The Israelites Choose to Turn Away

"The people did eat, and bowed down to their gods."

Numbers 25:2

Balaam went to Balak and God made him bless the children of Israel when he wanted to curse them. But this didn't make Balaam good. He wanted the promised reward from Balak. So he told Balak that if he could make the people of Israel do something wicked and turn away from God, then God would punish them. 

So the two men sent women to the Israelites to invite them to a feast. The feast was to honor their idol Baal Peor. Many were foolish and accepted the invitation to the feast. They had made the choice to sin by going to the feast. God sent an illness and in one day 24,000 people died. 

But Phinehas, Aaron's grandson, did as Moses had commanded him. He first killed the wickedest of the people who had feasted and joined with Baal Peor. Then he prayed and cried over what had happened. The people prayed and cried too. God forgave them and stopped the illness.

Afterwards Phinehas led the Israelite men to punish Balak and his people. Balaam was killed during the fighting. All the wicked women who had tempted the Israelites were also killed. This ended Balaam's evil counsel. 

It's sad to think of Balaam, because he knew what was good and right to do but he chose to do the wrong thing. Remember that no one could hurt God's people until they chose to do wrong. Then God punished them. 

But today, because Jesus has come, God sees Jesus and how he died for our sins. He sees us through Jesus and gives us mercy and grace when we do the wrong things. 

QUESTIONS

1. What did Balak want to do?

2. How had Balak tried to hurt the children of Israel?

3. Why couldn't Balaam curse them ?

4. What did Balaam think would be the way to hurt them ?

5. Whom did he send to them ?

6. Whom did the women persuade them to worship ?

7. What did God send to punish them ?

8. How was the plague stopped ?

9. How was Balaam punished?

10. Why was Balaam to be blamed ?

11. When could not Balaam hurt the Israelites?

12. When could he hurt them?

13. For who took care of them when they were good ?

14. Who has saved us and offers us grace?

"There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel." Numbers 24:17

The Israelites wanted to pass through King Balak's land. They promised they would stay on the road and wouldn't leave it, but he was afraid of them. He'd heard the stories of the battles they'd fought with other kings. So Balak wanted to have the Israelites cursed. He wanted to bring God's anger on them. 

This was very mean of King Balak, but he didn't know God wouldn't let harm come upon his people. Balak tried to have the prophet Balaam curse the Israelites, but when Balaam spoke, he could only speak blessings over the people. He could only say that God was taking care of them and would be their king. He promised that a Star would come from the tribe of Jacob and a Sceptre would rise to be king. 

This meant that our Savior would come from the Israelites. This was Jesus. He was called a Star because He came to give us light. A bright star also marked the place where He was born. A sceptre is something a king carries in his hand. When Jesus is called the Sceptre it means that He will be king. 

Balak was very angry when Balaam didn't curse the Israelites but only blessed them. It wasn't God's will for him to hurt the Israelites. Balak went on with his wicked life and God continued to take care of his people. 

Remember that bad words and bad wishes do harm to the person who speaks them, not those they are meant for. If someone bullies you, know that God will take care of you just as he took care of the Israelites. Tell your parents or a pastor about the problem, and pray for the bully, because God loves him too. 

QUESTIONS

1. What did Balak want?

2. Why did he want the Israelites to be cursed?

3. Whom did he set to curse the Israelites?

4. But what did Balaam do instead?

5. Why could he not curse them ?

6. Who would not let him curse them ?

7. Who was to be born among them ?

8. What did Balaam call our Saviour?

9. Why was He like a star?

10. Why was He like a sceptre?

11. Could Balak hurt the Israelites?

12. Why not?

13. Whom do bad words hurt ?

14. Why do we need to watch what we say ?

15. What should you do if someone bullies you?