Beginning of the End - Ellen G. White

hint that he could expect him to curse Israel. Balak looked with
scorn on the prophet's compromising, deceptive ways, and
exclaimed fiercely, "Now therefore, flee to your place. I said I
would greatly honor you, but in fact, the Lord has kept you back
from honor." The answer was that the king had been warned ahead
of time that Balaam could speak only the message given him from
God.
Before returning to his people, Balaam uttered a beautiful
prophecy of the world's Redeemer and the final destruction of the
enemies of God:
I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall
come out of Jacob, A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the
brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.
He closed by predicting the complete destruction of Moab and
Edom, of Amalek and the Kenites, and so left the Moabite king with
no ray of hope.
Disappointed in his hopes for wealth and promotion, and
conscious that he had brought on himself the displeasure of God,
Balaam returned from his self-chosen mission. The controlling
power of the Spirit of God left him, and his covetousness took over.
He was ready to do anything to get the reward promised by Balak.
Balaam knew that the prosperity of Israel depended on their
obedience to God. There was no way to conquer them except by
leading them into sin.
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