Numbers 22-24: It's All in What You See

All of a sudden the story shifts from the children of Israel to a previously unknown character, Balaam of Pethor. The Israelites have defeated Sihon and Og and their reputation is spreading.  The Moabites complained to Balak their king that they were going to be swallowed up by the vast 'horde' of Israelites  so he summons Balaam, the seer.

God spoke to Balaam.  Sometimes he heard him and sometimes he didn't.  Sometimes he saw him and sometimes he didn't.  Baalam's donkey wasn't as dumb. as they are commonly thought to be.  He saw the angel of the Lord and refused to move.  It took a dumb donkey to tell Balaam that he shouldn't be going forward. 

Finally, after the angel of the Lord extracts a promise from Balaam that he will only speak what God tells him to speak, Balaam meets with Balak.  The people living in the land were known for building altars to their gods on high places, so Balak takes Balaam up to Bamoth Baal where they build an altar to make a sacrifice.  Balaam leaves Balak beside the offering and goes to see what God will say.  The first oracle isn't what Balak wants to hear or what Balaam wants to proclaim.  Neither is the second or the third.  Balaam tells Balak that God doesn't lie or change his mind.   "No misfortune is seen in Jacob, no misery observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout of the King is among them." - Numbers 23:21 NIV

Then Balaam looks out over the Israelites and sees what God sees:
"How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!
 "Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river,
like aloes planted by the LORD, like cedars beside the waters.
Water will flow from their buckets; their seed will have abundant water.
Numbers 24:5-7 NIV

Finally, both Balak and Balaam decide it is useless.  Balaam can only repeat what God says and that isn't what Balak wants to hear.  With a parting shot Balaam goes back home:
 "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel." - Numbers 24:17 NIV

On his way home, Balaam cannot help but utter his final oracle as he passes the Amalekites and the Kenites.  Woe to any of those living in the land that oppose God's people.  And the Israelites, what do they see?  Do they see that God's hand is on them, do they see the star that will come out of Jacob, the scepter that will rise out of Israel?  Do they see that God's hand is on them, that he will not let go?   Or are they too busy looking at the pretty Moabite women?