Balak Summons Balaam

Balak and the Moabites were afraid of the children of Israel. The king and his people were believers in the power of the sorcerer and his incantations. Magic, the black art, and devil possession are the natural accompaniments of idolatry. Balak realized he needed more than human help to cope with the apparent power of Israel. Balak was planning to destroy Israel but was afraid to attempt it in his own strength.

He had heard of the effectiveness of Balaam's powers. In ancient times blessing and cursing were both common, as by Noah (Gen. 9:25—27), Isaac (Gen. 27:27), Jacob (Gen. 49), Joshua (Joshua 6:26), and Elisha (2 Kings 2:24). Similarly, Goliath prefaced his combat with David by calling down the curse of his gods upon the lad (1 Sam. 17:43). It is folly to seek to explain all the phenomena of heathen magic by assuming it to be merely trickery. Balaam is summoned. An apostate prophet plays with fire, in the hope of worldly gain. Balaam already knew of the Israelites and of God's attitude toward them. Nevertheless, he is greedy and agrees to try to curse Israel.