The Doctrine of Balaam

Hello everyone,

How are you doing today? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“These false teachers left the right road and lost their way, following the way Balaam went. Balaam was the son of Beor, who loved being paid for doing wrong. But a donkey, which cannot talk, told Balaam he was sinning. It spoke with a man’s voice and stopped the prophet’s crazy thinking.” 2 Peter 2v15-16 (NCV)

The third of the “3 great sins of Balaam” (Num. 22:1-24:25) that the Dakes concordance highlights is - “The doctrine of Balaam (Rev. 2:14). This was to teach Balak that if he would give his most beautiful women to the Israelite men and cause them to commit idolatry and adultery that God Himself would curse Israel (Num. 25:1-9; 31:8, 16).” Balak was the king of the Moabites who had sent messengers to call Balaam the prophet to come and curse the children of Israel after they had left Egypt, as the Moabites were afraid of the children of Israel, because they were many (Numbers 22v3). God had told Balaam not to curse the Israelites because they were blessed. However, Balaam did something really bad which the Bible references. In Revelations 2v14 (AMP) for example, when the Lord was speaking to the Church in Pergamos, one of the things He said was “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have some people there who are clinging to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to set a trap and a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [to entice them] to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and to practice lewdness [giving themselves up to sexual vice].” The Message translation says “But why do you indulge that Balaam crowd? Don’t you remember that Balaam was an enemy agent, seducing Balak and sabotaging Israel’s holy pilgrimage by throwing unholy parties?” This is what the evil teachers within the church are likened to, people who sabotage the walk others have with the Lord. Romans 1v32 also alludes to people who not only do things that are contrary to God’s law but applaud those who do them. Brethren, are you in anyway clinging to the doctrine of Balaam and/or encouraging others in the way of Balaam? In Numbers 25v1&2 (NIV) we see what happened to Israel, the Bible recording “While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate the sacrificial meal and bowed down before these gods.”

Supplementary Text

“Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.” Romans 14v13 (AMP)

Prayer

Father, I thank You so much for Your Word. Father, help me never put a stumbling block in the path of another, in Jesus name, amen.