As the children of Israel were camped at the Jordan River by Jericho, a king named Balak saw them and was very afraid because he knew what they had done to the two other kings.

So he sent messengers to a man named Balaam who had power to say bad things over people and it will happen. The kings said,

There is a people who have come out of Egypt here beside me, so many of them that they cover the face of the earth. Come now and curse them for me so I will be strong enough to beat them.

When the messengers came to Balaam they told him the words of their king and Balaam said, Wait here tonight and I will tell you what the Lord says to me.

Then God came to Balaam and asked, Who are these men? Balaam told Him and God said, Do not go with them. Do not curse this people because they are blessed.

The next morning Balaam told them men God’s answer and sent them away. After a while the king sent higher messengers with more money. Balaam told them, I can only do what God tells me.

God came to Balaam and said, Go with the men, but only say what I tell you. So Balaam got up and saddled his donkey to go with them. But God became angry because Balaam badly wanted the money the king promised him.

God's angel stood in the path to stop the donkey but Balaam didn’t see Him, and Balaam hit the donkey. Then God stood in the path again and Balaam hit the donkey again.

After the third time, God opened the donkey’s mouth so the donkey could talk in a man’s voice. The donkey said, What have I done to you that you have hit me these three times? Balaam said, If I had a sword I would kill you.

Then God opened Balaam’s eyes and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the path with His sword drawn in His hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell flat on his face.

The Lord said to him, Why did you hit your donkey these three times. I stood against you because you are running fast into danger.

Then Balaam said, I have sinned. I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. I will go back.

Then God said, Go with the men, but only say what I tell you.

So Balaam went and met with the king whose name was Balak, who said, Why didn’t you come when I called for you. Am I not able to give you great honor?

Balaam answered him, I have come but I do not have power to say anything I want. The words that God puts in my mouth, that is all I can say.

The next day the king took Balaam up to the high place of a god of the bad one and they looked out over the farthest part of the children of Israel’s camp.

Balaam had the king’s men build 7 altars and offered sacrifices on the altars. Than Balaam went to talk with God.

God gave him the words and Balaam came back to the king and said, Balak called me from the mountains of the East saying, Come curse Israel for me. How can I curse what God has not cursed?

I see him from the tops of the rocks, as many as the dust on the ground. Let me die like he dies and let my end be like his.

The king got angry and said, I called you to hurt them and you have only helped them. Balaam answered, I can only say what God tells me to say.

Then the king said, Come, let’s go to another place. Maybe you can curse them from there. So they went to another mountain and built 7 altars there and offered sacrifices. Then Balaam went to meet with God and get His words to tell the king.

He came back and said to the king, God is not a man that he can lie or change His mind. He has blessed Israel and I cannot change it. He does not see sin or wrong in Israel because they are covered by His Promised One.

God is with them and the victory shout of His king is with them. God brought them out of Egypt. He has strength that can’t be beat. There can be no curses against them. The people will rise up like a lion and not lie down until they have prevailed.

Then king Balak smacked his hands together and said, Don't curse them at all or bless them at all. Balaam answered, I can only tell you what God said.

Then the king tried again. Let’s go over there, maybe you can curse them from there. So they went to the top of another mountain and built more 7 more altars.

When Balaam saw that God was happy to do good to Israel, to bless them, he didn’t go to ask God again, he just started saying good words over Israel, How happy are your tents, O Israel, like gardens along the rivers and cedar trees that God has planted.

The highest king of the world forever will come from you and your kingdom will be the highest and best ever.

God brought him out of Egypt saying, You are the strongest, you will eat up the nations. You will be as strong and untouchable as a lion. No one will mess with you. God will bless everyone who blesses you and harm everyone who hates you.

King Balak got angry and clapped his hands together, saying, I called you to hurt these people and you’ve done nothing but bless them, three times! Run from me quick and go back home. I was going to give you much honor and riches, but the Lord has kept you back from honor.

Balaam told him, I told you from the start that I could only say what God told me to say. Yes, I will go back to my people, but first let me tell you what these people will do to your people in the last days.

This is what Balaam says, the man whose eyes are open, who sees the Almighty, who knows the Most High God: I see Him, but not now. A star will come from Jacob and a ruler will rise out of Israel and strike the corners of your nation. Out of Jacob will come the One that will rule the universe forever.