“And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor?”
This verse is part of the story of Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet who was summoned by King Balak of Moab to curse the Israelites. However, instead of cursing them, Balaam ended up blessing the Israelites under divine influence. Numbers 22:37 captures a moment in this narrative when Balak questions Balaam about his failure to promptly respond to the king’s initial summons.
The story begins in Numbers 22:1-6, where Balak, the king of Moab, becomes fearful of the Israelites as they journey through the wilderness. He recognizes their military strength and fears their potential to overpower him and his people. In response to this fear, Balak seeks the services of Balaam, a renowned diviner, to curse the Israelites and thwart their progress.
Balak sends messengers to Balaam, offering him rewards and honors in return for cursing the Israelites. Balaam consults with God regarding the request, and although initially forbidden to go with the messengers, God permits Balaam to accompany them but to only speak the words that God gives him.
When Balaam sets out on his journey to meet Balak, his donkey encounters an angel of the Lord blocking their path. The donkey refuses to move forward, causing Balaam to become frustrated and strike the animal. After three instances of this happening, God opens the donkey’s mouth, and it speaks to Balaam, rebuking him for his mistreatment.
Eventually, Balaam arrives in Moab and meets with Balak. This is the point mentioned in Numbers 22:37, where Balak questions Balaam about his delayed response to the initial summons. Balak had expected Balaam to immediately heed his call, as he believed he had the power to promote Balaam to honor and prestige.
This verse reveals the worldly ambitions of Balak, who believed that his own influence and authority could elevate Balaam’s status. However, it also highlights the providential nature of Balaam’s journey, as God intervened to prevent Balaam from speaking curses upon the Israelites.
The story of Balaam continues in the subsequent chapters of Numbers, where Balaam blesses the Israelites instead of cursing them three times, at the prompting of the Spirit of God. These blessings pronounced by Balaam proclaim the greatness and favor of God upon the Israelites, much to the frustration of Balak.
Overall, Numbers 22:37 illustrates the clash between the desires and ambitions of a worldly king, Balak, and the divine intervention and guidance of God in the life of Balaam. It emphasizes the sovereignty of God over human affairs and serves as a reminder that God’s plans and purposes ultimately prevail, even when confronted with the ambitions of powerful individuals.
