BALAAM, WHY?

“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality”. Revelation 2:14

The greatest havoc that can be wrath against the Christian faith or the community of Christ is not the gates of hades (the power of death and its pangs which are forces of hell), for it will never prevail upon it, but by such men and women as Balaam. He taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel.

The children of Israel moved and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan across from Jericho. Now Balak (the king of Moab) the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites and was exceedingly afraid.

He sent messengers to Balaam to come at once to curse the people for Balaam enjoyed the delegated authority of God to bless and to curse exclusively - an exclusive privilege that was acknowledged by Balak himself.

The Lord instructed him not to be a part of it. Upon his frequent and selfish enquires, he was permitted.
He met with Balak and affirmed that he has no power at all to say anything, except the word that God puts in his mouth. He was a liar! Balaam, you have no business at all in Moab. He was tempted by the filthy lucre, the goods of this world.

He later ended up blessing the children of Israel several times. Balak’s anger was aroused against Balaam and he said, have I not summoned thee to curse these people for me, but you have blessed them bountifully? Balaam replied, what the Lord says, that I must speak. But he went further, he advised Balak to make Israel curse themselves. He taught Balak to cast a stumbling block.

Israel went in and committed harlotry with the women of Moab. They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel.

There are so many that proclaim the non existence of God – some living in the highest level of morality they can and others with no regard at all for morality. I do not have much issue with them because even in their belief they affirm the possibility of ‘faith’ absolutely. But there are those, who claim God is alive and live as though he is dead. Balaam was a forerunner of them all.

I ask you, Balaam, where is your conscience? Why have you chosen to pollute your brethren? Is man not worth more than gold? Gold that perishes with its usage. Are we not destroying ourselves from within? - By these acts of selfishness, pride, radical liberalism (in the name of freedom), for prestige, to accrue honour and power.
Let us consider our ways!

OLD APOSTATE
“Woe to them!
For they have gone in the way of Cain
Have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit
And perished in the rebellion of Korah"
Jude 11

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