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For a master copy of the outline, click here: The Story of Balaam
To Listen on YouTube, click here: Balaam (Part 04) - (Num 22:15-17) - Balaam's Second Meeting with the Princes of Moab
VI. Num 22:15-21 - Balaam's second meeting with the princes
1. Balak then sends more princes again to Balaam, this time more honorable princes (Num 22:15).
A. Balak is obviously hoping that the presence of prestigious men would tempt Balaam to disobey God.
B. Beware of the man who doesn't respect your convictions and keeps trying to persuade you to disobey God.
C. We must never honour the person of the mighty (Lev 19:15).
i. God himself doesn't respect persons (Act 10:34; Rom 2:11).
ii. Our Lord Jesus was known for not respecting persons (Mat 22:16).
iii. The apostle Paul was unaffected by men who appeared to something special (Gal 2:6).
iv. The man of God is warned against showing any partiality (1Ti 5:21).
v. Christians are not to show favor to the rich (Jam 2:1-9).
vi. The wicked have persons in admiration because of advantage (Jud 1:16).
2. The princes again try to persuade Balaam to come to Balak (Num 22:16).
A. God had already said that Balaam was not to go with them (Num 22:12).
B. They knew that God had told him not to go with them, so they were in essence saying, "Don't let God stop you from coming to Balak."
C. We ought to obey God rather than men (Act 4:19-20; Act 5:29).
D. When princes require us to do things that God has forbidden, we must deny them (Dan 3:14-18).
E. When princes forbid us to do something that God requires, we must deny them (Dan 6:6-10).
3. Balak promises to promote Balaam to very great honour if he would just disobey God (Num 22:17).
A. God promises that those that honour Him will be honoured, but those that disobey Him will be lightly esteemed (1Sa 2:30).
i. King Balak promised Balaam just the opposite.
ii. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes (Psa 118:9; Psa 146:3).
B. Even if we would get honour from men, there is nothing worth disobeying God for (Mat 22:37-38).
C. The way to honour and exaltation is by humbling oneself, not by proudly disobeying God (Jam 4:6,10; 1Pe 5:5-6).
i. Honour comes by humility and the fear of the LORD (Pro 22:4).
ii. Never believe a person who promises to honour you for disobeying God: a godly person only honours someone who fears God (Psa 15:4).
For a master copy of the outline, click here: The Story of Balaam
