Balak Facts for 3-8 Year Olds

Stories about Balak occur in Numbers 22-24.
He is the son of Zippor, whose name means “sparrow.”
Scholars don’t know what Balak’s name means.
Balak is the king of Moab when the Israelites are on their way towards the Promised Land.
Moab is really scared of the Israelites because there are so many of them.
The Moabites don’t know that God has told Israel not to harm the Moabites but to pass them by. (See Deut. 2:8-9)
They think the Israelites will take all their food and wealth.
Again, the Moabites don’t know that God gives the Israelites manna every day, so the Israelites don’t need to take their food.
The Moabites and Midianites ask Balaam, a known prophet and diviner, to curse (or say bad words against) the Israelites.
They are willing to pay Balaam a lot of money to say bad things to hurt others.
When Balaam arrives, he asks God what to do, and God tells Balaam to bless the Israelites rather than curse them.
Then Balak gets really angry because Balaam didn’t do what Balak asked him to do. Instead, Balaam blessed the Israelites. Balak sends Balaam home and refuses to pay him.
Balaam can’t curse those whom God has blessed.