民数记22：7-13
7摩押的长老和米甸的长老手里拿着卦金，到了巴兰那里，将巴勒的话都告诉了他。
8巴兰说：“你们今夜在这里住宿，我必照耶和华所晓谕我的回报你们。”摩押的使臣就在巴兰那里住下了。
9神临到巴兰那里，说：“在你这里的人都是谁？”
10巴兰回答说：“是摩押王西拨的儿子巴勒打发人到我这里来，说：
11‘从埃及出来的民遮满地面，你来为我咒诅他们，或者我能与他们争战，把他们赶出去。’”
12神对巴兰说：“你不可同他们去，也不可咒诅那民，因为那民是蒙福的。”
13巴兰早晨起来，对巴勒的使臣说：“你们回本地去吧，因为耶和华不容我和你们同去。”
摩押的使臣到巴兰那里，要巴兰为他们咒诅以色列民。
问： 巴兰是谁？他是神的先知吗？
巴兰是个贪爱不义工价的先知，他并没有执行真神的旨意。他多次想要咒诅以色列民但都不成功，因为真神阻止了他。
彼后2：15-1615他们离弃正路，就走差了，随从比珥之子巴兰的路。巴兰就是那贪爱不义之工价的先知，16他却为自己的过犯受了责备——那不能说话的驴，以人言拦阻先知的狂妄。
巴兰是个贪婪求法术的术士。他虽能预言未来将要发生的事情，却不是为真神工作的先知。他是个违反神旨意，又贪恋不义之财的术士。
书13：22那时以色列人在所杀的人中，也用刀杀了比珥的儿子术士巴兰。
民24：1巴兰见耶和华喜欢赐福于以色列，就不像前两次去求法术，却面向旷野。
巴兰是撒旦的工具，他不是真神的先知。他靠着撒旦的能力来迷惑人，使人以为他是从真神那里来的。
启2：14然而，有几件事我要责备你，因为在你那里，有人服从了巴兰的教训。这巴兰曾教导巴勒将绊脚石放在以色列人面前，叫他们吃祭偶像之物，行奸淫的事。
民31：16这些妇女因巴兰的计谋，叫以色列人在毗珥的事上得罪耶和华，以致耶和华的会众遭遇瘟疫。
当巴兰咒诅以色列人却不成功的时候，就用计谋教导以色列民的敌人，将绊脚石放在以色列民的面前使他们犯罪，叫他们吃祭偶像之物和行奸淫的事导致色列民违反真神的诫命、得罪真神。
民31：7-87他们就照耶和华所吩咐摩西的，与米甸人打仗，杀了所有的男丁。8在所杀的人中，杀了米甸的五王，就是以未、利金、苏珥、户珥、利巴，又用刀杀了比珥的儿子巴兰。
这贪爱不义工价、违反真神旨意的术士，他的下场就是在战场上被杀死。
愿一切荣耀归於主耶稣基督。哈利路亚！阿们。
（圣经问答-2015年灵修会）
NUMBERS 22:7-13
7And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.
8And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.
9And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?
10And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,
11Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.
12And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
13And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.
From this passage, we can understand that the princes of Moab wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites.
Questions:
Who was Balaam? Was he a prophet of God?
Balaam was a prophet who loved the wages of unrighteousness and did not carry out the will of God. There were many instances whereby he wanted to curse the Israelites but never succeeded, for God prevented him from doing so.
2Pe 2:15-1615Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
Balaam was a soothsayer who greedily sought after sorcery. Although he had the ability to predict the future, he was not a prophet who worked for God. Instead, he transgressed against the will of God and loved the riches of unrighteousness.
Jos 13:22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.
Num 24:1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
Balaam was a tool of Satan and not a prophet of God. He deceived the people into believing that he wasa servant of God.
Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Num 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.
When Balaam failed to curse the Israelites, he taught the enemies of the Israelites to put a stumbling block before them (by teaching them to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality), causing them to break the commandments of God and to offend Him.
Num 31:7-87And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.8And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.
This soothsayer who loved the wages of unrighteousness and went against the will of God finally met his end when he was slain in war.
All glory be to the Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah, Amen.
(2015 Annual SpiritualNurture Meeting - Question and Answers)