Jude#5 Balaam$ error

Balaam was a man whom God had gifted with prophecy.  He was well known because when King Balak wanted a 'voice of God' to the Hebrews, he consulted Balaam.  We are in Numbers 22-24 for this story which is so important in the scriptures that it appears in a warning to the churches in Revelation in Jesus' letters to the seven churches. To find out what the issue is with Balaam we have to tell the story.  Here is an overview but I'd recommend diving into this and watching the drama unfold.  Balak was concerned that the nation were to travel through and camp in his lands.  Balak summoned Balaam for a reward to dure God's people but Balaam was adamant that God would have to be consulted and curse the people in order to weaken them for battle.  Balak sent a second party of more distinguished people and thus greater reward.

This promise of more reward and probably prestige stirred Balaam's interest so he took his donkey and set off for Moab to consult with Balak.  On the journey an angel stood before them to stop Balaam.  The donkey could see the angel but God's Prophet (!) could not.  Selah.  Ballam beat the donkey leading to the donkey speaking to Balaam.  As this story unfolds It's good to see the Lord reminding men who are in his service that even a donkey can be made to speak God's word so let's be sober about our graces.  Balaam was made able to see the angel and was told the donkey saved his life. He was also told to only say what God was saying about the Hebrews regarding King Balak.

Balaam told Balak that he would only tell him what god was saying.  Every time Balak took Balaam to view the Hebrew nation camping Balaam made sacrifices and relayed God's blessing to His people.  Balak was furious and took him to a hand full of different places.  Each time Balak was told God's word - a general blessing on His people!  Balak finally told Balaam that he wasn't going to reward Balaam aven after Balaam reminded him that he did what he said he was going to do- relay God's word in the situation. Up to now we find Balaam can be seen as impressively obedient to the Lord.  But this is not the whole story.

In Numbers 25 we find the men of the chosen nation fornicating with the Moabite women and as a result a great judgement falls upon the Israelite (Deut 23:3-6).  It is not until Numbers 31:16 and then Revelation 2:14 do we find that this fornication was a result of Balaam teaching Balak how the people of God could curse themselves.  This was by breaking the Law of God, as stated Deut 23:3-6.  2 Pet 2:15 and of course, Jude, also identify Balaam as an outstanding example of false teaching.  So what exactly do we find with Balaam that speaks of today's false teachers?

Within the initial story we find that Balaam saw his God given gift as a means for earthly reward, namely money.  It is a strange thing we see occurring but I see it all the time in today's ministry.  Good men who have clearly been gifted use the graces of God for excessive personal gain.  Like Balaam they are unmoved by a small job, it has to include big platforms and big offerings.  In order to get the booty they are willing to sacrifice the people of God.  Maybe they aren't enticing the believers with sexual immorality and lawbreaking but certainly twisting the word of God to make it fit their perverse positions.

As we observe the Laodicean church we see the acceptance of  false teachers and their teaching.  It is mostly accepted among the prosperity preachers that money, 'things' and 'gain' are the objectives of the kingdom.  Balaam stands as the biblical example of someone who can talk the talk... yet behind the words and sound-byte declarations is a heart that will readily throw believers under the bus as long as the dollar is promised.

Judgement is coming.

Gary Ward