Not Just the Son of My Father

Reading:   Numbers 24:1-9

Balaam, having seen a vision and interacted with an angel of God, turned away from the enchantments he once practiced.  He knew of God's esteem for the Israelites and refused to curse them.  Balaam preached instead of their greatness, much to the chagrin of those wishing the Israelites destroyed, and, because of his defiance of man, received additional visions...

NUMBERS 24:2-5

2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him. 

3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: 

4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 

5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! 

The most interesting part of these verses is the fact that Balaam does not simply refer to himself as "Balaam the son of Boer" but that he also acknowledges that he is "...the man whose eyes are open."  He refers to himself in this manner several additional times and does so in an effort to glorify not himself but the God who blessed him, opened up his eyes, and allowed him to live and become a voice unto Him.

~Kipling