we accept that God may do anything in the outworking of his purpose, including enabling animals to express their thoughts.