This verse reveals how Balaam hesitates to fully submit to God’s command and instead yields to the temptation of a more profitable possibility.
Balaam, a Gentile prophet who lived around 1406 BC near the Euphrates River, has been approached by the messengers of Balak, King of Moab. Moab was a region just east of the Dead Sea in the area that is now part of modern-day Jordan, inhabited by descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew (Genesis 19:36-38). In Numbers 22, Balak wants Balaam to curse the Israelites, who were encamped nearby while traveling to the Promised Land. Balaam initially refuses but remains open to hearing from the Lord regarding Balak’s request. Then he tells Balak’s messengers, “Now then, please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me” (v.19). Here, Balaam seems to be seeking another word from the Lord, despite having already received instructions that he should not curse Israel.
Balaam’s request to the men—“please stay here tonight”—signals that he is inclined to re-evaluate what God has already stated. By this time, Balaam knew that God had prohibited him from going to curse His chosen people (Numbers 22:12). Yet, the lure of rewards, along with Balak’s persistence, tempts Balaam to think that God’s command might be negotiable. “Now then, please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me” (v.19) underscores the tension between obeying God’s direct command and pursuing potential personal gain. Much like the New Testament warnings against greed (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11), Balaam’s decision-making is overshadowed by his possible desire for honor or wealth from Balak.
In our own lives, this verse reminds us that God’s instructions are not to be taken lightly or revised for convenience. Jesus Himself demonstrated unwavering obedience to the will of the Father (John 6:38). By looking at Balaam’s example, we see how easy it can be to ask God to adjust His commands to fit our desires, rather than humbly shaping our desires to His will. Far more faithful is the response that says, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant listens,” trusting that God’s Word is true and is always best for us.
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Numbers 22:19 meaning
Balaam, a Gentile prophet who lived around 1406 BC near the Euphrates River, has been approached by the messengers of Balak, King of Moab. Moab was a region just east of the Dead Sea in the area that is now part of modern-day Jordan, inhabited by descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew (Genesis 19:36-38). In Numbers 22, Balak wants Balaam to curse the Israelites, who were encamped nearby while traveling to the Promised Land. Balaam initially refuses but remains open to hearing from the Lord regarding Balak’s request. Then he tells Balak’s messengers, “Now then, please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me” (v.19). Here, Balaam seems to be seeking another word from the Lord, despite having already received instructions that he should not curse Israel.
Balaam’s request to the men—“please stay here tonight”—signals that he is inclined to re-evaluate what God has already stated. By this time, Balaam knew that God had prohibited him from going to curse His chosen people (Numbers 22:12). Yet, the lure of rewards, along with Balak’s persistence, tempts Balaam to think that God’s command might be negotiable. “Now then, please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the LORD will speak to me” (v.19) underscores the tension between obeying God’s direct command and pursuing potential personal gain. Much like the New Testament warnings against greed (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11), Balaam’s decision-making is overshadowed by his possible desire for honor or wealth from Balak.
In our own lives, this verse reminds us that God’s instructions are not to be taken lightly or revised for convenience. Jesus Himself demonstrated unwavering obedience to the will of the Father (John 6:38). By looking at Balaam’s example, we see how easy it can be to ask God to adjust His commands to fit our desires, rather than humbly shaping our desires to His will. Far more faithful is the response that says, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant listens,” trusting that God’s Word is true and is always best for us.