Biblical Leadership Part 3

Hershey H. Friedman, Ph.D. Balaam Balaam was a prophet with unique capabilities: Balak, king of Moab said about him that "whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is accursed" (Numbers 22:6). He also had the ability to see into the distant future and prophesied the futures of Moab, Edom, Seir, Amalek, and Assyria (Numbers 24:17-24). It is not surprising that leaders of countries such as Moab and Midian would consult with him. What did Balaam do with his exceptional talents? He became a hired gun and cursed people for a fee. In fact, elders of Moab and Midian hired him to curse the Israelites who were about to enter the Promised Land. Balaam realized that the Israelites were no threat to either Moab or Midian since their route into the Promised Land would not require that they attack either country. Moreover, the Israelites were specifically commanded not to harm Moab (Deuteronomy 2:9). Balaam could have told the Moabites and Midianites not to worry about the Israelites since they would not invade their country when conquering the land of Canaan. Even though God initially told him not to go along with Balak’s entourage and not to curse the Hebrews because they were blessed (Numbers 22:12), Balaam was finally able to get permission to go. It is obvious that his intention was to find a way to convince God to allow him to curse the Hebrews and this is why an angel with a drawn sword was sent to punish Balaam (Numbers 22:22-23). Balaam did not curse the Hebrews -- in fact God made him bless them -- but did advise the Midianites and Moabites to use their women to seduce the Israelites (Numbers 31:16) and then get them to worship the idol Baal Peor. His advice resulted in the deaths of 24,000 Hebrews through a plague that was a divine punishment for the idolatry and sexual immorality. Balaam was eventually killed by the Hebrews in Midian together with five of the Midianite kings (Numbers 31:8). Balaam is a good example of an individual who misused his divine abilities rather than using them to improve humankind as did other prophets (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah). He was driven by greed and hatred, not by love of humankind and justice. Leaders, including those heading businesses, should not follow in the footsteps of Balaam but should be inspired by Isaiah’s message (Isaiah 1:17): "Learn to do good, seek justice, vindicate the victim, render justice to the orphan, take up the grievance of the widow."

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Biblical Leadership Part 3

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