"Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel. 4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me. 6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”
7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message."
Numbers 22:1-7
We come, with this chapter, to the story of Balaam, a story remarkable and impressive in the range of its teaching, yet not without its problems in interpretation. What is recorded here emerges directly from the account given in the previous chapter of the triumphs of Israel over Edom, the Amorites and Bashan. It is in the context of the forward march of the people of God that Balak of Moab's attempt to get Balaam to curse Israel must be seen. This, in fact, gives us one very valuable key to a proper interpretation, for it indicates that here was an at- tempt by the evil one to hinder, frustrate and destroy the work and the people of God. This is certainly the significance the New Testament gives to the story (cf 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14) Hitherto, the attack on Israel had been direct, and these had been repulsed; but now, this was more subtle, because indirect, attack, and all the more dangerous because of this. The story is therefore important for us in the light it throws upon the unseen warfare against principalities and powers, and the way in which the evil one uses his wiles to hinder and frustrate the work and purpose of God. And one of the most important things for us to see is that Satan found his tool in a 'servant of God' who was out of joint spiritually, and who wanted the best of both worlds. This was the doorway through which Satan was able to 'get at' the people of Israel. This contains its own warning for us: we may never know just how much harm and injury we may do the work of God and the people of God if we are out of joint spiritually, and therefore become the unwitting tool of the devil. He is never slow to grasp an opportunity, or to jump at any chance we give him. Renegades, of whatever sort, usually succeed in doing much more harm than ordinary enemies of the faith.