Don’t Be A Fool, Learn From The Donkey - Life Lessons From BalaamSample

The error of Balaam  

In Number 24:17, we read about the oracle of Balaam where he says "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: A star shall come forth from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall crush through the forehead of Moab . . ." To whom is he referring? It is to Jesus the Messiah. Isn't that amazing? 

But what did he do with it? In Numbers 31:16, we read that it was Balaam who counseled Balak and the kings of Midian to seduce the nation of Israel by indulging in sexual immorality with Moabite women. When he could not get the job done any other way, Balaam counseled Balak to entice the men of Israel to commit fornication with the daughters of Moab. 

Balaam showed Balak how to cause the people of Israel to disobey God's commandments, and these specific commandments that they disobeyed concerned idolatry and fornication.

Three times in the New Testament Balaam is mentioned—by Peter, by Jude and by John (in the book of Revelation). Peter speaks of false teachers who “have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness” (2Peter 2:15). Jude also talks of false teachers, saying, “Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error” (Jude 11). Then writing to the church at Pergamos, John reproved people who “hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:14).

Jude refers to Balaam’s error. Peter warned against “the way of Balaam,” and warned us that we should watch out for false prophets just as in ancient times. These false prophets were sensual, lustful and beguiled, unstable souls. They “have forsaken the right way and loved the wages of unrighteousness” (2Peter 2:15).

What began as the error of Balaam, had become so prevalent and widespread, that it had become a practice and a doctrine.

God evidently considers these warnings necessary and appropriate for Christians even today.

Unfortunately, many people are still running greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, “teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.” (Titus 1:11). They speak great swelling words of emptiness, “flattering people to gain advantage.” (Jude 1:16).

Balaam had a knowledge of right and wrong, and whenever he debated the issue, he came down on the side of convenience and financial gain. “What’s your motive?” is a question that needs to be answered anytime you have a tough choice to make.

Balaam mixed truth with falsehood and came out with a gospel that was no gospel at all. Have you fallen a prey to the error of Balaam? 

The very sad reality is, today, many people listen to a message that is tainted with Balaam’s philosophy, and they lack the discernment to know when someone departs from the truth and has corrupted the Word. Do you “rightly divide the word of truth?

Quote: 

“A time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the church will have clowns entertaining the goats.” – Charles Spurgeon

Prayer: 

Lord I pray that you would open my eyes to the false prophets of today and help me not to be drawn away from You. Amen