Numbers 23: Balaam Blesses Israel

Balak builds seven altars and offers sacrifices on high places, hoping Balaam will curse Israel. But God puts a word in Balaam's mouth, and he blesses them instead. Balak tries again from another place, and Balaam declares that God is not a man that He should lie; He has commanded to bless, and Balaam cannot reverse it.

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Read Numbers 23

World English Bible · 30 verses

¹ Balaam said to Balak, “Build here seven altars for me, and prepare here seven bulls and seven rams for me.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bull and a ram.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Balaam said to Balak, “Stand by your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me. Whatever he shows me I will tell you.” He went to a bare height.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ God met Balaam, and he said to him, “I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Yahweh put a word in Balaam’s mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ He returned to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ He took up his parable, and said, “From Aram has Balak brought me, the king of Moab from the mountains of the East. Come, curse Jacob for me. Come, defy Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? How shall I defy whom Yahweh has not defied?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ For from the top of the rocks I see him. From the hills I see him. Behold, it is a people that dwells alone, and shall not be listed among the nations.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Who can count the dust of Jacob, or count the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous! Let my last end be like his!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² He answered and said, “Must I not take heed to speak that which Yahweh puts in my mouth?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, where you may see them. You shall see just part of them, and shall not see them all. Curse them from there for me.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ He took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ He said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet God over there.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Yahweh met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, “Return to Balak, and say this.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ He came to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. Balak said to him, “What has Yahweh spoken?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ He took up his parable, and said, “Rise up, Balak, and hear! Listen to me, you son of Zippor.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and he won’t do it? Or has he spoken, and he won’t make it good?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ He has not seen iniquity in Jacob. Neither has he seen perverseness in Israel. Yahweh his God is with him. The shout of a king is among them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² God brings them out of Egypt. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; neither is there any divination with Israel. Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What has God done!’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ Behold, a people rises up as a lioness. As a lion he lifts himself up. He shall not lie down until he eats of the prey, and drinks the blood of the slain.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ Balak said to Balaam, “Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ But Balaam answered Balak, “Didn’t I tell you, saying, ‘All that Yahweh speaks, that I must do’?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks down on the desert.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars for me here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bull and a ram on every altar.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Numbers 23 · Preschool

God Says Bless

Name Date

Color Balaam on the mountain looking at God's people! God told him to bless them.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t reverse it.”

Numbers 23:20 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Nobody can stop God's blessing. God always keeps His promises.

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Numbers 23 · Grade 4

A Blessing No One Can Reverse

Name Date

Read and Think

Balak believed that the right place and the right sacrifices could turn God against Israel. He built seven altars on high ground where Balaam could see part of Israel's camp. But Yahweh met Balaam and put a word in his mouth.

The first message asked, How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? Balak was furious. He moved Balaam to the top of Pisgah, thinking a different view might work. Again God spoke through Balaam. God is not like people, who lie or change their minds. What He has said, He will do.

Balaam declared that God saw no wickedness to punish in Jacob, that Yahweh was with them, and that God had brought them out of Egypt. Balak tried a third place. God's blessing on His people does not depend on what enemies want.

Show What You Know

What did Balak believe would work?
Why did Balak move Balaam to Pisgah?
How is God different from people according to the oracle?
Who did Balaam say was with Israel?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

BalakliewordGodcurse

believed that the right place and the right sacrifices could turn God against Israel.
But Yahweh met Balaam and put a in his mouth.
The first message asked, How shall I whom God has not cursed?
Again spoke through Balaam.
God is not like people, who or change their minds.

Think About It

How does it help you to know God never lies?
Why can't anyone cancel what God has promised?

Memory Verse

“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and he won’t do it? Or has he spoken, and he won’t make it good?”

Numbers 23:19 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for keeping Your word. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why did Balak keep trying different places?
If God is for us, who can be against us?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Numbers 23 · Grade 5

God Is Not a Man

Name Date

Read and Think

Balak treated blessing and cursing like a technique. If he chose the right hill and offered enough, perhaps he could control the outcome. At Bamoth Baal, seven altars smoked with bulls and rams. But Yahweh met Balaam and put a word in his mouth. The first oracle said, How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? How shall I defy whom Yahweh has not defied? It described Israel as a people that dwells alone, too many to count like the dust.

Balak protested, I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them altogether. Balaam replied, Must I not take heed to speak that which Yahweh puts in my mouth? At the field of Zophim on Pisgah came the second oracle: God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and he won't do it? Behold, I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can't reverse it.

The oracle continued: Yahweh his God is with him. The shout of a king is among them. God brings them out of Egypt. There is no enchantment against Jacob. Balak said, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all, then tried a third place, Peor. Paul writes in Romans 8:31, If God is for us, who can be against us? In Christ, believers share the same secure blessing: every promise of God is Yes in Him (2 Corinthians 1:20).

Show What You Know

How did Balak treat blessing and cursing?
How did the first oracle describe Israel?
What did the second oracle say about God?
What did Balak finally say?
Which verse in Romans connects to this chapter?

Crossword

Across

Kept trying again.
Number of altars.
God is not a man that He should ____.

Down

What Balaam did instead of curse.
God does not ____ His mind.

Think About It

Why can't God's blessing be bought or controlled?
Which of God's promises do you most need to remember this week?

Memory Verse

“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and he won’t do it? Or has he spoken, and he won’t make it good?”

Numbers 23:19 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for keeping Your word. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What does it mean that God does not change His mind like people do?
Which promise of God can you trust this week?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Numbers 23: Balaam Blesses Israel

Read Numbers 23

Worksheets

God Says Bless

Prayer

Take It Home

God Blesses

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

God Never Lies

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Blessings Instead

Prayer

Take It Home

A Blessing, Not a Curse

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

God Is Not a Man That He Should Lie

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Blessings Instead

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

A Blessing No One Can Reverse

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

God Is Not a Man

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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