The Doctrine of Balaam - #3

Here is the final installment of my thoughts on Balaam and his long decline into narcissism. Hope you have enjoyed it, and I also hope it has exposed some failing in your heart as you may have sought your will over God's.

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The TEACHING of Balaam.
Revelation 2:14 - But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit acts of immorality.

Balaam is given ample opportunity to repent and change…
-On three occasions, Balaam goes to curse Israel, and yet…Israel is blessed by God.
-And each time Balaam returns home, burning with the desire to HAVE THAT MONEY!

So, he devises a plan to get Isreal in trouble, and get his money!
He creates a “teaching” for the King of Moab to share, getting the children of Israel to stumble into sin, and loose God’s blessing…

You can read of it in Numbers 31:16 - "Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the Lord."

-Basically, Balak corrupted Israel by leading them into idolatry and immorality.

Psalm 106:28 confirmed the falling away when it says…”They joined themselves also to Baal-peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.”

Therefore, this “teaching” caused Israel to violate God’s call for them to SEPARATE from this world…to come out, and “be ye separate!”

-Therefore, judgment came upon them!

So, just what was this “teaching of Balaam?”
It was the misconception that they, being the chosen people of God and blessed by Him because of their covenant with God; could not be cursed again.
-A sort of “once-saved-always-saved” mentality…
-Or a “hyper-grace” teaching…which means that it is a grace that forgives sin without repentance. FALSE!

So, because of this false teaching that Balaam spread among them, they were cursed, in spite of their believing otherwise…
And people were STUMBLING in their faith because of it!

All in all, it was COMPROMISE! And, compromise will never pay, will it Church? In fact, as we know, it is dangerous to compromise with the world!

There is an old Russian parable that goes like this: A hunter went into the woods to shoot a bear for a fur coat. When he found a bear and was about to shoot the bear startled him by speaking in a gentle soft voice, “Isn't it better to sit down and talk this through, maybe we can come to some agreement or compromise.” They sat down, the bear asked, “What do you want from me?” The hunter replied, “A fur coat.” The hunter then asked, “What do you want?” The bear replied, “A full stomach.” The bear then said, “Good, I think we can help us both.” Soon the negotiations were over...and out from the woods came the bear...ALONE! The bear had a full stomach and the hunter had a fur coat!!!
-Compromise rarely satisfies both equally!

Listen friends…Paul warns us all to take heed…1 Corinthians 10:11-12 - "Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. [12] Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."

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BEWARE of Balaam's doctrine in our world today...rest assured, it is out there!