THEOSISMichail Cheraskov
Was Balaam a genuine prophet of the Lord or simply a pagan sage? Church fathers and scholars remain divided on this matter. However, based on the plain and immediate context of the Mosaic account, Balaam can be categorized among the authentic prophets of God. The Apostle Peter refers to him as a prophet (2 Pet. 2:16). Indeed, Balaam consistently speaks and acts in the name of Jehovah, whom he explicitly identifies as his God (Num. 22:8-9, 12, 18-20; Num. 23:4-5, 16). The very prophecy delivered by Balaam, which has been embraced by the Christian Church and grandly depicts the future kingdom of the Messiah, does not suggest that it could originate from a sorcerer; for what fellowship can light have with darkness?
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Balaam even commends God's people for being free from hostility and enchantment, expressing a desire to die among them (Num. 23:10, 23). All of this leads us to conclude that Balaam was among those whom God raised up among the nations to glorify His name and reveal the promise of salvation for humanity. This is why the wise men from Persia, who journeyed guided by a star to worship the newborn Savior in Bethlehem, are reasonably considered by some early church fathers to be descendants of Balaam, who prophesied about the star that would rise from Jacob (Num. 24:17). The moral decline and tragic fate of Balaam serve as a reminder that even a friend of God can become His adversary, that God’s gifts may sometimes be bestowed upon unworthy vessels, and that the gift of prophecy itself is not an infallible indication of a person's spiritual stature. Just as Saul prophesied at one time, so too was a revelation given to the exceedingly wicked Nebuchadnezzar (Theodoret, v. 44 on Num.). On the day of judgment, many will assert, "Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name?" Yet the Lord will respond, "I never knew you..." (Matthew 7:22). Thus, the Apostle reminds us: “If I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries..., but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Cor. 13:2).