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I’m Tom Nicholas — a pastor, teacher, and community builder living in Billings, Montana. My life and ministry flow from one heartbeat: to see the Church alive — Spirit-filled, rooted in Scripture, and moving with Jesus into the world. I serve as a pastor, chaplain, and mentor, helping people grow in faith, leadership, and everyday discipleship. Whether around a campfire, in a coffee shop, or through digital spaces, I believe the gospel belongs where life happens — in the field, among the people, and around the table. Through The Church Alive, I write about biblical leadership, spiritual formation, and building vibrant, missional communities that reflect the love and courage of Christ.

📖 Week 14 — Balak: Spiritual Opposition & God’s Protection

Main Reading: Numbers 22–25
Theme: Blessing vs. Curse, Spiritual Warfare, and God’s Faithfulness
Messianic Focus: Yeshua as the King Who Turns Curses Into Blessing

🌿 Overview

This portion introduces one of the Bible’s most dramatic confrontations between human hostility, spiritual deception, and God’s sovereign protection.

Israel is camping on the plains of Moab, preparing to enter the land.
Balak, king of Moab, is terrified.
He hires a pagan diviner, Balaam, to curse Israel.

But God steps in.

Instead of curses, Balaam speaks only blessing — because God Himself has blessed His people.

בָּרָךְ — Barakh

  • Pronounced: bah-RAKH
  • Meaning: to bless

קָלַל — Kalal

  • Pronounced: kah-LAHL
  • Meaning: to curse, to make light

Over and over, Balaam tries to curse, but blessing pours out instead.
This shows us a foundational truth of Scripture:

No weapon formed against God’s people can stand.

Yet the story takes a sharp turn — Balaam cannot curse Israel, but he can corrupt Israel.
He counsels Moab to seduce Israel spiritually and morally, leading them into idolatry and sexual immorality at Baal Peor.

This results in a deadly plague — until Pinchas stands up with righteous zeal (Week 15).

Balak reveals two realities:

  • Spiritual attack is real
  • God’s protection is stronger

🌿 Key Scriptures

TopicScripture
Balak summons BalaamNum. 22:1–21
Balaam’s donkey sees the angelNum. 22:22–35
First oracle — Israel blessedNum. 23:1–12
Second oracle — God is not a manNum. 23:13–26
Third oracle — Israel’s beautyNum. 24:1–9
Fourth oracle — the coming starNum. 24:15–25
Israel seduced at Baal PeorNum. 25:1–9

🌿 Supporting Readings

  • Prophets / Writings: Psalm 91; Micah 6:5; Joshua 24:9–10
  • Messianic Writings: 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11; Revelation 2:14

🌿 Hebrew Notes (Integrated)

1. Barakh — בָּרָךְ — “to bless”

A blessing is an impartation of life, favor, and divine goodwill.

2. Kalal — קָלַל — “to curse / to make light”

A curse reduces, diminishes, and destroys — the opposite of blessing.

3. Malakh — מַלְאָךְ — “angel / messenger”

  • Pronounced: mah-LAHKH
    The malakh of the LORD stands in Balaam’s path.

4. Peor — פְּעוֹר — “opening, gap”

The place of Israel’s fall into idolatry and immorality.

5. Qesem — קֶסֶם — “divination, sorcery”

Forbidden by God — Balaam’s profession before God intervenes.

🌿 Messianic Connection

This portion contains one of the clearest Messianic prophecies in the Torah:

**“A Star will come out of Jacob,

A Scepter will rise out of Israel.”**
— Numbers 24:17

Jewish and Christian tradition both understand this as a prophecy of the Messiah-King.

Yeshua fulfills this as:

  • The Star (light of the world — John 8:12)
  • The Scepter (King of kings — Revelation 19:16)
  • The One who blesses instead of curses
  • The One who defeats spiritual darkness
  • The One who protects His people from evil

Balak and Balaam attempt to curse Israel — but blessing comes out instead.
This foreshadows the cross itself:

What the enemy meant for destruction,

God turned into salvation.

Just as Balaam spoke blessing,
those who opposed Messiah unknowingly fulfilled prophecy.

🌿 Moral and Spiritual Application

Balak teaches us several essential truths for the life of faith:

1. Spiritual warfare is real.

Opposition, temptation, and deception are part of the journey.

2. God’s blessing cannot be reversed.

No curse, occult practice, or demonic intent can overturn what God has spoken.

3. The enemy changes tactics.

When he cannot curse, he seeks to seduce — through idolatry, compromise, immorality, or spiritual complacency.

4. God’s people must practice discernment.

Like Israel, we are often most vulnerable right after great victory.

5. Messiah is the ultimate protector.

He turns curses into blessing, breaks spiritual chains, and leads us in truth.

🕎 7-Day Devotional

DayReadingFocusHebrew NoteMessianic Insight
Day 1Num. 22:1–14Balak’s fearKalal — curseThe enemy fears God’s people.
Day 2Num. 22:15–21God controls Balaam—God overrules evil intentions.
Day 3Num. 22:22–35Donkey & angelMalakh — angelMessiah opens blind eyes.
Day 4Num. 23First blessingsBarakh — blessMessiah speaks life, not death.
Day 5Num. 24:1–14Future hope—Messiah’s kingdom cannot be stopped.
Day 6Num. 24:15–25Star & Scepter—Prophecy of Messiah revealed.
Day 7Num. 25Seduction at PeorPeorMessiah calls us to purity.

🌿 Discussion Questions

  1. Why is Balak so afraid of Israel?
  2. What does this portion teach us about God’s sovereignty in spiritual warfare?
  3. How does Balaam’s inability to curse Israel encourage your own walk with God?
  4. Why is seduction often more dangerous than direct attack?
  5. What does Numbers 24:17 reveal about Messiah’s identity?

🌿 Prayer Focus

Ask God to expose and defeat any source of spiritual opposition in your life.
Pray for discernment, purity, and trust in the One who turns every curse into blessing.

🌿 Memory Verse

Numbers 23:19 —
“God is not a man, that He should lie…
Has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

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