patriarchs and prophets-第102节

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people　with　the　intent　to　paralyze　their　strength；　while　he　had　not　power
even　to　slay　the　animal　upon　which　he　rode！

The　eyes　of　Balaam　were　now　opened；　and　he　beheld　the　angel　of　God　standing
with　drawn　sword　ready　to　slay　him。　In　terror　〃he　bowed　down　his　head；　and
fell　flat　on　his　face。〃　The　angel　said　to　him；　〃Wherefore　hast　thou　smitten
thine　ass　these　three　times？　Behold；　I　went　out　to　withstand　thee；　because
thy　way　is　perverse　before　me：　and　the　ass　saw　me；　and　turned　from　me　these
three　times：　unless　she　had　turned　from　me　surely　now　also　I　had　slain　thee；
and　saved　her　alive。〃

Balaam　owed　the　preservation　of　his　life　to　the　poor　animal　that　he　had
treated　so　cruelly。　The　man　who　claimed　to　be　a　prophet　of　the　Lord；　who
declared　that　his　eyes　were　open；　and　he　saw　the　〃vision　of　the　Almighty；〃
was　so　blinded　by　covetousness　and　ambition　that　he　could　not　discern　the
angel　of　God　visible　to　his　beast。　〃The　god　of　this　world　hath　blinded　the
minds　of　them　which　believe　not。〃　2　Corinthians　4：4。　How　many　are　thus
blinded！　They　rush　on　in　forbidden　paths；　transgressing　the　divine　law；　and
cannot　discern　that　God　and　His　angels　are　against　them。　Like　Balaam　they
are　angry　at　those　who　would　prevent　their　ruin。

Balaam　had　given　evidence　of　the　spirit　that　controlled　him；　by　his
treatment　of　his　beast。　〃A　righteous　man　regardeth　the　life　of　his　beast：
but　the　tender　mercies　of　the　wicked　are　cruel。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　443

Proverbs　12：10。　Few　realize　as　they　should　the　sinfulness　of　abusing　animals
or　leaving　them　to　suffer　from　neglect。　He　who　created　man　made　the　lower
animals　also；　and　〃His　tender　mercies　are　over　all　His　works。〃　Psalm　145：9。
The　animals　were　created　to　serve　man；　but　he　has　no　right　to　cause　them
pain　by　harsh　treatment　or　cruel　exaction。

It　is　because　of　man's　sin　that　〃the　whole　creation　groaneth　and　travaileth
in　pain　together。〃　Romans　8：22。　Suffering　and　death　were　thus　entailed；　not
only　upon　the　human　race；　but　upon　the　animals。　Surely；　then；　it　becomes　man
to　seek　to　lighten；　instead　of　increasing；　the　weight　of　suffering　which　his
transgression　has　brought　upon　God's　creatures。　He　who　will　abuse　animals
because　he　has　them　in　his　power　is　both　a　coward　and　a　tyrant。　A
disposition　to　cause　pain；　whether　to　our　fellow　men　or　to　the　brute
creation；　is　satanic。　Many　do　not　realize　that　their　cruelty　will　ever　be
known；　because　the　poor　dumb　animals　cannot　reveal　it。　But　could　the　eyes　of
these　men　be　opened；　as　were　those　of　Balaam；　they　would　see　an　angel　of　God
standing　as　a　witness；　to　testify　against　them　in　the　courts　above。　A　record
goes　up　to　heaven；　and　a　day　is　coming　when　judgment　will　be　pronounced
against　those　who　abuse　God's　creatures。

When　he　beheld　the　messenger　of　God；　Balaam　exclaimed　in　terror；　〃I　have
sinned；　for　I　knew　not　that　thou　stoodest　in　the　way　against　me：　now
therefore；　if　it　displease　thee；　I　will　get　me　back　again。〃　The　Lord
suffered　him　to　proceed　on　his　journey；　but　gave　him　to　understand　that　his
words　should　be　controlled　by　divine　power。　God　would　give　evidence　to　Moab
that　the　Hebrews　were　under　the　guardianship　of　Heaven；　and　this　He　did
effectually　when　He　showed　them　how　powerless　Balaam　was　even　to　utter　a
curse　against　them　without　divine　permission。

The　king　of　Moab；　being　informed　of　the　approach　of　Balaam；　went　out　with　a
large　retinue　to　the　borders　of　his　kingdom；　to　receive　him。　When　he
expressed　his　astonishment　at　Balaam's　delay；　in　view　of　the　rich　rewards
awaiting　him；　the　prophet's　answer　was；　〃Lo；　I　am　come　unto　thee：　have　I　now
any　power　at　all　to　say　anything？　the　word　that　God　putteth　in　my　mouth；
that　shall　I　speak。〃　Balaam　greatly　regretted　this　restriction；　he　feared
that　his　purpose　could　not　be　carried　out；　because　the　Lord's　controlling
power　was　upon　him。

With　great　pomp　the　king；　with　the　chief　dignitaries　of　his

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kingdom；　escorted　Balaam　to　〃the　high　places　of　Baal；〃　from　which　he　could
survey　the　Hebrew　host。　Behold　the　prophet　as　he　stands　upon　the　lofty
height；　looking　down　over　the　encampment　of　God's　chosen　people。　How　little
do　the　Israelites　know　of　what　is　taking　place　so　near　them！　How　little　do
they　know　of　the　care　of　God；　extended　over　them　by　day　and　by　night！　How
dull　are　the　perceptions　of　God's　people！　How　slow　are　they；　in　every　age；
to　comprehend　His　great　love　and　mercy！　If　they　could　discern　the　wonderful
power　of　God　constantly　exerted　in　their　behalf；　would　not　their　hearts　be
filled　with　gratitude　for　His　love；　and　with　awe　at　the　thought　of　His
majesty　and　power？

Balaam　had　some　knowledge　of　the　sacrificial　offerings　of　the　Hebrews；　and
he　hoped　that　by　surpassing　them　in　costly　gifts　he　might　secure　the
blessing　of　God　and　ensure　the　accomplishment　of　his　sinful　projects。　Thus
the　sentiments　of　the　idolatrous　Moabites　were　gaining　control　of　his　mind。
His　wisdom　had　become　foolishness；　his　spiritual　vision　was　beclouded；　he
had　brought　blindness　upon　himself　by　yielding　to　the　power　of　Satan。

By　Balaam's　direction　seven　altars　were　erected；　and　he　offered　a　sacrifice
upon　each。　He　then　withdrew　to　a　〃high　place；〃　to　meet　with　God；　promising
to　make　known　to　Balak　whatever　the　Lord　should　reveal。

With　the　nobles　and　princes　of　Moab　the　king　stood　beside　the　sacrifice；
while　around　them　gathered　the　eager　multitude；　watching　for　the　return　of
the　prophet。　He　came　at　last；　and　the　people　waited　for　the　words　that
should　paralyze　forever　that　strange　power　exerted　in　behalf　of　the　hated
Israelites。　Balaam　said：

　　　　　　　　〃The　king　of　Moab　hath　brought　me　from　Aram；
　　　　　　　　Out　of　the　mountains　of　the　east；
　　　　　　　　Saying；　Come；　curse　me　Jacob；
　　　　　　　　And　come；　defy　Israel。
　　　　　　　　How　shall　I　curse；　whom　God　hath　not　cursed？
　　　　　　　　Or　how　shall　I　defy；　whom　the　Lord　hath　not　defied？
　　　　　　　　For　from　the　top　of　the　rocks　I　see　him；
　　　　　　　　And　from　the　hills　I　behold　him：
　　　　　　　　Lo；　the　people　shall　dwell　alone；
　　　　　　　　And　shall　not　be　reckoned　among　the　nations。
　　　　　　　　Who　can　count　the　dust　of　Jacob；
　　　　　　　　And　the　number　of　the　fourth　part　of　Israel？
　　　　　　　　Let　me　die　the　death　of　the　righteous；
　　　　　　　　And　let　my　last　end　be　like　his！〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　447


Balaam　confessed　that　he　came　with　the　purpose　of　cursing　Israel；　but　the
words　he　uttered　were　directly　contrary　to　the　sentiments　of　his　heart。　He
was　constrained　to　pronounce　blessings；　while　his　soul　was　filled　with
curses。

As　Balaam　looked　upon　the　encampment　of　Israel　he　beheld　with　astonishment
the　evidence　of　their　prosperity。　They　had　been　represented　to　him　as　a
rude；　disorganized　multitude；　infesting　the　country　in　roving　bands　that
were　a　pest　and　terror　to　the　surrounding　nations；　but　their　appearance　was
the　reverse　of　all　this。　He　saw　the　vast　extent　and　perfect　arrangement　of
their　camp；　everything　bearing　the　marks　of　thorough　discipline　and　order。
He　was　shown　the　favor　with　which　God　regarded　Israel；　and　their　distinctive
character　as　His　chosen　people。　They　were　not　to　stand　upon　a　level　with
other　nations；　but　to　be　exalted　above　them　all。　〃The　people　shall　dwell
alone；　and　shall　not　be　reckoned　among　the　nations。〃　At　the　time　when　these
words　were　spoken　the　Israelites　had　no　permanent　settlement；　and　their
peculiar　character；　their　manners　and　customs；　were　not　familiar　to　Balaam。
But　how　strikingly　was　this　prophecy　fulfilled　in　the　afterhistory　of
Israel！　Through　all　the　years　of　their　captivity；　through　all　the　ages　since
they　were　dispersed　among　the　nations；　they　have　remained　a　distinct　people。
So　the　people　of　Godthe　true　Israelthough　scattered　throughout　all
nations；　are　on　earth　but　sojourners；　whose　citizenship　is　in　heaven。

Not　only　was　Balaam　shown　the　history　of　the　Hebrew　people　as　a　nation；　but
he　beheld　the　increase　and　prosperity　of　the　true　Israel　of　God　to　the　close
of　time。　He　saw　the　special　favor　of　the　Most　High　attending　those　who　love
and　fear　Him。　He　saw　them　supported　by　His　arm　as　they　enter　the　dark　valley
of　the　shadow　of　death。　And　he　beheld　them　coming　forth　from　their　graves；
crowned　with　glory；　honor；　and　immortality。　He　saw　the　redeemed　rejoicing　in
the　unfading　glories　of　the　earth　made　new。　Gazing　upon　the　scene；　he
exclaimed；　〃Who　can　count　the　dust　of　Jacob；　and　the　number　of　the　fourth
part　of　Israel？〃　And　as　he　saw　the　crown　of　glory　on　every　brow；　the　joy
beaming　from　every　countenance；　and　looked　forward　to　that　endless　life　of
unalloyed　happiness；　he　uttered　the　solemn　prayer；　〃Let　me　die　the　death　of
the　righteous；　and　let　my　last　end　be　like　his！〃

448


If　Balaam　had　had　a　disposition　to　accept　the　light　that　God　had　given；　he
would　now　have　made　true　his　words；　he　would　at　once　have　severed　all
connection　with　Moab。　He　would　no　longer　have　presumed　upon　the　mercy　of
God；　but　would　have　returned　to　Him　with　deep　repentance。　But　Balaam　loved
the　wages　of　unrighteousness；　and　these　he　was　determined　to　secure。

Balak　had　confidently　expected　a　curse　that　would　fall　like　a　withering
blight　upon　Israel；　and　at　the　words