The LORD met Balaam, told him what to say, and sent him back to Balak to give him his message.

But the angel said, "Go on with these men, but say only what I tell you to say." So Balaam went on with them.

I will send them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will tell him what to say, and he will tell the people everything I command.

We may make our plans, but God has the last word.

You may make your plans, but God directs your actions.

I stretched out the heavens and laid the earth's foundations; I say to Jerusalem, 'You are my people! I have given you my teaching, and I protect you with my hand.' "

And I make a covenant with you: I have given you my power and my teachings to be yours forever, and from now on you are to obey me and teach your children and your descendants to obey me for all time to come."

Then the LORD reached out, touched my lips, and said to me, "Listen, I am giving you the words you must speak.

For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."

Actually, he did not say this of his own accord; rather, as he was High Priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus was going to die for the Jewish people,