Be careful of seduction.

The seduction of the Israelites and the death of 24,000 is, at its roots, the result of one man’s counsel. The man is Balaam. It is not easy to say why the Israelites submitted to the temptations instigated by Balaam (Num. 31:8, 16). Perhaps they were feeling flushed with victory, and even though they were conscious of their covenant obligations, they felt superior to the moral laws enshrined by those commitments.

At the heart of seduction is the promise of prosperity. The devil knows that people who idolise prosperity, comfort, and security and promise prosperity to further his deception. He seduces some by “secular” promises of prosperity—whether by hard work, deceit, or get-rich-quick schemes—and others by a religious prosperity gospel. Regardless, his promise of prosperity strikes at the heart of our desires.

The problem with the devil’s promises is the shallowness of the “beauty” he holds before us. The prosperity with which he tempts us looks attractive in the moment, but it always conceals something more sinister. Satan promises us that we get what we see, but usually, we find out that the cost is far greater than we imagined. The “beauty” of sexual “freedom” conceals the pain of broken relationships. The “beauty” of career advancement hides the pain of losing our children. The “beauty” of more possessions hides the crushing weight of debt and all the deep anxiety that attends it. There is always a greater cost than we can imagine.

In Revelation 2:14, the church of Pergamum is scolded for tolerating the “teaching of Balaam,” or the “doctrine of Balaam.” Balaam’s name is also invoked in 2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 1:11, both warnings about the conduct and messages of false teachers. According to 2 Peter 2:15, Balaam’s “way” is a choice to promote falsehood for financial reasons. According to Jude 1:11, Balaam’s “error” was his willingness to accommodate pagan beliefs out of greed. Jude 1:4 also refers to the sin of those “who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality.” One trait of false teachers in the church is that they attempt to turn Christian liberty into a “freedom” to be promiscuous (see Romans 14:1–5).

Putting these ideas together gives a clear view of the doctrine of Balaam. It is the attitude that one can be fully cooperative with the world and still serve God. The doctrine of Balaam teaches compromise, wanting Christians to forget they are called to be separate and holy (Leviticus 20:26; 1 Peter 1:2); the doctrine of Balaam makes believers indistinguishable from the unbelieving world (Matthew 5:13). The doctrine of Balaam is a belief that “a little sin” doesn’t hurt (Galatians 5:9), especially if there’s some financial or personal benefit involved (1 Timothy 6:5). A person following the doctrine of Balaam is willing to compromise his beliefs for the sake of economics. He acts to enable sinful behaviours for personal gain or even participate in them (Romans 1:32).

Christians today are being deceived by a more subtle and seductive worldview than before. The latest fashionable philosophies promise to make us happier, healthier, better educated, and more spiritual. We must know the difference between the original and the counterfeit. Only then can we hope to escape the seduction.

Application Questions:

1. What tactics does Satan use to entice us to get off the path that leads to God?

2. What attitude or activity, a habit or a tendency, do you need to deal a death blow to let God’s blessings flow?

Quote:

Today, the greatest challenge facing evangelicals is not persecution from the world, but seduction by the world. - C. H. Mahaney

Prayer:

Lord, I pray that in this world of so many false teachings, help me to know your original Word so that I may not be seduced with the new teachings. Help me to be like the Bereans, to be a faithful student of your Word. Amen.