The story of Balaam is an unusual one, and not just because of the talking donkey.
Balaam was a non-Israelite prophet who nevertheless worshipped the Israelite God. Strangely, he was summoned by Balak, the king of Moab, whose people worshipped Chemosh and Baal-peor (Numbers 21:29; 25:1-3), to curse the Israelites as they camped on the borders of his kingdom. His name may be derived from two Hebrew words meaning “not of the people.” He certainly was willing to stand alone, even in defiance of the king.
Balak sent two delegations asking Balaam to come to him and curse the Israelites. The first time, Balaam refused to come (Numbers 22:12-14). The second time, he agreed to come but with a clear warning: “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more” (Numbers 22:18). During the journey, Balaam has the strange interaction with his donkey and sees an angel with a drawn sword, all of which seems calibrated to fortify his resolve rather than to rebuke him, since the Lord had already told him to go. (See Numbers 22:20, 22-35.)
When Balaam meets the king, he says, “Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak” (Numbers 22:38). Three times, in three places, Balak offers sacrifices and commanded Balaam to curse Israel. All three times, Balaam blesses them. When the king complains, Balaam says, “Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth?” (Numbers 23:12). When the king tells him to just stop talking — “Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all” — Balaam responds, “All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do” (Numbers 23:25-26).
Finally, when Balak has had enough, Balaam pronounces his most direct prophecy: “There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth” (Numbers 24:17). Then, he goes home (Numbers 24:25).
Book of Mormon prophets were also determined to share messages from God with exactness. Samuel the Lamanite — also a foreigner “not of the people” — said, “because I am a Lamanite, and have spoken unto you the words which the Lord hath commanded me, and because it was hard against you, ye are angry with me” (Helaman 14:10). Abinadi rebuked the guards of King Noah when they were commanded to remove him, saying, “I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver; neither have I told you that which ye requested that I should tell” (Mosiah 13:3). And Mormon declared, “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life” (3 Nephi 5:13).
Today, I will emulate the integrity of Balaam. I will resolve to speak according to God’s will regardless of external pressures or influences.
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