“Lessons From The Life Of Balaam”
This morning we want to examine a man who has been called by many commentators "the STRANGEST man in all of Scripture"
A)Bible
scholars have been sharply divided as to where he was coming from
B) JEROME, one of the early Church fathers, said that he was a messenger from Satan
1) Augustine, another of the Church fathers, answered back that he was a great prophet from God –
1) Is he in heaven or in
hell?
D) Why are 3 chapters of Scripture devoted to
such a mysterious man?
Consider this: It only took
the Lord Ten words to explain the
creation of the universe
A)In the beginning, God created the heavens
and the earth
B) Yet the Lord spends 3
chapters in dealing with the life of a man by the name of BALAAM
1) His name means destroyer
of the people-
C) Let's look at what the
Word of God says about this man
RD CHAPTER 22 VERSES 1-6
Now we are going to see in our Study Wed. that the Children
of Israel are really close to the entering the Promise Land – 5 chapters 38yrs
A)We will discuss why on
Wed. – and we will notice how the Lord was giving them Victories over their
enemies
B) Result Heading toward
Moab & Balak, the king of Moab was terrified
C)
So king Balak, whose name means waster
, knew that he would have to WASTE the
people of God or he would be wasted
1) The
problem was: How would he do it?
1) And He knew that God was
with these people- So he sent a message to a mysterious
prophet, a Midianite named Balaam
Apparently Balaam was a well-known “diviner,” with a reputation for effectively cursing
nations. [A Prophet for Hire]
A)But How did this Midianite
come into a knowledge of the true and living God?
B) How did he come to
understand the things of God?- We do NOT know
1) But we will see here that
He was a man used by God VERSES 7-9
The first thing God says to Balaam is in the form of a question,
“Who are these men with you?”
B) See God is NOT requesting
information FROM Balaam
1) BUT - He is requesting COMMUNICATION WITH Balaam
C) This is worth pointing
out- Because there are people who wonder WHY they should even pray
1) "God already knows my problem... my situation"
-"Why should I have to talk to Him about it?"
1) It is to develop
COMMUNICATION
A)"Who are these guys
Balaam?" - "Think it through Balaam – who it is here that you are
dealing w/
D)
So it was for the sake of Evaluation that God asked this question
Inviting them to stay the night was the first of a sequence
of mistakes Balaam made with regard to Balak and his requests.
A)He shouldn’t have given
them the time of day
B)
These were men who represented nations and governments that were opposed to the
nation Israel.
1)
These were men who
were seeking to persuade Balaam to curse the very people God had blessed.
C)
Balaam here is flirting w/ the enemies of God !!! VERSES 10-13
So God forbids Balaam to go with these dignitaries & to
meet w/ Balak. A)God also forbade
Balaam to curse the Israelites, informing him
that this was a people whom He had blessed
B)
But here is what is interesting – when Balaam goes back to the men he does not
tell them the whole story.
1)
He does not tell them
that God forbade him to do what they were attempting to hire him to do;
C)
He tells them rather that God refused to give him
permission to go with them.
D) What Balaam does here is
he leaves the door open so to speak – gives them the
opportunity to come back – make a better offer
A)You get invited to go some
place or to do something that you have no business being a part of as a
Christian –
B) But instead of saying – I
am not interested – You say – well I can’t this time – but maybe next time
1)
You
just left the door open for that person to come back again at a latter time –
C) You are a married man or woman
-Your at work / at the office you start getting some signals from someone of
the opposite sex – works there
1)
Or
is a client that comes in they are being flirtatious – but instead of turning a
cold shoulder – instead of getting down to business
D) You kind of revel in the
attention- You flirt back a little – what are you doing – Leaving the door open
to a major compromise
E) Singles w/ a Non Christian –
invites out on a date –Instead of saying
I’m Not interested – You say I am busy that night
1) Message: I might be
interested in going out another night – Playing w/ fire
F) THAT is what Balaam does
here he leaves the door open for sin by not being forthright w/ these men that
Balak sent !! {Rd v.15
15 Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more
honorable than they. { Sends in the Heavy weights – More Princes more important
A)Balak is not the kind of
guy who takes no for an answer { probably used to getting his way { So he is
persistent
B) The devil is the same way
– In seeking to tempt us he doesn’t give up easy – if he doesn’t get thru one
way – he will try another way
1) He is used to getting his
way Often times he sends stronger troops the 2nd time around that are
stronger than the first { Rd v. 16-18
Watch out Balaam! Balaam is planting a suggestion in the
minds of these Men / God had already
said NO But he says: v.18
A)Even If Balak would
give me his house full of silver and gold,
HINT-HINT-HINT But even IF he did this, I really couldn't do it
B) Now Instead of sending them on their way, watch what he does v.19
19 Now therefore, please, you also stay
here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me."
C) Essentially what Balaam says is I'll go back to
God and see if something can be worked out V. 20
And God came to
Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men come to call you, rise and go
with them; but only the word which I speak to you--that you shall do
Now Is God changing His mind? No! / But this is an example of what
we would call the permissive will of God !!
A)It was God's PERFECT will
that Balaam NOT associate with the enemies
of the True and Living God
B) But Balaam came back and
kept on begging { God said ok – Go!!!
C) As parents we can relate
to this - We have a PERFECT will for our kids, but they keep coming back and begging:
1) "Please, dad,
please"....... O.K. – Go / Ok stay up until 2 in the morning -
D) They insist that they
know best and we let them go knowing that they will learn the hard way { Same
is true of the Lord
1)God will not control us by
force – He will not demand HIS way – He isn’t looking for Slaves / He wants a
relationship w/ us { Willing servants
E)
If we insist upon going our own way, then God takes his hands off of us and he
lets us go. { Prodigal Son – Dad said ok go
1)
There is a passage in Psalm 106 in which David says with reference to Israel,
God gave them their request, but sent leanness into
their soul."
Listen The PERFECT will of God ALWAYS leads to PEACE
The PERMISSIVE will of God ALWAYS leads to PROBLEMS
B)
Like the Prodigal son – famine will strike – your soul will starve – you will
end up in a pig pen regretting that you ever Left
1)
Result of Permissive
will of God – all things are lawful the Lord says –
C)
Sure You can watch that movie/ you can go to that
place but notice how spiritually
unfulfilled you are after wards –
1)
Yes you can listen to
that Music instead of Christian – But there is going to be a leanness to your
Soul
D)
That is what God is doing w/ Balaam here – You can go but there are going to be
parameters here – the end of v.20 is key
1)
You will say only what I tell you to say
E) But that is clearly not what Balaam has in mind – he knows if he is going to get his paycheck he needs to curse Israel
1) Which explains what happens in the following verses Rd 21 and 22:
NOTE: The Angel
of the Lord stood in the way as an adversary
against him
A)The
angel of the Lord is believed to theophany
A pre-incarnate appearance
of Jesus
B)
When the Lord knows that we are headed in a direction of Rebellion / He will at
times stand before us an adversary to keep
us from going that way 1) Because HE loves us He will do everything he can to
reach us and to get us to turn around and go back to the place of obedience.
C)
He will put roadblocks in our way. And this is what he is doing with Balaam. {
Classic story v.23- 25
What a scene this must have been – Humorous / Yet Bazaar to
the Princes of Moab / Beating / Yelling /
A)Balaam is supposed to be this Powerful Prophet/who is able to destroy a nation w/ the words of his mouth/ Yet he can’t even control his donkey
Rd v.26-34
B) What happens to Balaam
here reminds me of the way the HS works in our lives at times when we are Knowingly
heading into sin
1)
I
am sure that most of us have experienced times when the Lord has steered us
clear of disastrous situations
C) Like the Donkey ran into
the field/ the Lord has diverted our Path from sin – Car problems – we missed
the opportunity { Traffic
1)
You
suddenly got sick – at the time you thought it was a huge inconvenience but now
you Know that it was the grace of the Lord
There are times if we fail to pay attention- to the voice
of the spirit when the Lord will Chasten us
A)like the donkey crushed
Balaam’s foot up against the wall The Lord will
allow our foot to be crushed so that our walk might be saved
B) He cares about you that much –
He will allow you to be Pressed in order to wake you up will Chasten us
C) And if you Ignore HIS
chastening there will come a time when HE is going to lie down in the road so
to speak & say ––
1) Go ahead -I
will be waiting for you if you ever decide to come back -
D) He will do whatever is
necessary to keep us on track- He will put
people in your path – who you would consider Donkeys to speak truth –
1)
What
I mean by donkey is it’s UNEXPECTED VOICE
2)
He
sends the LAST PERSON you would ever
expect to speak to you in that way/ In
hopes that you would listen
Note v.34 Balaam
says – I did not know that you stood in the way against me / Come on Balaam
A)The Lord has already said:
"Do NOT go"
B) But you insisted and NOW
you say: "If it really bothers You Lord, I'll turn back – Get real!!!!
C) Also note the end of v.32
The Lord says I am standing against you because your way is perverse
1) Why was Balaam’s way
perverse ? Because He had purposed in his heart to do whatever it takes to get
that reward
D) Well v.35 God says Go –
But say only what I tell you to!!! I will take this situation and use it for
good
Now In VERSES 36- Chapter 24:24 Balaam
pronounces 3 blessings upon the people of God & a Prophecy concerning their
coming Messiah
A)We will look at these in
detail on Wed. night – but note today after each of them Balak is enraged that
Balaam did NOT curse them
B) 3 separate times Balak
tries to get Balaam to curse them – 3 times blessing – Bonus Prophecy –
C) Ch.24 ends w/ Balaam
going on his way – having failed at what he was hired to do – No Fee paid –
Now what is interesting about this guy Balaam & his
story is it is referred to in 3 different places in the NT
A)These three lessons are very
important to us
B) Peter says: Watch out for
the way of Balaam (2Pet. 2:15)
1) Jesus said: Watch out for
the doctrine of Balaam (Rev.2:14)
3) Jude says: Watch out for the
error of balaam (Jude
v.11)
C) Briefly consider each before we go !!!!
In 2 Peter 2 is dealing with the subject of
FALSE PROPHETS
A)In
describing these men Peter writes
2Pet. 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray,
following the way of Balaam the
son of Besor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
B) The way of Balaam was to Pursuing personal pleasure & GREED rather than Personal godliness
C) Pursuing Personal happiness
at all cost instead of personal Holiness at all cost
1)
failing
to realize that you will never be as happy & fulfilled as you are in the
Lord
D) Balaam’s attitude was I
will do whatever it takes to get the gold
Failing to realize that
earthly riches & Pleasure mean nothing in eternity
1)
Story
Not rich toward God
E) What Profit gain the
whole world & Lose your soul
1Tim. 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
A)
But There are those today who twist that verse to say that godliness with great gain is contentment
B) You subtly begin to shift focus and priorities for the
sake of money
"Boy, I know that I'll
have to miss Bible study but I'll sure make a lot more money"
1Tim. 6:7-10
7 For we
brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8
And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who
desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and
harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of
money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the
faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
The way of balaam was Pursuing Gain Greed / Pleasure at all cost
2ndly in Rev 2 Jesus warned against the Doctrine of Balaam
A) In speaking to the church
at Pergamos Jesus said
Rev 2:14-15
14 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.
B) WHEN did Balaam teach
that to Balak - NUMBERS 25:1-5/ Ch.31:16
C) I can’t curse them but I can get them to
curse themselves –
1)
Invite them for dinner & have your beautiful young women seduce the men
into sexual immorality & Idolatry
D)
Balak also liked the idea the Plan was set into motion/ Following Balaam’s counsel, the Moabite
women invited the Israelites to dinner.
1)
They engaged in Sexual
immorality – idol worship – result God sent a plague that killed 24,000 – in
one day
E) This is what Jesus referred to as the Doctrine of Balaam
So What is the doctrine
of Balaam ? The doctrine of Balaam is mixture with the world
A)Mixing
it up with the Moabites - Getting involved with their practices and lifestyles
B) Throughout the Old
Testament the Lord demonstrates His hatred of MIXTURE
1) The ox and the donkey
shall not plow together / There shall not be linen and wool mixed
together/ Diverse seeds shall not be
planted together
C) All of this saying that
God does NOT want mixture- He wants
PURITY
Paul picks up this same theme2 Cor 6:14
14
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has
righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
D) This does NOT mean just
marriage - It means LIFESTYLE
A)It is being HOT for the
Lord on Sunday, but COLD on Saturday night
B) It is being HOT for the
Lord on Wednesday night, but COLD at
work on Friday{ On the Fence – MUGWUMP
C) When you MIX hot and cold
together what do you get? LUKE WARM
Rev.3 Wish hot or cold Luke
warm – Vomit
1) God is not into Mixture –
He is into Purity
A)The epistle of JUDE
addresses heresy and false teachers too
Jude 11 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.
B) The false teachers were greedy for material gain and, like Balaam, would do anything for money.
1) The “error of Balaam” is thinking that they can get away with this kind of rebellion.
C) Balaam
is mentioned along w/ Cain & Korah as men who were punished by God for
their Rebellion
1)
IN Joshua 13 we are told Balaam’s wealth was short lived he was killed w/ the
sword
D) Balaam prostituted his gifts and sought to destroy God’s people. He ends up being DESTROYED
Perhaps you are here today finding you can relate to Balaam
– You have played the Prodigal – God let you go to pursue Pleasure
A)You have had some fun times – but – you have also found – there is a leanness in your soul – Emptiness there
B) IN
the story of the Prodigal son it takes a famine before he comes back to his
senses – what about you ?
C)
Maybe like Balaam you have found yourself pursuing personal gain & Pleasure
rather than pursuing God
1)
You have run thru a
few of God’s road blocks along the way – to your rebellion – Repent –
Doctrine of Balaam – Mixture – Compromise
A)Business
/
B)
Relationship
Listen
don’t make the error of Balaam continuing in your sin & rebellion thinking
– God is going to let you into Heaven