The Word the Lord Speaks

Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Numbers 22:1-14 NIV 

1 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho. 2 Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, 3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites. 4 The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field." So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said: "A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. 6 Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed." 7 The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said. 8 "Spend the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will report back to you with the answer the LORD gives me." So the Moabite officials stayed with him. 9 God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?" 10 Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: 11 'A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.' " 12 But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed." 13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak's officials, "Go back to your own country, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you." 14 So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After defeating the king of the Amorites and the king of Bashan, what did the Lord's people do? (v.1)
2) Who had noticed what Israel had done and how did the people and king of Moab respond to the presence of the Israelites in their land? Why? (v.2-6)
3) What did the elders of Moab and Midian do and how did the Prophet Balaam respond to them? (v.7-8)
4) What did the Lord ask the prophet and how did he respond? (v.9-11)
5) What did the Lord forbid Balaam to do? Why? (v.12)
6) What did the prophet tell Balak's elders and what did they do in response? (v.13-14)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Has the Lord ever given you specific instruction concerning your relationship(s) with others? If so, briefly describe one such instance and whether you were obedient to the Lord, or not. 

LIFE LESSONS
8) When the Lord God gives His people specific directives concerning our lives, He expects us to obey Him.