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Lessons from Balaam

The story of Balaam in Numbers 22-25 provides us with some important lessons for us today.

Although Balaam is not expressly called a prophet in the book of Numbers, Peter refers to him as a prophet in 2 Peter 2:15, 16. He is also the prime example of a false prophet in 2 Peter 2:1, “But false prophets also arose among the people.” We also read in the next verses,

² Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; ³ and in their greed they will exploit you with false words…

Later, we read in 2 Peter 2:14, 15 Balaam is mentioned by name:

¹⁴ having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children, ¹⁵ forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.

Jude 11 echoes the same condemnation of “the error of Balaam.”

Balak, king of Moab, in alliance with the five kings of Midian (Numbers 31:8), tried to hire Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 22:6). Balaam inquired of the Lord. Numbers 22:12 says,

¹² God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

So Balaam told the messengers that “the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” The messengers returned to Moab, and Balak sent more distinguished leaders to offer Balaam even more money to curse Israel. We then read in Numbers 22:18,

¹⁸ Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything, either small or great, contrary to the command of the Lord my God” [Yahweh my Elohim].

So far, it appears that Balaam was an obedient prophet. He even claimed Yahweh to be his God. Indeed, Yahweh was the God who spoke to Balaam, as we read in Numbers 23:5, 16, 26, etc. In Numbers 24:4, Balaam also referred to God as Shaddai, the name that was known to Abram in Genesis 17:1, “Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am El Shaddai’.”

It is clear, then, that Balaam was not only a prophet but that he also considered Yahweh, the God of Israel, to be his God. He also knew that Yahweh and Shaddai were the same God. Perhaps more significant is the fact that in spite of Balaam’s evil motives, God still spoke to him. In fact, the word of the Lord through Balaam formed part of Scripture and prophecy.

This tells us that prophets are not always aligned with the character of God, and yet God may still speak through them. We cannot simply dismiss prophecies from those we deem to be false prophets. I have observed a number of prophets who were motivated by greed and some who have gone after the way of Balaam and have counseled God’s people to commit sin.

Numbers 25:1-3 says,

¹ While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. ² For they [the daughters of Moab] invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. ³ So Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor, and the Lord was angry against Israel.

Our Babylonian leaders today understand this principle very well. They know that they cannot curse God’s people directly. Hence, their tactic is to induce the people to sin. As long as God’s people continue in sin, the judgment of God rests upon the nation as a whole. God’s judgment, in part, is to raise up His enemies to rule us and oppress us. Hence, our Babylonian leaders hope to retain power over the people, even beyond their allotted time.

This is why there is such a push today to degrade the morals of the people. This is why they pass legislation that encourages and institutionalizes immorality. This is why abortion is so important to them. This is why they often punish those who object to their tactics. It is not only about immorality and murder. It is a matter of retaining power over the earth.

This is why it is so important to study the law of God, which defines sin (1 John 3:4). Many Christians are unaware that some of their practices are actually sinful. Many support the murder of unborn children. In recent years, many have come into agreement with the LGBTQ+(P) agenda, which openly defies the law of God. While we may not consider such people to be Christians, the results are still the same. They bring judgment upon the nation and empower the Babylonians.

Let us continue to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who, “when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8).